November, 2024
| Each year, the FSA selects anesthesiology residents in our state to serve as Resident Delegates to the ASA at their annual meeting. In addition to attending the Resident House of Delegates, they attend sessions and participate fully in the meeting. We asked our 2024 attendees for their thoughts on last month’s meeting in Philadelphia… What’s the main job for an ASA Resident Delegate, and what role did you play in the governance portion of the meeting? Dr. Tharangini Vummadi: As an ASA Resident Delegate it is our duty to participate in the ASA Resident Component House of Delegates meeting where you vote on resolutions, policy decisions and elect your representatives to the Resident Component Governing Council. During the governance portion of the meeting, we voted to elect new officers, got a chance to hear from leadership and the council about new opportunities for residents to get involved in ASA and the strides in advocacy taken in the last year and their success. Ryan Lorenzo: Our primary responsibility is to represent anesthesiology resident’s interests, concerns, and ideas within the ASA. This involves actively participating in discussions, voting for our council representatives, and contributing to decisions that affect the future of anesthesiology training and practice. In the governance portion of the meeting, my role was to bring a resident’s perspective, advocate for issues important to early-career anesthesiologists, and ensure that resident voices were heard. Beyond the Resident House of Delegate work, what value did the ASA Annual meeting have for you as a resident? Hamad Sagheer: Attending the ASA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia offered tremendous value by providing exposure to the latest advancements in anesthesia, hands-on workshops, and expert-led sessions on critical topics. Networking with anesthesiology professionals, including attendings and other residents, allowed me to gain insights into career opportunities. Justin Burnett: The meeting also offers educational lectures and poster sessions throughout the days. You can spend your time between sessions wandering the exhibit hall, learning about new technological advancements from companies or exploring interesting cases from colleagues’ posters. Whether you are a PGY-1 or PGY-4, the ASA Annual Conference has something of value for trainees of all levels. What was your favorite part of the meeting? Courtney Borg: My personal favorite part of the meeting was getting to network with anesthesiology physicians across the country. It is so rare that we all come together in a collaborative group environment and it was nice getting to talk with many accomplished physicians. It provided a great environment for ideas, conversation, and reinvigoration regarding our specialty. I look forward to many more meetings in years to come! Ryan Lorenzo: My favorite part of the meeting was the opportunity to meet other FSA members, particularly CA1 residents at other Florida programs. Our shared experiences as we take on the first few months of anesthesiology training brought us together. If speaking to a Florida anesthesia resident or fellow, or even a medical student, what would you tell them about the importance of being an FSA member? Tharangini Vummadi: You can do much more than you think you can. The FSA provides opportunities to be involved in the state society, from being involved in legislative advocacy to securing practice in the ever-changing society. Being an FSA member allows you to participate in committees and leadership roles that promote our specialty, receive mentorship from leaders in the field and be a part of a platform where you learn about new opportunities and advancements within anesthesiology Hamad Sagheer: Being an FSA member is essential for staying connected within our state’s anesthesiology community, advocating for our profession, and staying informed on state-specific legislative issues that affect our future practice. Justin Burnett: The FSA exists to advance the field of anesthesiology and to advocate for both patients and anesthesiologists alike. By being a member, you gain access to professional development tools and opportunities to further develop yourself as a leader in the field of anesthesiology. Ryan Lorenzo: Joining the FSA connects you to a community of anesthesiologists dedicated to advancing our field at the state level. Membership provides access to resources, networking, and advocacy that directly impact the practice environment in Florida. Being part of FSA means having a voice in policies that shape our practice, and it gives residents a seat at the table in important discussions impacting our future. Congratulations to all our 2024 ASA Resident Delegates · Jessica Alonso, HCA Florida Kendall Hospital · Justin Burnett, Cleveland Clinic FL · Courtney Borg, Mayo Clinic · Junaid Raja, University of Miami · Naveen Kotha, University of Miami · Ryan Lorenzo, Westside Regional Medical Center · Hamad Sagheer, University of Florida Gainesville · Andrius Vaidila, HCA Ocala · Tharangini Vummadi, HCA Ocala |
