Editorial introductions

Abstract

Current Opinion in Anesthesiology was launched in 1988. It is one of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The field of anesthesiology is divided into 15 sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Section Editors for this issue. SECTION EDITORS Ken B. JohnsonKen B. JohnsonKen B. Johnson, MD is an anesthesiologist at the University of Utah, USA. His clinical interests are in acute pain management and anesthetic drug pharmacology. He is the Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Anesthesiology. His research interests are in anesthetic drug interactions, developing pain biomarkers, and medical device development to better capture adverse respiratory events. Dr Johnson has received extramural support from government, foundations, and industry to support his work. He has enjoyed collaborating with researchers in bioengineering, neuroscience, and pharmacology. Dr Johnson's education interests are in screen-based and high-fidelity simulation. He serves as the Co-Director of the Center for Simulation within the Department of Anesthesiology. He directs simulation courses that meet selected requirements for Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesia established by the American Board of Anesthesiology. He is a member of the team that has developed both online and high-fidelity simulation training for moderate and deep sedation endorsed by the American Society of Anesthesiologists. By way of professional service, Dr Johnson is a Section Editor for Anesthesia and Analgesia, a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologist's Simulation Education Editorial Board, and a Part II examiner (oral board examiner) for the American Board of Anesthesiologists. He also serves on the American Board of Anesthesiologists Observed Structured Clinical Examination Development Committee. Mark S. WeissMark S. WeissMark S. Weiss is an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at the University of Pennsylvania, USA. He is the Section Chief of Inpatient Endoscopy, and works both in the Operating Room and Non-Operating Room setting. Dr Weiss earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati, USA. He completed his Residency at Yale University, USA, after which he completed a Specialization Year in Cardiac and High-Risk Anesthesia. He moved to Penn after several years as a private practice anesthesiologist. The combination of experience, efficiency, and collaboration has led him and his team to develop and implement measures designed to improve patient flow as well as patient care. He is keenly interested in developing standards for patient care and resident education. Since joining Penn, Dr Weiss has written several papers and chapters. He has also been asked to edit several monographs, and is very proud of his current association with Current Opinion in Anesthesiology. Working with Dr Lee Fleisher, Dr Weiss has produced a textbook, Non-Operating Room Anesthesia. Dr Weiss was a founding member of the Society of Non-Operating Room Intervention and Anesthesia (SONORIA), in response to the astounding growth of Non-Operating Room Anesthesia (NORA) cases. SONORIA recently merged with the Association of Anesthesia Clinical Directors (AACD), where Dr Weiss sits on the Board of Directors. In addition to writing, Dr Weiss developed a NORA course for residents at the University of Pennsylvania, one of the first such courses in the United States. Shortly after, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) mandated the two week NORA rotation for all accredited residency programs. This broad mandate is vague as to what is to be taught. Different programs have different levels of ability or resources to expose residents to the full spectrum of the NORA setting. In order to standardize both anesthesia provider training as well as improve patient care, Dr Weiss, through Penn, has developed an online training program: NORAlink. NORAlink is designed to provide an integrated teaching platform across the spectrum of NORA, through a multi-modal approach. NORAlink has value not only to residency training programs, but can also be the standard teaching tool for the entire anesthesia provider team, including Staff Anesthesiologists, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, and Procedural Physicians supervising the delivery of anesthesia in the NORA setting.