The externship program at the University of Iowa Department of Anesthesia has been successful for decades.  This year, we have been fortunate to have 12 dedicated M4 students help in the operating rooms at night and on weekends.  We recognized these students during a ceremony on Wednesday, April 30th, by distributing certificates certifying their participation in our extern program and thanking them for their service. 

In addition, special honors were awarded to the following recipients of the Stuart Cullen Award and the Margaret V. Lunsford Award.

Cullen Award: Jessica Kelley
Lunsford Award: Jessica Kelley, Raina Lourens, and Thomas Rinehart

To read more about these awards and the recipients…

The Midwest Anesthesia Residents Conference (MARC) 2008 was held April 4-6, in Indianapolis. The UI Department of Anesthesia Residents represented themselves and the Department in an exceptional manner. Our residents gave a total of seventeen presentations during MARC. All of the residents did an outstanding job in the midst of stiff competition from thirty other Departments of Anesthesia. In particular:	Smith C. Manion, MD Resident, PGY-3	Shea P. Trost, MD Resident, PGY-4
Dr. Smith Manion won two first place awards in two separate sessions for his presentations.  The first is entitled "Blood Pressure Measurement in Mastectomy".  The second presentation is entitled "Intraoperative Airway Obstruction".    Dr. Shea Trost also won a first place award in his session for his presentation entiltled "Bilateral Lower Leg Compartment Syndrome Following Total Colectomy: Did a Thoracic Epidural Play a Role ?" Many positive comments were received regarding how well our young anesthesiologists presented themselves and their work during the MARC meeting.  In fact, several individuals described our group as “nothing short of outstanding.”  Our Department is very proud to receive and share such wonderful comments.  M A Maktabi, MD MARC Coordinator for the University of Iowa

In April 2008, a team of health care professionals from Iowa City and the surrounding area will travel to Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, to provide medical care to Guatemalan children who require cleft lip and cleft palate surgery. The team is supported by Rotary Clubs from Iowa City and Guatemala, as well as generous local businesses and individuals, Mercy Hospital in Iowa City and the University of Iowa Department of Anesthesia. The Miles of Smiles Team (MOST) includes otolaryngologists, plastic surgeons, dentists, pediatricians, and operating room, recovery room, and postoperative ward nurses. Also traveling with the team will be a biomedical engineer, nursing assistants, medical supplies and medical records coordinators, translators, and medical students from the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. Four members of our Department will participate in the mission, Robert Forbes, M.D., and James Schuh, M.D., staff anesthesiologists, and two CA-3 residents in their final months of training, Chandra Beals, M.D., and Tom Cannon, M.D.

Preparation for the trip has taken many months and required the participation of numerous local volunteers. Medical supplies and equipment were collected, sorted, packed, and shipped from Iowa City to Guatemala. During the mission, MOST will provide care to many patients during 5 days of surgery. The procedures performed will include repair of cleft lips and cleft palates, myringotomy and tube placement, and dental rehabilitation.

Participating as a medical volunteer anesthesiologist in a developing country can be demanding. Providing the highest possible standard of anesthesia care requires diligence, constant vigilance, and an ability and willingness to adapt to a very challenging environment. This type of project is professionally exciting, personally rewarding, and a very worthwhile endeavor for any academic department to become involved in.

Robert B. Forbes, M.D.
Professor

Read about last year's trip on page 18 of the Fall 2007 Newsletter

Dr. Todd initiated a photograph competition within the department, triggered by positive feedback received about a photograph appearing in the Fall 2007 Department Newsletter. That photo displays a doe with her 3 young deer triplets living in the prairie area of Dr. Todd’s residence.

At the suggestion of a faculty member, Robert From, D.O., Associate Professor, a message was sent out to all current members of the department. The message contained a challenge, an invitation to submit photographs for a competition, with the winning photo to be used within our next department newsletter. The criteria were simple: the photograph must have been taken recently and it must portray something that is “unquestionably” Iowa.

We received a total of 21 photographs, and each and every one is incredibly awesome! The top 2 “winners” are displayed here and will also be featured in the Spring 2008 Newsletter.

Click on this link to view each of the submissions.

The Confederation of Latin American Society of Anesthesiologists (CLASA) held their XXIX meeting in Cancun, Mexico, November 20 - 24. During that meeting, Dr. Javier Campos was given a plaque and special recognition for his worldwide scientific contributions in the field of anesthesiology and for his special interest in academics and teaching in Latin American countries, including Spain.

This is the first time that the CLASA has ever awarded and recognized scientific contributions made by a Hispanic anesthesiologist practicing in the USA and Dr. Campos is the first nonmember to be given this award.

Dr. Carlos Guzman Taveras, the president of CLASA, and Dr. Sergio Castro, president of the annual meeting, gave the recognition award to Dr. Campos. During his acceptance of the award, Dr. Campos shared insight from one of his mentors in the USA: "Teach others what you know best." This is what Dr. Campos practices.

The 2007 “Advanced Airway Workshop” directed by Dr. Bob From was held on Saturday, October 20 and was attended by almost 70 physicians and CRNAs. This is the third year this program has been offered and it continues to be a very popular program for health care providers who are interested in the latest airway management techniques and equipment. Please check the Department of Anesthesia website for future Airway Workshop and other CME program dates.

Click here for the presentations from the 2007 Advanced Airway Workshop

Click here for pictures from the 2007 Advanced Airway Workshop

On the evening of October 13, 2007, approximately 100 guests attended the Department’s Alumni Reception, held in San Francisco, CA, during the ASA Annual Meeting. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to greet one another and catch up on the lives of friends and colleagues. Here is just a sampling of some of the photographs taken during the event.

Mark your calendars now for the 2008 Alumni Reception! It will take place on Saturday, October 18th, in Orlando, Florida. Details will be provided as arrangements unfold.

CONGRATULATIONS to Anesthesia faculty member, Ed Thompson, PhD, CRNA, FAAN, the recipient of the 2007 University of Iowa President & Provost Excellence in Teaching Award. Dr. Thompson was presented this award at the 2007 Faculty and Staff Awards Banquet on October 16, by UI President, Sally Mason, and Interim Executive Vice President and Provost, Lola Lopes. 

For more information on this award see:  http://www.news-releases.uiowa.edu/2007/March/031407teaching-awd.html.

The Department of Anesthesia had its annual department-wide picnic on September 30. There was great representation from the various areas within the department.  It was a beautiful day with wonderful food to be eaten, fun to be had, and friends to be with.

Thank you to all of you who organized and helped to make this an enjoyable event.

Click here to see pictures from the afternoon.

The Department of Anesthesia held its 1st Annual Alumni Tailgate on September 29th, as part the University of Iowa Homecoming activities.  Dr. and Mrs. From were the gracious hosts to some former faculty, residents, and staff of our department.

If you missed out on the fun, we plan to repeat the event in 2008.  Stay tuned for details!

BabySim was a great success at the Iowa State Fair, August 17.  The Simulation Center Team attracted a lot of attention at the Carver College of Medicine's booth in the Varied Industries Building.

Young fair goers donned doctor lab coats and were able to help cool BabySim after an episode of heat exhaustion and monitor vital signs.

The Simulation Center gallery has pictures capturing some of the excitement!