The IARS is committed to advancing the field of anesthesiology through a number of research and educational initiatives that benefit not only practicing anesthesiologists but also patients of all ages. We strive to provide you with the latest news through several education newsletters as well as the important updates on this page.
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Latest News
Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care of the Cancer Patient: Enhancing Lives and Improving Outcomes
APRIL 4, 2025
One in two people will get cancer in his or her lifetime. Cancer is the second leading cause of death and is projected to become #1. Despite these trends, more than 17 million Americans with a history of invasive cancer are still alive today. Recent advances in perioperative cancer care underscore the importance of a multidisciplinary and holistic approach. Emerging evidence on anesthetic techniques reveals that the choice of anesthesia may influence tumor biology and overall cancer outcomes. The advent of novel cancer therapeutics, including immunotherapies and targeted agents, poses unique perioperative challenges that require careful integration into clinical practice to manage potential adverse effects and interactions. On a global scale, shifting cancer epidemiology highlights the growing burden of malignancies, reinforcing the need for tailored anesthesiology and perioperative strategies across diverse health care settings. Addressing cancer-related coagulopathy is equally critical, as understanding the altered coagulation pathways in cancer patients helps mitigate the risks of bleeding and thrombosis during surgery. In addition, there is an increasing focus on the human microbiome and its potential role in modulating tumor behavior and treatment responses. The perioperative period itself is a window of opportunity—and risk—during which cancer biology may be influenced by surgical stress and inflammation, necessitating vigilant care. Effective perioperative pain and fluid management further enhance patient outcomes, while prehabilitation shows promise in improving postoperative recovery and functional capacity.
Novel Cancer Therapeutics: Perioperative Implications and Challenges
Anesthetic Techniques and Cancer Outcomes: What Is the Current Evidence?
Remembering Former A&A Editor-in-Chief Dr. Ronald D. Miller
APRIL 4, 2025
The IARS is sad to note the passing of former Anesthesia & Analgesia Editor-in-Chief Ronald Miller, MD at the end of February. Dr. Miller was EIC of A&A for fifteen years, from March 1991 through March 2006. He was among the most accomplished and influential anesthesiologists in the world. A former Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of California San Francisco, Dr. Miller was also editor of the eponymous “Miller’s Anesthesia,” the definitive textbook for our specialty. For more information about Dr. Miller’s many contributions to the IARS and the specialty of anesthesiology, read the past tributes to him by Dr. Steven Shafer and Dr. Kenneth Tuman in Anesthesia & Analgesia.
2025 Anesthesia & Analgesia Editorial Fellowship
APRIL 4, 2025
Congratulations to the incoming Anesthesia & Analgesia Editorial Fellows! Drs. Moataz Maher Emara, Rachel Gioscia-Ryan, Amanda J. Naylor, Yves Joel Tochie Noutakdie, and Valluvan Rangasamy will begin their year-long Editorial Fellowships starting April 1, 2025. During this time, they will shadow two of A&A’s section editors and take on a scholarly project related to the journal.
April 2025 A&A Video Summary: Featured Articles
APRIL 4, 2025
View this video summary covering three featured articles from the April 2025 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Introducing the New Executive Committee of the IARS Board
APRIL 4, 2025
The International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) is happy to announce the incoming Executive Committee of the IARS Board of Directors. We are certain that they will steadily lead IARS forward in the coming year, guiding our global anesthesiology community to advance the science and practice of medicine.
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Board President Oluwaseun “Seun” Johnson-Akeju, MD, Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at Mass General Brigham (MGB), has stepped into the role of IARS Board President. Having joined the IARS Board of Directors in 2021, Dr. Johnson-Akeju has since served as Board Secretary and Treasurer as well as on the Nomination and Governance Committee and the Annual Meeting Oversight Committee as the CME Co-Chair and provided valuable input on strategic planning and vital initiatives to grow the anesthesia research specialty. With substantial experience as a clinician, researcher, educator and leader in the anesthesiology specialty, he possesses unwavering principals of transparency, equity, inclusion, and a strong commitment to service, accountability and excellence. With 18 years of experience as a clinician and scientist at MGB with a research background that intersects medicine, neuroscience, mathematical modeling and engineering, Dr. Johnson-Akeju has worked tirelessly to unite teams and build meaningful connections within his institution and beyond. His commitment to community building will continue to elevate the IARS mission to grow and support scientists worldwide. Dr. Johnson-Akeju will no doubt steer the helm of the IARS deftly in the coming year.
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Immediate Past Board President A recognized investigator and an expert in lung biology, Y.S. Prakash, MD, PhD, vice dean of Research at Mayo Clinic as well as associate dean of Research, Midwest and Professor of Anesthesiology and Physiology and chair of the Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering at Mayo, has continued to expand his service to the research community since he joined the IARS Board of Directors in 2020. His dedication to the research community is vast and career-spanning with service to several professional societies in anesthesiology, physiology and pulmonary medicine, including the Association of University Anesthesiologists, American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Physiological Society and American Thoracic Society. His commitment to IARS is reflected in the multiple roles he has undertaken at the organization, including board chair and vice chair, chair of the Research & Education Awards Committee, vice chair of the Membership Committee and journal liaison to Anesthesia & Analgesia. Dr. Prakash’s unique perspective with a background that spans anesthesiology, physiology, and electrical and biomedical engineering continues to benefit IARS’s diverse global anesthesiology community.
