nanos gigantum, humeris insidentes
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
Christopher R. Cook, DO
TSA Editor
It is truly an honor and great responsibility to serve as the next editor of the TSA Bulletin. Dr. Giesecke should be applauded for his yeoman’s work over the last 14 years in developing and improving our state society’s most trusted communication method. In addition, I am truly grateful to our TSA staffers for their tireless efforts in creating the TSA Bulletin.
It is humbling to stand on the shoulder of giants… if only to see just a little further. Last year the TSA Bulletin was transitioned to an electronic format, with this volume being exclusively paperless. The plan for the Bulletin moving forward will be to continue to provide our members with high quality articles pertinent to the Practice of Anesthesiology in the State of Texas. We hope you enjoy the graphic design and content of this issue.
Our goal is to balance form and function, and your feedback is welcome on our work at info@tsa.org. As always, we truly appreciate the passion and knowledge of our authors. The TSA Bulletin would have little value without them and we welcome any future articles from TSA members.
The 2012 year was eventful: The London Olympics with the U.S. producing the most decorated Olympian of all time, a Presidential re-election, economic trials, rising national debt, highly publicized domestic acts of terrorism, the assassination of a U.S. Ambassador in Benghazi, and an East Coast hurricane.
We have all heard the catchwords, among many, the Magnificent 7, Superstorm, Fiscal Cliff and Austerity. Regarding the House of Medicine the Affordable Care Act survived its constitutional challenge in the Supreme Court, Congress passed SB 3187 to help reduce medication shortages and created another short-term patch for the SGR. Concerning Anesthesiology, CMS gave the green light through rule making, to pay CRNAs for Chronic Pain in states that allow CRNAs to practice Chronic Pain. Despite this setback the “Titans” of Medicine and Anesthesiology continue to lead in Congress and State Legislatures with Dr. Andy Harris in the U.S. House and Dr. John Zerwas in the Texas State House.
Color Painting
Blind Orion Searching for the Rising Sun, 1658, by Nicolas Poussin
Library of Congress, Rosenwald 4, Bl. 5r
We should also be honored that the Texas House of Medicine has elected the highest number of physicians serving in the Texas Legislature. Don’t forget Dr. Kyle Janek’s recent appointment as HHSC Commissioner. On an ASA level, John Zerwas, MD was elected President of the ASA and Dr. Mary Dale Peterson was elected Assistant Treasurer. In 2013 we strive as leaders of the TSA to be the source of highlights in your practice for the coming year, and the TSA Bulletin will be there to report it.
My favorite TSA highlight for 2012 was seeing the ASA Annual Meeting Oversight Committee (AMOC) recommend San Antonio to host the 2025 Annual Meeting.
The TSA is truly blessed with numerous “Political Giants” who contributed to this milestone through engaged communications with the City of San Antonio, reference committee testimonies, numerous e-mails, face-to-face meetings with AMOC members, and the successful E-blast to encourage TSA members to participate in the annual meeting survey. This “Colossal” effort produced San Antonio’s improved rank on the recent annual meeting survey and contributed to the San Antonio Convention Center’s expansion which were the pivotal changes influencing AMOC’s decision. There are still “Atlas-Like” feats of political strength to perform as we ensure AMOC’s recommendations confirmed by the ASA Board of Directors and the ASA House of Delegates next October.
nanos gigantum humeris insidentes
Thank you to TSA Giants that surround and support me that made the TSA Bulletin Volume 25 Issue No. 1 a success.
