VOLUME 37, ISSUE 2

Scott E. Kercheville, M.D., FASA, FAW M

TSA Past President
ASA Past District Director
San Antonio, TX

Honoring Chris Bacak:
4 Plus Years of Dedication to the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists

For over two decades, Chris Bacak has been the cornerstone of the Texas Society ofAnesthesiologists (TSA), serving as its Executive Director oﬃcially since January 2003. Chris will retire from the TSA later this year following a tremendous career leading our organization. Her unwavering commitment and leadership have been instrumental in shaping the organization into a vibrant and inﬂuential voice in the ﬁeld of anesthesiology and all of Texas medicine.

A Legacy of Leadership

Christina Guerra was born and raised in Austin (before it was weird), as the youngest of three sisters; Hortense (Ann) and Anita, were the other two and both very well known to TSA members. Ann was our Executive Director for 20 years and after years of “volunteering” to assist Ann with the society’s business, Chris succeeded her in that role.

Prior to this time, Chris went to school in Austin then attended several business schools there after graduation. Chris met her future spouse, Glenn Bacak when she was 10 years old but reconnected years later during his time at the University of Texas, when both were employed at the Internal Revenue Service. This year, Chris and Glenn will celebrate 49 years of marriage and are the proud parents of three sons, Anthony, Robert and Christopher, all of whom are married. Chris is also the proud grandmother of ﬁve grandchildren.

Chris Bacak’s tenure as Executive Director has been deﬁned by her ability to organize, manage, and maintain TSA’s business with precision and dedication. Her leadership has not only ensured the society’s operations
remain current and in excellent standing, but has also fostered an environment of collaboration and growth among its members. The TSA, under her guidance, has become a pivotal force in advocating for patient safety and the quality of care provided by anesthesiologists across Texas.

Longevity and Stability

The importance of her longevity with the TSA cannot be stressed enough. Her 24+ years with the TSA have provided mentorship for many physician leaders who have cycled through various TSA leadership and committee positions. Her deep institutional memory has helped guide our society as we deal with the challenges of a large medical society. Chris’s expertise has been a valued resource for many leaders within our TSA , many of whom have gone on to assume leadership positions beyond the TSA. The comfort of having an experienced leader in this position for over two decades has been tremendous. It is rare to encounter an issue for which Chris does not know a valuable piece of historical perspective to oﬀer.

Moreover, Chris Bacak has been instrumental in facilitating educational initiatives, principally with the TSA’s Annual Meeting, which provides members with opportunities to advance their knowledge, network with colleagues, and earn continuing medical education credits. Her eﬀorts have helped create an entity where anesthesiologists can share insights and best practices, enhancing the overall quality of care in Texas and becoming the envy of other component societies.

Throughout her career, Chris Bacak has been recognized for her tireless eﬀorts to keep the TSA vibrant and strong. Her contributions have been acknowledged by the TSA Board of Directors and she continues to be a respected ﬁgure within the organization. As we celebrate Chris Bacak’s 24 years of service, we honor, not just her longevity but the impact she has had on the lives of countless anesthesiologists and patients across Texas. Her legacy serves as a testament to the power of dedication and leadership in shaping the future of healthcare.

Extending our Gratitude

To Chris Bacak, we extend our deepest gratitude for her unwavering commitment to the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists. Her service has been a beacon of excellence, inspiring generations of anesthesiologists to strive for the highest standards in patient care and advocacy. We look forward to her continued contact with our members and wish her and Glenn many years of happiness and peace. Godspeed!

The TSA Editor-in-Chief would like to express appreciation to Associate Executive Director Judy Garcia-Bigger, MEd for the assistance with the editing, fact checking, and photos for this tribute.

Figure 5-Buddy addresses the Anesthesia
History Association as the ﬁrst ever Patrick
Sim Memorial lecturer, April 2011. From Dr.
Giesecke’s ﬁles.