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Board President-Elect Since joining the IARS Board of Directors in 2021, Vivianne Tawfik, MD, PhD, associate professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine; director, Fellowship in Anesthesia Research & Medicine (FARM) program at Stanford University, has demonstrated her dedication and essential contributions to the organization across all programs and initiatives. An experienced anesthesiologist, pain medicine physician and scientist, her roles have included serving on the Annual Meeting Oversight Committee, leading the IARS Membership Committee as co-chair and helping provide strategic insights on the Executive Committee. Throughout her service to IARS and anesthesiology, she has shown a commitment for building a purposeful and inclusive global anesthesiology community, including co-founding the Early-Career Anesthesiology Scholars organization, increasing access to IARS resources for individuals in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and early-career faculty through discounted memberships and dedicated travel grants, sharing her time and expertise with other professional organizations like the International Association for the Study of Pain and advocating for women in anesthesiology. Dr. Tawfik has emphasized the importance of growing and supporting scientists worldwide and continuing to advance knowledge both at IARS and in her own research investigating the immune contribution to persistent pain and clinical work treating patients suffering from chronic pain. Her significant drive to mentor the next generation of physician-scientists and advance science will pay dividends for the IARS in the future.
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Board Secretary and Treasurer As a leader in pain research and health IT, Meredith Adams, MD, MS, FASA, FAMIA, associate professor, Departments of Anesthesiology, Biomedical Informatics, and Public Health Sciences at Wake Forest School of Medicine, has played a major role in shaping the future of pain research and advancing patient care as a whole through her scientific contributions, leadership and advocacy. Having joined the IARS Board of Directors in 2023, Dr. Adams has consistently exemplified a passion for scientific excellence, a strong work ethic, and steadfast determination for making a significant difference for the anesthesiology community. As a NIH-funded researcher who is board certified in anesthesiology, pain medicine and clinical informatics with a current NIH PI portfolio of more than $16 million, Dr. Adams’ depth of knowledge as an anesthesiologist and researcher, diverse perspective and vital input on strategic initiatives have served IARS as she has served on the Nomination and Governance, Annual Meeting Oversight and Membership committees. In this new leadership role, Dr. Adams will continue to develop an inclusive anesthesiology community at IARS that welcomes every perspective and every shape of researcher and clinician. |
IARS Welcomes Three New Members to the Board
APRIL 4, 2025
The International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) is excited to announce three new members to its Board of Directors. These anesthesiology research leaders bring a wealth of knowledge as clinician-scientists, significant experience in community-building and remarkable passion for mentoring the next generation of anesthesia research scholars. The IARS would like to welcome new board members Shahzad Shaefi, MD, MPH from Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Jessica Spence, MD, PhD, from McMaster University and the Population Health Research Institute, and Julie K. Freed, MD, PhD, from Medical College of Wisconsin. Drs. Shaefi and Spence began their terms following the IARS 2025 Annual Meeting and Dr. Freed will begin her role on July 1 after concluding her service as IARS Mentored Research Award Study Section chair.
Please join us in welcoming Drs. Shaefi, Spence and Freed to the IARS Board of Directors. We look forward to seeing all they will contribute to the organization and the global anesthesiology community.
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Read an Interview with Shahzad Shaefi, MD, MPH Vice chair of Professional Affairs for the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine and co-director of ECMO Services at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, Shahzad Shaefi, MD, MPH, brings a well-rounded background as a cardiac anesthesiologist, intensivist and clinician-scientist with experience in basic, translational and clinical science. He offers a unique perspective and passion for patient-centered care that will greatly benefit the IARS Board as they guide the diverse community of clinician-scientists to advance the science and practice of medicine.
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Read an Interview with Jessica Spence, MD, PhD An assistant professor in the Departments of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Health Research Methodology, Evaluation, and Impact at McMaster University; and a scientist for Population Health Research Institute in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Jessica Spence, MD, PhD, is passionate about advancing scientific knowledge. Her dedication to giving back to the specialty and commitment to mentoring the next generation will prove a boon for future IARS initiatives and continue to develop this valuable research community that initially attracted Dr. Spence to engage IARS back in 2018.
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Read an Interview with Julie K. Freed, MD, PhD Executive vice chair, an associate professor, and director of NIGMS STAT Program for the Department of Anesthesiology, and director of Clinical & Translational Research for the Cardiovascular Research Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Julie K. Freed, MD, PhD, will contribute a wealth of knowledge as an experienced physician-scientist. Her commitment to advancing the science of medicine and focus on developing the next generation will prove a major asset to all IARS endeavors in the future.
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Last Chance to Apply to Join IARS Committees!
