Dear OSA Members,

As the 2021 Holiday Season approaches, we reflect on the highlights and the challenges of the year.  Anesthesiologists across the state of Ohio have dutifully served patients as our state has continued the fight against COVID19.  Anesthesiologists, in various practice settings, have continued to provide exemplary patient care while adapting to a “new normal”.  We continue to see anesthesiologists committed to training residents, fellows and medical students as well as being involved research in a multitude of topics relevant to our specialty and its growth.  Many OSA members are engaged in various national organizations through leadership and scholarship.  I would like to highlight Ronald Harter, M.D., who was recently elected to First Vice President of the American Society of Anesthesiologists at the 2021 ASA Annual Meeting.  This tremendous accomplishment  demonstrates Dr. Harter’s commitment to our patients and specialty as he is both a practicing anesthesiologist and Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.  Also, I would like to thank the members of the OSA Committee on Education and Annual Meeting, OSA Staff, and all the Annual Meeting Speakers for resuming an in-person OSA Annual Meeting in September 2021.  The meeting had a fantastic program, was well attended, and attendees were eligible for MOCA Patient Safety CME credit!  As a reminder, registration for the OSA Annual Meeting is a member benefit, so please remember to register and attend the 2022 OSA Annual Meeting to be held in Columbus, Ohio.  This is just a brief snippet in a long list of accomplishments we should all take pride in.

At the same time, we must not forget the importance of advocating for our patients and our specialty.  I hope everyone reading this will take three minutes and contribute to the OSA’s Political Action Committee (OSA PAC) as any contribution helps us engage our legislators (https://osainc.org/pac-donations/).  Additionally, it is important to advocate nationally and you can donate to the American Society of Anesthesiologist’s Political Action Committee (ASAPAC)  (https://asapac.asahq.org/home.aspx).  I would love to see 100% of Ohio Anesthesiologists and Anesthesiology Residents/Fellows donating to both the OSAPAC and ASAPAC as any contribution is meaningful and demonstrates engagement with our legislators.

It is my sincere hope that during 2022 the OSA continues to reach out to more of its membership, through development and maintenance of the OSA website (https://osainc.org) to disseminate information, but also to encourage members to become active on OSA Committees and with our legislators.

Sincerely,

Erica Stein, M.D., FASA

OSA President