VSA UPDATE

An official publication of the Virginia Society of Anesthesiologists

From the Editor

01/20/21

Creation of an Acute Pain Service at the VA in Richmond, Virginia: Aims and Outcomes
By Brooke Albright-Trainer, MD, FASA
Acute Pain Physician, Anesthesiologist, and Intensivist
Central Virginia VA Health Care System
Richmond VA

Special thanks to contributions from Robert Trainer, DO; Allen Ha, PharmD; Mercy Orikogbo, RN; and Diane Ibanez, RN. The Hunter Holmes McGuire VAMC cares for veterans with the most significant and life-threatening disease burden across the VHA system. Our VA in Richmond is one of only a few VA facilities across the nation that has a true dedicated Acute Pain Service … [Read more...] about Creation of an Acute Pain Service at the VA in Richmond, Virginia: Aims and Outcomes
By Brooke Albright-Trainer, MD, FASA
Acute Pain Physician, Anesthesiologist, and Intensivist
Central Virginia VA Health Care System
Richmond VA

10/5/20

Mitigate Unconscious Bias to Increase Diversity & Inclusion in Our Specialty
By Brooke Trainer, MD, FASA
Editor, VSA UPDATE

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” —Verna Myers, diversity advocate. Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) in our political organization is especially important in order for our specialty of Anesthesiology to thrive. This past July 2020, the ASA Joint Committee Roundtable had a conversation on D&I where they discussed the need to … [Read more...] about Mitigate Unconscious Bias to Increase Diversity & Inclusion in Our Specialty
By Brooke Trainer, MD, FASA
Editor, VSA UPDATE

07/6/20

Balancing Competing Goals: Protests during a pandemic
By Brooke Trainer, MD, FASA
VSA UPDATE Editor

It’s hard to see the forest for the trees. These are uncertain times we are facing and many of us are inundated with worry. We worry over whether we will fall ill, when we will see our family and friends again, when we will recoup lost income, whether we will have enough PPE, whether racial disparities will improve, and whether this strife and unrest in society will … [Read more...] about Balancing Competing Goals: Protests during a pandemic
By Brooke Trainer, MD, FASA
VSA UPDATE Editor

04/3/20

Prevent Burnout: Focus on Your ONE Thing
By Brooke Albright-Trainer, MD
Editor, VSA UPDATE

Burnout Syndrome (BOS) among health care workers is increasingly recognized as a serious medical condition, but what are we doing to prevent or treat the problem? Few resources exist for healthcare professionals looking to seek emotional and mental help. Often times, healthcare workers fail to report these issues due to the stigma and moral obligation to perform well, the fear … [Read more...] about Prevent Burnout: Focus on Your ONE Thing
By Brooke Albright-Trainer, MD
Editor, VSA UPDATE

02/21/20

Core Values and Principles:
Introducing the New VSA Update Editor
By Brooke Albright-Trainer, MD
VSA Update Editor

First and foremost, I want to say thank you for entrusting me as your editor for the VSA Update newsletter. For my first editorial, I have been asked by VSA leadership to write about myself, something I find quite challenging. I do realize the importance of their request and have taken time reflecting on what to write. After many reiterations and revisions, this … [Read more...] about Core Values and Principles:
Introducing the New VSA Update Editor
By Brooke Albright-Trainer, MD
VSA Update Editor