Application Deadline: April 15, 2025
APRIL 4, 2025
The International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) is grateful for our current and former dedicated volunteers from the global anesthesiology community who have helped to lead and direct many important programs for our organization. If you are passionate about making a difference, want to contribute to the IARS mission and vision and expand the reach of anesthesiology, we invite you to apply for open positions. Learn more.
We are currently searching for volunteers to serve on the following committees:
- Annual Meeting Oversight Committee: Provides oversight for the IARS Annual Meeting and other educational events like webinars throughout the year.
- Membership – International: Develops new and innovative ways to engage the international community through IARS membership and education and research activities such as the International Outreach Travel Grant.
- Membership – Online Community: Develops programs, discussion topics and initiatives such as Online Journal Clubs and subspecialty-specific educational series to increase engagement in the Online Community in DocMatter.
- Membership – Outreach, Retention and Engagement: Increases outreach to IARS members and the global anesthesiology community to create the most meaningful engagement experiences such as the 2025 International Clinical Trials Pre-Conference Meeting and early-career focus groups.
Advance Your Career and the Specialty! Now Accepting Applications for 2025 IARS Mentored Research Awards!
Submission Deadline: April 30, 2025
APRIL 4, 2025
Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 IARS Mentored Research Awards (IMRA)! For more than 100 years, the vision of the International Anesthesia Research Society has been to lead the global anesthesiology community to advance the science and practice of medicine. IARS established IMRA to help create future leaders and prepare applicants to obtain independent research funding. Up to four research projects will be selected in 2025, each with a maximum award of $175,000 payable over two years. IMRA applications may be in any area of investigation (clinical, translational, basic science), but must have ultimate relevance to the broad practice of anesthesiology and its subspecialties.
To learn more and view past successful IMRA research endeavors, visit iars.org/awards/IMRA.
2025 Annual Meeting
APRIL 4, 2025
We had more than 1,200 colleagues join us last month for the 2025 Annual Meeting, presented by IARS and SOCCA, in Hawaii.
Session recordings will be available for purchase soon. All registered attendees will have complimentary access to session recordings.
CME is now available for the meeting. Registered attendees received an email to claim credits on March 24. Email [email protected] with CME questions.
Thank You, Sponsors and Exhibitors of the 2025 Annual Meeting!
APRIL 4, 2025
Platinum Sponsor
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Silver Sponsor
BD
Bronze Sponsors
Heron Therapeutics, Inc.
Masimo
U.S. Army Physician Recruiting
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Exhibitors
Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER)
Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics
Medtronic
Merck & Co, Inc.
NeuroWave Systems
Pacific Anesthesia
Senzime
UW Madison, Department of Anesthesiology
Vantari VR
WashU Medicine Department of Anesthesiology
Missed the 2025 Annual Meeting, presented by IARS and SOCCA? Catch Up with The Daily Dose
APRIL 4, 2025
The Daily Dose is the official e-newsletter of the 2025 Annual Meeting, presented by IARS and SOCCA, and the Scholars’ Program. Discover major takeaways from sessions on important topics in anesthesiology, available in all seven issues from this year’s meeting. If you missed the articles, photos and conversations shared within these issues, providing you with vital insights to improve your research, practice and ultimately patient care, you can still check them out on the IARS website.
View the full issues:
Issue 1: Advancing Science Globally – March 20, 2025
Issue 2: Challenging Existing Practices – March 21, 2025
Issue 3: A New Hope for Patient Care – March 22, 2025
Issue 4: Adapting Modern Practice – March 23, 2025
Issue 5: Steering the Course for Your Career – March 24, 2025
Issue 6: Transforming Anesthesiology – March 28, 2025
Issue 7: Innovative Ideas to Improve Patient Health – March 31, 2025
We want to express our deep gratitude to our hardworking and diligent Daily Dose writers, editors, website manager and photographer, without whom this newsletter would not be possible.
If you have any feedback, comments or ideas to share for The Daily Dose, please contact us at [email protected].
Continue Conversations from the 2025 Annual Meeting in the IARS Online Community
APRIL 4, 2025
Registrants of the 2025 Annual Meeting, presented by IARS and SOCCA, can continue discussions with colleagues in the IARS Online Community in DocMatter. Additionally, speakers from select sessions will be available for further questions and discussions.
To see featured discussions, click on this link (IARS2025) or search for “IARS2025” on the discussion filter page. If you have lingering questions or comments post-meeting, use the community to give feedback, engage with peers and get those questions answered! You will be able to access all discussions for 2025 meeting after logging into the community website.
