ADVOCACY —
Texas Anesthesiology Residents GET IT!!!
| Catherine L. Scholl, MD TSA Past President Chair Sub-Committee on Resident Involvement in Governmental Affairs |
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| Texas has over 300 residents in anesthesiology programs across the State. Over 66% of them have joined the ASAPAC (almost triple the amount of active TSA members who belong to the ASAPAC). Advocacy begins with one person and then hopefully spreads to others. That is certainly true in the case of three of our Texas programs. Due to the efforts of some very diligent residents at Texas A&M Scott and White, the University of Texas at Houston, and the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, who reached 100% membership. Joining only seven other residency programs in the Country. Way to go TEXAS!!! In the spirit of friendly ASAPAC competition the TSA created the Texas Pint Award. The goal of the Texas Pint is to have 100% TSA resident membership in the ASAPAC. The Residency program with the highest participation will be presented with the Texas Pint, to keep for one year. If a tie occurs, the winner of the tie‐breaker | ||
will be the institution with the highest FACULTY membership in the ASAPAC. UTMB won the Pint in 2012.
In 2012 the TSA also presented the inaugural William H. King Award. Based on a judged essay on advocacy, Dr. Brian Masel showed he truly “got it”. He articulated that anesthesiology is not just about being in the operating room, but that advocacy and patient safety are tantamount. That our careers must emphasize not only the safe anesthetic care of patients but also illuminate and inform those who would lessen our craft the crucial role anesthesiologist play in the perioperative management of the patient. The TSA is sponsoring Dr. Masel to attend the ASA Legislative Conference in 2013. He is now a valued member of the TSA Governmental Affairs Committee.
Left to Right: Representative Sarah Davis, Tim Nguyen, MD (CA-1 resident), Ankur Khosla, MD (chief resident), Evan Pivalizza, MD and Penny Pivalizza, MD at Representative Davis’ election night party (before results were known)!
