Anesthesiologists are highly trained physicians with at least four years of training in the medical specialty of anesthesiology following four years of college and four years of medical school. And with new anesthetic drugs and techniques constantly being introduced, that training never really stops.
What Led You to Anesthesiology?
One of the things that really led me to anesthesiology is how critical decisions could make a big impact on patient care very quickly. In anesthesiology, there are so many ways we impact patients — whether it be through a preoperative clinic, intraoperative care, pain management procedures, critical care.
How About Your Subspecialty?
One of the areas that I found I’m most interested in is cardiac anesthesia. I play a role not only in keeping the patients safe and comfortable, and guiding them through a massive surgery on their cardiovascular system, but increasingly we play a role in the surgery itself. We do echo navigation for procedures so that cardiologists and surgeons can see where they’re going and we can help direct them in ways to fix the heart or cardiovascular system.
Why Did You Join VSA?
When I initially came to Virginia, it was an automatic thing. But I’ve been out for 15 years now, and in the last few years I felt like something’s been missing from my career. And that’s been impactful networking — a way to make a difference for everyone in my state, for all the anesthesiologists. For example, I formed a committee that created a new, novel educational program for point-of-care ultrasound. Anesthesiologists were early leaders in this, but it’s evolved a lot further from there. The VSA played a key role in this. This is a collegial group, very welcoming. Come on out! It’s very fulfilling.
What Led You to Anesthesiology?
The interaction between the physiology and the procedural part of it — to be active in intervening on a moment-to-moment and day-to-day basis. Having a real impact on patients’ care, and affecting the quality of their recovery from surgery and their pain control.
What Made It a Good Match for You?
I went into medical school thinking I would do internal medicine cardiology. And I did a dual-degree program. So in the middle of med school, I was doing my Ph.D. graduate work, and I discovered anesthesia as a way to combine the science of pharmacology and physiology and medication dosaging in a way that was really interesting for me. It also kept me really busy, and interested every single day. And also, being able to monitor cardiac function, and do echos, and be able to see real-time results from my intervention.
Why Would You Encourage a Colleague to Join VSA?
Membership in a professional society allows you to have community, belonging, and to really have greater capacity to influence the direction of the future of our specialty — long after all of us retire. There’s going to be a need to take care of patients perioperatively. Anesthesia’s going to be one of those core specialties that’s not going away anytime soon. And it’s important that we not just consume but also give back. That we add to the giants that have come before, try to add our little piece to the puzzle, and help those who come after us.
VSA Annual Membership Meeting Dinner
When: Monday, January 13, 2025
Where: Sam Miller’s Restaurant – 1210 E Cary Street
Schedule
5:30 PM – Cocktail Reception
6:00 PM – Business Meeting
ASA Update
Legislative Update
VSA Board Elections
7:00 PM – Dinner with Colleagues
All members in good standing are invited to attend this free event.
Register Here for the Membership dinner and White Coats on call Lobby Day.
(If you only plan to attend White Coats on Call, please email Angela Puryear at [email protected])
VSA Whitecoats on Call
When: Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Where: Commonwealth Strategy Group, 118 N 8th Street, Richmond, VA
Time: 7:30 am
We will meet at the Commonwealth Strategy Group Office to review talking points and leave behinds before heading to the General Assembly Building.
Whether you’re just starting out in practice and seeking information about debt reduction, a seasoned physician
anesthesiologist pursuing a leadership position at your institution or a retired practitioner with a desire to stay
abreast of developments in the specialty.
https://www.asahq.org/in-the-spotlight/suicide-prevention-resources. Anesthesia providers face a number of challenges, stressors and pressures in their daily lives. Tragically, we continue to lose colleagues to death by suicide.
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