Highlighted Discussions:
- Is This Case a ‘Do-It-Yourself’ or a ‘Phone a Friend’? – The Role of Palliative Care in ICU Settings [IARS 2025] – Discussion with Speaker Dr. Rebecca Ann Aslakson
- Writing Your Manuscript for A&A: What Do Our Editors Expect? [IARS2025] – Discussion with Speaker Dr. Shannon Leigh Farmer
- The Nuts and Bolts of Starting a Research Program [IARS 2025] – Discussion with Speaker Dr. Jason Maynes
- International Science Symposium – Better Prepared, Better Recovered: Prehabilitation and Patient Optimization Before Surgery [IARS2025] – Discussion with Speaker Dr. Daniel I. McIsaac
- Elevating Career Advancement and Leadership Opportunities for Women Anesthesiologists [IARS 2025] – Discussion with Speaker Dr. Marina Moguilevitch
- Getting Your First Clinical Trial Funded [IARS2025] – Discussion with Speaker Dr. Alexander Nagrebetsky
- Aerospace Medicine and Anesthesiology: Advancing Triage in Remote Locations [IARS2025] – Discussion with Speaker Dr. Ariana Nelson
- Aerospace Medicine and Anesthesiology: Overlapping Physiology and Research Opportunities [IARS2025] – Discussion with Speaker Dr. Julia Scarpa
Save the Date for the 2026 Annual Meeting: May 1-3, 2026 Montreal, Canada
Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montreal, Canada
APRIL 4, 2025
2026 Call for Sessions
The call for sessions for the 2026 Annual Meeting will open in April 2025. Information will be posted here.
Call for Sessions Open: Late April 2025
Deadline to Submit: July 14, 2025
2015 IARS Mentored Research Award Recipient Interview: Charles Brown, IV, MD
APRIL 4, 2025
Charles Brown, IV, MD
Study: Prevention and Consequences of Postoperative Delirium
After completing anesthesiology training, Charles Brown, IV, MD, found himself behind in accumulating pilot data and successful research endpoints to prepare himself for larger funding from the NIH. Fortunately, some internal funding from his institution, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and a 2015 IARS Mentored Research Award, provided him with the support and protected research time he needed to make positive progression in his career as a clinician scientist. An Assistant Professor in Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the time, through the IMRA-funded study, Dr. Brown was able to pursue a topic of great importance to him, “Prevention and Consequences of Postoperative Delirium.” With this study, he was able to show a change in cognition at one month, emphasizing that delirium has long-term consequences and perioperative brain health is gravely important. Following this initial funded study, Dr. Brown quickly transitioned to independent funding, finding a research home in the National Institute of Aging. From a research perspective, he was able to expand his initial investigation from postoperative delirium to address more broadly the perioperative care of older adults, looking for biomarkers and optimization protocols that might improve care. In his interview, Dr. Brown shares his journey in anesthesiology, the evolution of his research, and his hopes for the continued development of perioperative medicine research to improve patient care.
Women of Impact in Anesthesiology: Advancing in Leadership, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm ET
APRIL 4, 2025
This webinar aims to shed light on the academic and leadership achievements of women in anesthesiology while also addressing the hurdles they have encountered, including gender inequalities, unconscious bias, and work-life balance issues. By emphasizing the strategies employed by these women to surmount these obstacles and the pivotal role of mentors in advancing their careers, the discussion will offer invaluable insights and guidance for aspiring women in the field. Through sharing their experiences and offering words of wisdom, the panelists will inspire and empower future generations of women entering the realm of anesthesia.
Moderator: Allison M. Fernandez, MD, MBA, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Baltimore, MD
Presenters
Embarking on a Research Career: Mid-Career Anesthesiologists Embracing Research Opportunities
Vidya T. Raman, MD, MBA, FASA, FAAP, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Rising to President of ASA: Lessons Learned
Linda J. Mason, MD, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Mastering Career Transitions with Success
Kelly McQueen, MD, MPH, FASA, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
View Recordings from Previous Webinars
APRIL 4, 2025
Missed a previous webinar? IARS full members can access a valuable library of recordings from previous webinars from 2022-2025. Plus, take advantage of opportunities to claim Enduring Material CME credits.
Login to the Member Site to access this valuable resource.
Discover Anesthesia Community Activities on the Events Calendar
APRIL 4, 2025
View meetings and events from the IARS and other organizations on the Anesthesia Community Events Calendar. If you have a meeting or event you would like to include on this calendar, email [email protected]. Please include the date, time, location and website URL for the meeting or event.
New Vodcast Series! Professional Development
APRIL 4, 2025
Multimedia Section Editor Carole Lin, MD, along with authors Bhavana Jami, DO, and Allison Fernandez, MD, MBA, present “Imposter Syndrome,” the first episode in OpenAnesthesia’s new vodcast series. The authors pose the question “What is Imposter Syndrome and how can we reframe it?”
- New Vodcast Series! Pediatric Anesthesia Vodcast (en Español): Consideraciones Perioperatorias: Bronchoespamo en Anestesia Pediátrica con Marco V. Padilla, MD
- OA-POCUS Case of the Month: This vodcast series is back from hiatus with Introduction to Lung Ultrasound with Yuriy Bronshteyn, MD, FASE and colleagues.
- OA-SPA Pediatric Anesthesia Virtual Grand Rounds: Obesity & Anesthesia with Jamey E. Eklund, MD, DABOM.
