Executive Committee Report 2010

While the past year has been quite a challenge for many of us, the members of the world anesthesia community, brought about by natural disasters, loss of lives, and unresolved armed conflicts, there are also many personal joyful events we do celebrate and are thankful for, like the birth of a new grandchild, the marriage of our kids, and life as we renew our birthday celebrations.

Our Successes

For the WFSA, we are particularly proud of and joyful for our WFSA President, Dr Angela Enright, who has been recognized as a member and officer of the Order of Canada, and lately recognized with a professorial lecture named after her by the Royal College of Anesthetists of Canada.  Indeed, she inspires us all, and remains as our model for exemplary leadership.

We are also very proud of the other undertakings of various WFSA committees, namely,

·     the WFSA Global Oximetry Program and the Lifebox project

·     the Education Committee for their very robust accomplishments

            across all geographical regions

·     the Pediatric Committee for the translation of the basic pediatric book

            authored by its Chair, Dr Rebecca Jacob

·     Obstetrics Committee for the worldwide distribution of its CME articles on CD-Rom

·     Working Party on Professional Well-Being for being able to push for the publication of their initial research work

The other source of pride is the diligence of the WFSA Management Group, including Ms Ruth Hooper.  WFSA support is ever present in all the Regional Congresses of every WFSA Regional Section.  WFSA have also  made presence in other world and/or  regional specialty anesthesia meetings like the World SIVA, AOSRA, ASEAN Congress and SAARC.  In October, there shall also be a WFSA Panel during the ASA Annual Meeting to project our global activities and hopefully to generate more interests and stronger partnership with the American Society of Anesthesiologists

Our Challenges

We are all deeply committed to our responsibilities as Officers of this Federation.  We do realize that our Federation has been founded more than 50 years ago, and maybe, some of our challenges today is because we need to revisit “whether WFSA is still relevant today”.

Hence, the members of the WFSA Management Group (President, Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Treasurer, Chair of ExCo) has decided to convene a two full day of strategic planning in Chicago, prior to the ASA meeting.  The main objective is to firm up the WFSA Vision and lay down our specific Mission Statements even before we past the torch to the new set of leadership during the 2012 WFSA elections. Hence, I appeal for your prayers that we be enlightened in our decision-making, in our quest to make WFSA relevant to every anesthesiologist around the world. 

I enjoin you to send us your suggestions, comments and criticisms. All these are fertile materials for brainstorming.  We shall then cascade the proceedings from this retreat to all the Members of Executive Committee, for further comments and deliberations, prior to the WFSA General Assembly in Buenos Aires.

Time flies and we are just six months away from WCA 2012 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  This is also another challenge. Nevertheless, let us attract positive vibes, and enjoin our comrades to finalize plans for this “anesthesia olympics”.  It is another big opportunity to have a business and pleasure trip.

Thank you for your continuing trust in us and support for WFSA. See you all soon.

Florian R Nuevo MD - Chair, Executive Committee