The Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists

Implementing Pathways to Anesthesiology: Promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Success. O’Conor et al. International Anesthesiology Clinics (2023) 61:1.

Summary

An interesting review article that is relevant to our field. The article touches on what we constantly encounter: a gap between equality and equity for anesthesiologists from underrepresented minorities in Medicine (URiM). While there are “advertised” equal opportunities for anesthesiologists hired at different stages of their careers, there remains a gap between what is advertised as equality and what is actually exercised of equity.

Introduction

Hemorrhage from or around a tracheostomy is a relatively common and possibly life-threatening complication. Complications from a tracheostomy can be early or late and can be related to the placement of the tube, prolonged time duration of tracheostomy tube requirement, or abnormal healing at the surgical site. Tracheo-arterial fistulas represent a rare but often lethal complication from tracheostomies. This case report describes a patient who developed a fistula between a mature tracheostomy site and the innominate artery. The report discusses important practical considerations for preoperative and intraoperative management of this condition and describes the most common risk factors, diagnostic approach, and surgical technique.

Dr. Jessica Cassavaugh is a T32 Research fellow and Clinical Instructor in the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She completed her anesthesiology residency and critical care fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Her current research focuses on estrogen-dependent regulation of inflammatory and hypoxic signaling, especially as it relates to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

We are no longer in a world where—as current or future leaders of our respective medical communities—we can remain impartial to discrimination. Workplace mistreatment, discrimination, and microaggressions can limit access to resources and opportunities for growth. It can fuel persistent disparities experienced by caregivers and patients belonging to marginalized communities. As leaders we can’t not see, not hear or not act on inequalities.

Read members-only job posts.

If you would like to post a job, please email a short description and/or PDF flyer including location, contact information, and closing date to SOCCA Society Director, Vivian Abalama, IOM, CAE at vabalama@iars.org.

Interchange seeks to deliver timely, relevant, and high-quality content to SOCCA members. Contributions from members are not only welcome but essential to ensure that Interchange meets these goals. If you are interested in authoring content concerning clinical challenges, emerging research findings, member accomplishments, or anything of general interest to the membership, please reach out to vabalama@iars.org.

Colleagues,

Seeing so many SOCCA members in person at the SCCM meeting in San Francisco last month was great. SOCCA members were well-represented on many SCCM panels, workshops, roundtables, and other educational events. The SCCM anesthesia section reception was exceptionally well attended and could have easily been a SOCCA business meeting! We look forward to seeing everyone in person at the annual meeting in Denver in April. 

Over the recent years, it is no secret that SOCCA has made enormous strides in both its membership and mission. We have seen our ranks swell to over 1,150 in 2022 and our committees and workgroups similarly multiply as we seek to engage and impact all realms of critical care touched by anesthesiologists. The Communications Committee has the unique privilege of supporting and promoting all of these various initiatives in addition to continued general engagement with membership. I encourage all of our members both new and veteran to engage with us as well through our three main products: the Interchange Newsletter, SOCCA Drip Blog, and Twitter (@SOCCA_CritCare). Each of these outlets serves as a way to bring relevant up to date information to the membership on SOCCA webinars, society opportunities, recently published literature, and so much more! We are also always looking for exceptional content from the membership and welcome your submissions to these outlets as well.

We are extremely excited and are looking forward to our first in-person SOCCA annual meeting since 2019! The Annual Meeting Program Planning Committee has been working hard over the last year and has put together an outstanding program that promises to deliver exceptional educational content. The meeting will kick off on Thursday night with the opportunity to network with colleagues during the SOCCA Women in Critical Care Meetup and the SOCCA Early Career Group Networking Events.

The membership committee started off the new year with an Early Career Intensivists Zoom meet up in early February. The guest speaker was SOCCA board member Dr. Ashish Khanna, and the discussion was led by Early Career subcommittee members Drs. Lauren Sutherland, Christy Idichandy, and Alisha Bhatia. Participants on the call ranged from critical care fellows to anesthesiologist intensivists in their first few years of practice. We had a lively discussion about issues faced during the first few years out of fellowship, including establishing relationships with our surgical colleagues and getting involved in research. Dr. Khanna provided motivation and insight to everyone on the call and members benefited from hearing from multiple viewpoints.