- PAINTS (Pediatric Anesthesiology Internet-Based Non-Technical Skills): QI Methodology with Dr. Rajeev Iyer
Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care of the Cancer Patient: Enhancing Lives and Improving Outcomes
APRIL 4, 2025
One in two people will get cancer in his or her lifetime. Cancer is the second leading cause of death and is projected to become #1. Despite these trends, more than 17 million Americans with a history of invasive cancer are still alive today. Recent advances in perioperative cancer care underscore the importance of a multidisciplinary and holistic approach. Emerging evidence on anesthetic techniques reveals that the choice of anesthesia may influence tumor biology and overall cancer outcomes. The advent of novel cancer therapeutics, including immunotherapies and targeted agents, poses unique perioperative challenges that require careful integration into clinical practice to manage potential adverse effects and interactions. On a global scale, shifting cancer epidemiology highlights the growing burden of malignancies, reinforcing the need for tailored anesthesiology and perioperative strategies across diverse health care settings. Addressing cancer-related coagulopathy is equally critical, as understanding the altered coagulation pathways in cancer patients helps mitigate the risks of bleeding and thrombosis during surgery. In addition, there is an increasing focus on the human microbiome and its potential role in modulating tumor behavior and treatment responses. The perioperative period itself is a window of opportunity—and risk—during which cancer biology may be influenced by surgical stress and inflammation, necessitating vigilant care. Effective perioperative pain and fluid management further enhance patient outcomes, while prehabilitation shows promise in improving postoperative recovery and functional capacity.
Novel Cancer Therapeutics: Perioperative Implications and Challenges
Anesthetic Techniques and Cancer Outcomes: What Is the Current Evidence?
Remembering Former A&A Editor-in-Chief Dr. Ronald D. Miller
APRIL 4, 2025
The IARS is sad to note the passing of former Anesthesia & Analgesia Editor-in-Chief Ronald Miller, MD at the end of February. Dr. Miller was EIC of A&A for fifteen years, from March 1991 through March 2006. He was among the most accomplished and influential anesthesiologists in the world. A former Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of California San Francisco, Dr. Miller was also editor of the eponymous “Miller’s Anesthesia,” the definitive textbook for our specialty. For more information about Dr. Miller’s many contributions to the IARS and the specialty of anesthesiology, read the past tributes to him by Dr. Steven Shafer and Dr. Kenneth Tuman in Anesthesia & Analgesia.
2025 Anesthesia & Analgesia Editorial Fellowship
APRIL 4, 2025
Congratulations to the incoming Anesthesia & Analgesia Editorial Fellows! Drs. Moataz Maher Emara, Rachel Gioscia-Ryan, Amanda J. Naylor, Yves Joel Tochie Noutakdie, and Valluvan Rangasamy will begin their year-long Editorial Fellowships starting April 1, 2025. During this time, they will shadow two of A&A’s section editors and take on a scholarly project related to the journal.
April 2025 A&A Video Summary: Featured Articles
APRIL 4, 2025
View this video summary covering three featured articles from the April 2025 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Introducing the New Executive Committee of the IARS Board
APRIL 4, 2025
The International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) is happy to announce the incoming Executive Committee of the IARS Board of Directors. We are certain that they will steadily lead IARS forward in the coming year, guiding our global anesthesiology community to advance the science and practice of medicine.
Board President
Oluwaseun “Seun” Johnson-Akeju, MD, Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at Mass General Brigham (MGB), has stepped into the role of IARS Board President. Having joined the IARS Board of Directors in 2021, Dr. Johnson-Akeju has since served as Board Secretary and Treasurer as well as on the Nomination and Governance Committee and the Annual Meeting Oversight Committee as the CME Co-Chair and provided valuable input on strategic planning and vital initiatives to grow the anesthesia research specialty. With substantial experience as a clinician, researcher, educator and leader in the anesthesiology specialty, he possesses unwavering principals of transparency, equity, inclusion, and a strong commitment to service, accountability and excellence. With 18 years of experience as a clinician and scientist at MGB with a research background that intersects medicine, neuroscience, mathematical modeling and engineering, Dr. Johnson-Akeju has worked tirelessly to unite teams and build meaningful connections within his institution and beyond. His commitment to community building will continue to elevate the IARS mission to grow and support scientists worldwide. Dr. Johnson-Akeju will no doubt steer the helm of the IARS deftly in the coming year.
Immediate Past Board President
A recognized investigator and an expert in lung biology, Y.S. Prakash, MD, PhD, vice dean of Research at Mayo Clinic as well as associate dean of Research, Midwest and Professor of Anesthesiology and Physiology and chair of the Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering at Mayo, has continued to expand his service to the research community since he joined the IARS Board of Directors in 2020. His dedication to the research community is vast and career-spanning with service to several professional societies in anesthesiology, physiology and pulmonary medicine, including the Association of University Anesthesiologists, American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Physiological Society and American Thoracic Society. His commitment to IARS is reflected in the multiple roles he has undertaken at the organization, including board chair and vice chair, chair of the Research & Education Awards Committee, vice chair of the Membership Committee and journal liaison to Anesthesia & Analgesia. Dr. Prakash’s unique perspective with a background that spans anesthesiology, physiology, and electrical and biomedical engineering continues to benefit IARS’s diverse global anesthesiology community.
