Newsletter
AUA Update - December 2001

Membership Nominations

All AUA members are invited to nominate candidates for membership in the association. Qualifications for active membership are: An individual (a) who occupies and has occupied a faculty position in anesthesiology in a medical school or its affiliated teaching hospital in the United States or Canada for at least twenty-four months, following completion of graduate university residency training in anesthesia, and (b) whose work as anesthesiologist, teacher, or investigator gives promise of a successful career in academic anesthesia. However, (c) individual exceptions to the above residency qualifications shall be made at the discretion of the Executive Council when one of the following two conditions apply: (1) when the candidate has had a course of graduate training in anesthesia of a high standard or (2) when the candidate has shown a continued productive interest in, and contribution to, academic anesthesia.

The Council recommends for election by the general membership those candidates who seem best qualified. In Council's deliberations, great emphasis is placed on excellence in areas of pertinence to the goals of the Association. This year, the Council is requesting that the nominator identify -- from among the areas of teaching, administration, and research – the one in which the candidate is most outstanding. The nominating letter should discuss accomplishments and contributions in teaching, research, administration and patient care, but should emphasize the identified area of excellence.

Council seeks evidence of a nominee's impact on anesthesiology beyond his or her own institution and of activity of more than local interest. Such documentation should be as objective and non-anecdotal as possible.

Please follow “Format for Submission of Nominating Letter” as closely as possible in your letter of nomination.

The dossier on the nominee must include the following:

Ensuring that all the documentation is in order will facilitate consideration of the nomination. Lack of documentation of achievements and lack of supporting letters are frequent causes of failure of a nomination.

Although the AUA is primarily oriented toward U.S. and Canadian anesthesiologists who have actively contributed to academic anesthesiology, occasionally it is appropriate to provide Honorary Membership to anesthesiologists residing in other countries. Honorary Membership in the AUA should be limited to those few exceptional individuals who have made sustained and significant contributions to the specialty. Their contributions should have significantly and fundamentally altered the practice of anesthesiology and/or enhanced the understanding of basic science related to anesthesiology. These individuals and their accomplishments should be known and recognized by most, if not all, members of the AUA. The reason for such Honorary Membership should be clearly stated by the nominators, emphasizing how such recognition would benefit the AUA. The format for nominations is the same as for Active Members; nominators should also state the willingness of the nominee, if elected, to meet the same meeting attendance requirements as Active Members.

Early submission is encouraged. Deadline for receipt of all information (nominating letter, seconding letter, curriculum vitae, list of peer-reviewed grant funding, and list of referees) is February 1, 2002. All correspondence should be addressed to:

Steven J. Barker, Ph.D., M.D.
Secretary Association of University Anesthesiologists
520 N. Northwest Highway
Park Ridge, Illinois 60068-2573

While the chair of a department usually nominates candidates, nominations can come from any member of the AUA.

Format for Submission of Nominating Letter

First Paragraph (General Information): Please provide the nominee’s name, degree, academic rank, departmental appointment(s) and university affiliation as well as the membership category being requested (Active or Honorary).

Second Paragraph (Research Activities): Please specify the number of peer-reviewed manuscripts, the number of case reports, book chapters, review articles, peer-reviewed abstracts and grants. Please comment briefly on the significance of this research to academic anesthesia/medicine.

Third Paragraph (Educational Activities): Please provide as much objective evidence as possible of the nominee’s stature as an educator through evaluations by residents, students, peers and others. Other evidence of educational stature, such as visiting professorship and invited lectureships, should also be mentioned.

Fourth Paragraph (Clinical Activities): Discuss the individual’s clinical activities where appropriate, including subspecialty training and evidence of expertise in one or more subspecialties.

Fifth Paragraph (Administrative Activities): Comment on the individual’s administrative accomplishments. What administrative role does the individual play in the department, the institution, on national committees?

Sixth Paragraph (National and International Activities): The nominee’s national and international activities, accomplishments and reputation should be discussed in this paragraph. Membership on national committees, officership in national societies, membership in study sections for foundations or other granting organizations would be some examples.

The use of this format and careful editing of the curriculum vitae to illustrate these characteristics will be of great value in support your request for the candidate’s membership.

Nashville to Host AUA 49th Annual Meeting

Registration information for the AUA 49th Annual Meeting to be held April 12-14, 2002 will be available later this month. Members should check their mail. The AUA Annual Meeting will be held at the Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. The hotel is located at 2100 West End Avenue directly across from the Vanderbilt University campus. A walk through the tree-laden campus is a must for AUA meeting goers, especially during April when many flowering trees will be in bloom.

Nashville, with a long tradition of artistic and educational excellence, has earned the reputation as the “Athens of the South.” The nickname has its roots in the Centennial Celebration of Tennessee’s statehood in 1897. Centennial Park near Vanderbilt University was the site for a grand exhibition featuring several wonders of the world, including pyramids, a sphinx and an exact replica of The Parthenon. At the end of the celebration, The Parthenon was retained and today houses the city’s art museum.

With all the creative energy flowing in Nashville, you know the culinary offerings will be good. There are countless choices to tempt even the most discriminating palate. Whether you are dining in jeans or cocktail attire, you can always count on the food to be memorable.

For a gourmet meal in elegant surroundings, the Wild Boar fits the bill. Mario’s Restaurante has won every major restaurant award with its Italian fare. Jimmy Kelly’s serves up steaks, veal and lamb in a picturesque Victorian home. Arthur’s in the historic Union Station Hotel and the Capitol Grille in the Hermitage Suite Hotel are two other equally lavish options.

The relaxed atmosphere of many restaurants belies the delights in store for diners. Belle Meade Brasserie is a mouth watering example, as is Finezza trattoria and Sunset Grill, the stop for those “doing lunch” on Music Row. Places like Brown’s Diner and Rotier’s are the most deceptive, for their roughhewn surroundings offer up heavenly burgers, malts and other such simple fare rendered extraordinary.

A complete guide to Nashville restaurants can be found at www.nashville.cityscape.com by entering the name of the restaurant.

Annual Meeting Attendance Requirement

AUA members are reminded that in accordance with the Association’s bylaws, Council shall have the power to designate as a former member any active member who is absent from three consecutive meetings without justifiable excuse in writing to the Secretary. Reinstatement of active membership will be upon request and payment of all back dues. Attendance at an annual meeting will require payment of all back dues.

The above was incorporated into the bylaws to encourage member participation in the Association. The AUA Annual Meeting is one of the Association’s most valuable benefits, offering members the opportunity to learn about current topics pertinent to their pursuit of original investigations and the development of methods of teaching. The annual meeting also serves as a networking opportunity promoting the free and informal interchange of ideas.

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