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 Klaus HahnenkampKlaus HahnenkampKlaus Hahnenkamp is an Associate Professor in Anesthesiology in the Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive-Care Medicine and Pain Therapy at Münster University Hospital in Germany. He studied medicine at the University of Göttingen, Germany, qualifying as a physician in 1999. He passed his postdoctoral Habilitation degree, qualifying him as an Associate Professor in 2007. Dr Hahnenkamp's research is focused on the alternative effects of local anesthetics and opioids on glutaminergic excitatory signaling pathways and G proteins. He has received a number of national and international research awards, including the Ben Covino Research Award from the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) in 2004, the Clinical Scholar Research Award from the IARS in 2007, and the August Bier Award from the German Anesthesiology Society (DGAI) in 2007. His teaching work has been recognized at the national level by the Thieme Teaching Award, which is presented by a DGAI committee for outstanding projects in the area of medical education and further training. In 2008, he received the IARS's Teaching Recognition Award. He has published a number of journal articles related to alternative effects in anesthetics and on medical education. He is an active member of the German Anesthesiology Society and serves on several committees concerned with education and further training in anesthesiology for medical students and residents. Marc Van de VeldeMarc Van de VeldeDr Marc Van de Velde obtained his medical degree at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium in 1991. He completed his residency in anaesthesiology in 1996 at the University Hospitals of Louvain. In 2000, he received his PhD degree following research related to metabolic support of the stunned myocardium. He was appointed member of staff in 1997 at the Department of Anesthesiology of the University Hospitals in Louvain, Belgium and is now Full Professor of Anesthesia. Until November 2010 he was Clinical Director of obstetric anesthesia and Clinical Director of anesthesia outside the operating room. Since November 2010, he has been Head of the Department of Anesthesiology at the Catholic University Leuven and Full Professor at the Leuven University Hospitals, Belgium. Dr Van de Velde has given over 240 invited lectures at the international and national level, has published 60 articles in peer reviewed journals, has produced 30 manuscripts for non peer reviewed journals and has co-authored four book chapters. He is Editor (together with Helen Scholefield and Lauren Plante) of a new, international book on maternal critical care to be published in 2013 and he is Editor (together with Vicki Clark and Roshan Fernando) of a new book on obstetric anesthesia to be published in 2014. He was member of the Committee of the Obstetric Anaesthetists Association from 2003 to 2009 and is currently President of the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy (ESRA). He is also Chair of the Scientific Subcommittee on Obstetric Anesthesia of the European Society of Anesthesiology (ESA). His primary clinical interest focuses on obstetric anesthesia and anesthesia for children and adults with congenital heart disease undergoing non cardiac surgery. Most of his current research focuses on obstetric anesthesia.