Board President-Elect
Since joining the IARS Board of Directors in 2021, Vivianne Tawfik, MD, PhD, associate professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine; director, Fellowship in Anesthesia Research & Medicine (FARM) program at Stanford University, has demonstrated her dedication and essential contributions to the organization across all programs and initiatives. An experienced anesthesiologist, pain medicine physician and scientist, her roles have included serving on the Annual Meeting Oversight Committee, leading the IARS Membership Committee as co-chair and helping provide strategic insights on the Executive Committee. Throughout her service to IARS and anesthesiology, she has shown a commitment for building a purposeful and inclusive global anesthesiology community, including co-founding the Early-Career Anesthesiology Scholars organization, increasing access to IARS resources for individuals in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and early-career faculty through discounted memberships and dedicated travel grants, sharing her time and expertise with other professional organizations like the International Association for the Study of Pain and advocating for women in anesthesiology. Dr. Tawfik has emphasized the importance of growing and supporting scientists worldwide and continuing to advance knowledge both at IARS and in her own research investigating the immune contribution to persistent pain and clinical work treating patients suffering from chronic pain. Her significant drive to mentor the next generation of physician-scientists and advance science will pay dividends for the IARS in the future.
Board Secretary and Treasurer
As a leader in pain research and health IT, Meredith Adams, MD, MS, FASA, FAMIA, associate professor, Departments of Anesthesiology, Biomedical Informatics, and Public Health Sciences at Wake Forest School of Medicine, has played a major role in shaping the future of pain research and advancing patient care as a whole through her scientific contributions, leadership and advocacy. Having joined the IARS Board of Directors in 2023, Dr. Adams has consistently exemplified a passion for scientific excellence, a strong work ethic, and steadfast determination for making a significant difference for the anesthesiology community. As a NIH-funded researcher who is board certified in anesthesiology, pain medicine and clinical informatics with a current NIH PI portfolio of more than $16 million, Dr. Adams’ depth of knowledge as an anesthesiologist and researcher, diverse perspective and vital input on strategic initiatives have served IARS as she has served on the Nomination and Governance, Annual Meeting Oversight and Membership committees. In this new leadership role, Dr. Adams will continue to develop an inclusive anesthesiology community at IARS that welcomes every perspective and every shape of researcher and clinician.
IARS Welcomes Three New Members to the Board
APRIL 4, 2025
The International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) is excited to announce three new members to its Board of Directors. These anesthesiology research leaders bring a wealth of knowledge as clinician-scientists, significant experience in community-building and remarkable passion for mentoring the next generation of anesthesia research scholars. The IARS would like to welcome new board members Shahzad Shaefi, MD, MPH from Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Jessica Spence, MD, PhD, from McMaster University and the Population Health Research Institute, and Julie K. Freed, MD, PhD, from Medical College of Wisconsin. Drs. Shaefi and Spence began their terms following the IARS 2025 Annual Meeting and Dr. Freed will begin her role on July 1 after concluding her service as IARS Mentored Research Award Study Section chair.
Please join us in welcoming Drs. Shaefi, Spence and Freed to the IARS Board of Directors. We look forward to seeing all they will contribute to the organization and the global anesthesiology community.
Read an Interview with Shahzad Shaefi, MD, MPH
Vice chair of Professional Affairs for the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine and co-director of ECMO Services at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, Shahzad Shaefi, MD, MPH, brings a well-rounded background as a cardiac anesthesiologist, intensivist and clinician-scientist with experience in basic, translational and clinical science. He offers a unique perspective and passion for patient-centered care that will greatly benefit the IARS Board as they guide the diverse community of clinician-scientists to advance the science and practice of medicine.
Read an Interview with Jessica Spence, MD, PhD
An assistant professor in the Departments of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Health Research Methodology, Evaluation, and Impact at McMaster University; and a scientist for Population Health Research Institute in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Jessica Spence, MD, PhD, is passionate about advancing scientific knowledge. Her dedication to giving back to the specialty and commitment to mentoring the next generation will prove a boon for future IARS initiatives and continue to develop this valuable research community that initially attracted Dr. Spence to engage IARS back in 2018.
Read an Interview with Julie K. Freed, MD, PhD
Executive vice chair, an associate professor, and director of NIGMS STAT Program for the Department of Anesthesiology, and director of Clinical & Translational Research for the Cardiovascular Research Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Julie K. Freed, MD, PhD, will contribute a wealth of knowledge as an experienced physician-scientist. Her commitment to advancing the science of medicine and focus on developing the next generation will prove a major asset to all IARS endeavors in the future.
Last Chance to Apply to Join IARS Committees!
