Editor's Message

By Erin Williams, MD, FAAP
SPA News Editor

Dr. Williams

The first time I read the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA) Newsletter was during my Pediatric Anesthesiology fellowship; it was intriguing to learn of the happenings in the specialty that I had chosen to pursue.  I remained excited and hopeful about participating in this great organization and now, reminiscing on that early experience, I feel blessed to serve as a member of the Communications Committee and Editor for the Newsletter. 

The excellent leadership and guidance from the former Chair of the Communications Committee, Dr. Sean Flack, has been greatly appreciated.  His tireless dedication to this organization is quite evident.  As the Communications Committee leadership has changed, our goal is the same - to offer a medium that allows members to remain up to date with current happenings and opportunities within our organization proper and the specialty of pediatric anesthesiology. 

With regard to the Newsletter, I am honored to work with the newly appointed Communications Committee Chair Dr. Sean Barnes and Vice Chair Dr. Debnath Chatterjee in providing material to the membership.  Given the unprecedented times in which we are living, the continuation of the dissemination of information is paramount. 

One year ago, no one could have told me that the last time I would travel on a plane would be February 28, 2020, on the flight back from the SPA meeting in the Bahamas.  No one could have told me that my children would be out of their classroom settings for the majority of 2020.  No one could have told me that our day-to-day lives as pediatric anesthesiologists would be inexplicably transformed by a pandemic that remains ever present.

This publication will review many of the happenings of our 34th Annual Meeting which happened to be our very first virtual meeting.  As a participant, I greatly enjoyed and benefited from the ability to social distance and still participate in the conference.  Virtual applause to the program Chair Dr. Kasia Rubin and her outstanding team who orchestrated an excellent educational experience in the virtual safe space.

I could not accomplish the task as Newsletter Editor without the phenomenal coordination and effort of Stewart Hinckley (SPA Executive Director), Kim Battle (SPA Association Executive), Ray Hall (SPA Graphic Designer), and Jenny Patterson (SPA Administrative Coordinator).  It is a privilege to work with such an amazing team.

With the many uncertainties in life we must continue to move forward and do our personal best. These past nine months have been a lesson for us all that no one signed up for.  However, one thing for sure, despite this pandemic, the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia Newsletter will continue to provide its members with material to enrich their membership.

Stay safe and well.