Application Deadline: April 15, 2025
APRIL 4, 2025
The International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) is grateful for our current and former dedicated volunteers from the global anesthesiology community who have helped to lead and direct many important programs for our organization. If you are passionate about making a difference, want to contribute to the IARS mission and vision and expand the reach of anesthesiology, we invite you to apply for open positions. Learn more.
We are currently searching for volunteers to serve on the following committees:
- Annual Meeting Oversight Committee: Provides oversight for the IARS Annual Meeting and other educational events like webinars throughout the year.
- Membership – International: Develops new and innovative ways to engage the international community through IARS membership and education and research activities such as the International Outreach Travel Grant.
- Membership – Online Community: Develops programs, discussion topics and initiatives such as Online Journal Clubs and subspecialty-specific educational series to increase engagement in the Online Community in DocMatter.
- Membership – Outreach, Retention and Engagement: Increases outreach to IARS members and the global anesthesiology community to create the most meaningful engagement experiences such as the 2025 International Clinical Trials Pre-Conference Meeting and early-career focus groups.
Advance Your Career and the Specialty! Now Accepting Applications for 2025 IARS Mentored Research Awards!
Submission Deadline: April 30, 2025
APRIL 4, 2025
Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 IARS Mentored Research Awards (IMRA)! For more than 100 years, the vision of the International Anesthesia Research Society has been to lead the global anesthesiology community to advance the science and practice of medicine. IARS established IMRA to help create future leaders and prepare applicants to obtain independent research funding. Up to four research projects will be selected in 2025, each with a maximum award of $175,000 payable over two years. IMRA applications may be in any area of investigation (clinical, translational, basic science), but must have ultimate relevance to the broad practice of anesthesiology and its subspecialties.
To learn more and view past successful IMRA research endeavors, visit iars.org/awards/IMRA.
2025 Annual Meeting
APRIL 4, 2025
We had more than 1,200 colleagues join us last month for the 2025 Annual Meeting, presented by IARS and SOCCA, in Hawaii.
Session recordings will be available for purchase soon. All registered attendees will have complimentary access to session recordings.
CME is now available for the meeting. Registered attendees received an email to claim credits on March 24. Email [email protected] with CME questions.
Thank You, Sponsors and Exhibitors of the 2025 Annual Meeting!
APRIL 4, 2025
Platinum Sponsor
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Silver Sponsor
BD
Bronze Sponsors
Heron Therapeutics, Inc.
Masimo
U.S. Army Physician Recruiting
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Exhibitors
Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER)
Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics
Medtronic
Merck & Co, Inc.
NeuroWave Systems
Pacific Anesthesia
Senzime
UW Madison, Department of Anesthesiology
Vantari VR
WashU Medicine Department of Anesthesiology
Missed the 2025 Annual Meeting, presented by IARS and SOCCA? Catch Up with The Daily Dose
APRIL 4, 2025
The Daily Dose is the official e-newsletter of the 2025 Annual Meeting, presented by IARS and SOCCA, and the Scholars’ Program. Discover major takeaways from sessions on important topics in anesthesiology, available in all seven issues from this year’s meeting. If you missed the articles, photos and conversations shared within these issues, providing you with vital insights to improve your research, practice and ultimately patient care, you can still check them out on the IARS website.
View the full issues:
Issue 1: Advancing Science Globally – March 20, 2025
Issue 2: Challenging Existing Practices – March 21, 2025
Issue 3: A New Hope for Patient Care – March 22, 2025
Issue 4: Adapting Modern Practice – March 23, 2025
Issue 5: Steering the Course for Your Career – March 24, 2025
Issue 6: Transforming Anesthesiology – March 28, 2025
Issue 7: Innovative Ideas to Improve Patient Health – March 31, 2025
We want to express our deep gratitude to our hardworking and diligent Daily Dose writers, editors, website manager and photographer, without whom this newsletter would not be possible.
If you have any feedback, comments or ideas to share for The Daily Dose, please contact us at [email protected].
Continue Conversations from the 2025 Annual Meeting in the IARS Online Community
APRIL 4, 2025
Registrants of the 2025 Annual Meeting, presented by IARS and SOCCA, can continue discussions with colleagues in the IARS Online Community in DocMatter. Additionally, speakers from select sessions will be available for further questions and discussions.
To see featured discussions, click on this link (IARS2025) or search for “IARS2025” on the discussion filter page. If you have lingering questions or comments post-meeting, use the community to give feedback, engage with peers and get those questions answered! You will be able to access all discussions for 2025 meeting after logging into the community website.
Highlighted Discussions:
- Is This Case a ‘Do-It-Yourself’ or a ‘Phone a Friend’? – The Role of Palliative Care in ICU Settings [IARS 2025] – Discussion with Speaker Dr. Rebecca Ann Aslakson
- Writing Your Manuscript for A&A: What Do Our Editors Expect? [IARS2025] – Discussion with Speaker Dr. Shannon Leigh Farmer
- The Nuts and Bolts of Starting a Research Program [IARS 2025] – Discussion with Speaker Dr. Jason Maynes
- International Science Symposium – Better Prepared, Better Recovered: Prehabilitation and Patient Optimization Before Surgery [IARS2025] – Discussion with Speaker Dr. Daniel I. McIsaac
- Elevating Career Advancement and Leadership Opportunities for Women Anesthesiologists [IARS 2025] – Discussion with Speaker Dr. Marina Moguilevitch
- Getting Your First Clinical Trial Funded [IARS2025] – Discussion with Speaker Dr. Alexander Nagrebetsky
- Aerospace Medicine and Anesthesiology: Advancing Triage in Remote Locations [IARS2025] – Discussion with Speaker Dr. Ariana Nelson
- Aerospace Medicine and Anesthesiology: Overlapping Physiology and Research Opportunities [IARS2025] – Discussion with Speaker Dr. Julia Scarpa
Save the Date for the 2026 Annual Meeting: May 1-3, 2026 Montreal, Canada
Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montreal, Canada
APRIL 4, 2025
2026 Call for Sessions
The call for sessions for the 2026 Annual Meeting will open in April 2025. Information will be posted here.
Call for Sessions Open: Late April 2025
Deadline to Submit: July 14, 2025
2015 IARS Mentored Research Award Recipient Interview: Charles Brown, IV, MD
APRIL 4, 2025
Charles Brown, IV, MD
Study: Prevention and Consequences of Postoperative Delirium
After completing anesthesiology training, Charles Brown, IV, MD, found himself behind in accumulating pilot data and successful research endpoints to prepare himself for larger funding from the NIH. Fortunately, some internal funding from his institution, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and a 2015 IARS Mentored Research Award, provided him with the support and protected research time he needed to make positive progression in his career as a clinician scientist. An Assistant Professor in Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the time, through the IMRA-funded study, Dr. Brown was able to pursue a topic of great importance to him, “Prevention and Consequences of Postoperative Delirium.” With this study, he was able to show a change in cognition at one month, emphasizing that delirium has long-term consequences and perioperative brain health is gravely important. Following this initial funded study, Dr. Brown quickly transitioned to independent funding, finding a research home in the National Institute of Aging. From a research perspective, he was able to expand his initial investigation from postoperative delirium to address more broadly the perioperative care of older adults, looking for biomarkers and optimization protocols that might improve care. In his interview, Dr. Brown shares his journey in anesthesiology, the evolution of his research, and his hopes for the continued development of perioperative medicine research to improve patient care.
Women of Impact in Anesthesiology: Advancing in Leadership, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm ET
APRIL 4, 2025
This webinar aims to shed light on the academic and leadership achievements of women in anesthesiology while also addressing the hurdles they have encountered, including gender inequalities, unconscious bias, and work-life balance issues. By emphasizing the strategies employed by these women to surmount these obstacles and the pivotal role of mentors in advancing their careers, the discussion will offer invaluable insights and guidance for aspiring women in the field. Through sharing their experiences and offering words of wisdom, the panelists will inspire and empower future generations of women entering the realm of anesthesia.
Moderator: Allison M. Fernandez, MD, MBA, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Baltimore, MD
Presenters
Embarking on a Research Career: Mid-Career Anesthesiologists Embracing Research Opportunities
Vidya T. Raman, MD, MBA, FASA, FAAP, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Rising to President of ASA: Lessons Learned
Linda J. Mason, MD, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Mastering Career Transitions with Success
Kelly McQueen, MD, MPH, FASA, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
View Recordings from Previous Webinars
APRIL 4, 2025
Missed a previous webinar? IARS full members can access a valuable library of recordings from previous webinars from 2022-2025. Plus, take advantage of opportunities to claim Enduring Material CME credits.
Login to the Member Site to access this valuable resource.
Discover Anesthesia Community Activities on the Events Calendar
APRIL 4, 2025
View meetings and events from the IARS and other organizations on the Anesthesia Community Events Calendar. If you have a meeting or event you would like to include on this calendar, email [email protected]. Please include the date, time, location and website URL for the meeting or event.
New Vodcast Series! Professional Development
APRIL 4, 2025
Multimedia Section Editor Carole Lin, MD, along with authors Bhavana Jami, DO, and Allison Fernandez, MD, MBA, present “Imposter Syndrome,” the first episode in OpenAnesthesia’s new vodcast series. The authors pose the question “What is Imposter Syndrome and how can we reframe it?”
- New Vodcast Series! Pediatric Anesthesia Vodcast (en Español): Consideraciones Perioperatorias: Bronchoespamo en Anestesia Pediátrica con Marco V. Padilla, MD
- OA-POCUS Case of the Month: This vodcast series is back from hiatus with Introduction to Lung Ultrasound with Yuriy Bronshteyn, MD, FASE and colleagues.
- OA-SPA Pediatric Anesthesia Virtual Grand Rounds: Obesity & Anesthesia with Jamey E. Eklund, MD, DABOM.
- PAINTS (Pediatric Anesthesiology Internet-Based Non-Technical Skills): QI Methodology with Dr. Rajeev Iyer
International Anesthesia Research Society
GuideStar/Candid