Dear fellow anaesthesiologists,
Greetings from your President for the New Year 2022.

First, let me thank you all for electing me to the highest post of the Society unopposed. This shows your faith in me and I consider this as your recognition for the work done during my term as Hon. Secretary of the Society. I am indebted to you and I will strive to fulfil your wishes and try to stand up to your expectations.

ISA has more than 36,000 members now and is one of the most democratic Associations in the world. Otherwise, I who belong to a small town of 50,000 population and a city branch having less than 15 members would not have become President of the Society.
I will lead the Society with the help of you all and the guidance of our seniors and experienced members and teachers. We can do a lot together and WE WILL DO IT TOGETHER.
I have some ideas in my mind for the progress of ISA and our members during this Platinum Jubilee year, the Amruth Mahotsav year of ISA, which I want to implement with your concurrence and support and participation. Amongst them all, I have serious plans to address the issue of the financial status and remuneration for the Private Practitioners. I also feel that the ISA has the responsibility to see that they work with due respect and with the ‘best’, not the ‘minimal’ working standards. In this regard, the ISA National Guidelines of practice covering various aspects of clinical practice are expected to guide the members for a safe practice. Safety of the members is equally important as the Safety of the patients. ISA will also facilitate updating the knowledge of the private practitioners with focus on hands-on training on contemporary topics.
Regarding ISA Family Benevolent Fund (FBF), let me restate that the scheme is focussed for the financial well-being of the spouse & children of our young members, in the event of the member’s demise. It is for the benefit of the dependent spouse/ children when earning member is lost at an early age. Its utility for elderly members & their spouse /children is obviously less as they would be financially well settled. Hence, I appeal to members to understand the noble cause we are attending to and make best use of the Fund.

The Conference of the Association of the member countries of the SAARC, the SAARC Association of Anaesthesiologists (SAARC AA), will be held after a gap of 3 years, and in India, after a 12 year gap. The Conference coincides with the ISA Amrut Mahotsav year, and I expect to be a grand event in God’s own country, scheduled to be held from 12th to 14th August 2022. I invite you all to participate in this mega event.

Further, the Amrut Mahotsav of ISA is planned to be celebrated in a grand style with ISA National supported activities in every City, Metro & State Branches. Along with the ISA activities, the Indian Resuscitation Council (IRC) activities will be clubbed so that the efforts of ISA and IRC to train our population in resuscitation gains further traction. I aim to maintain cordial relationship with the Indian College of Anaesthesiologists and Anaesthesia sub specialty and super specialty associations with the idea that sharing academics for the benefit of all anaesthesia practitioners.

The ISA Fellowships (Inland & International) will continue this year along the popular ISA sponsored educational activities such as CMEs, Workshops and PG Assemblies. Focussed online classes for small group training on clinical management; Quiz programs on a weekly basis in ISA website are some of the additional programmes planned.
I also feel we should not neglect our families in the midst of our service and practice; family meets at National GC level and at all City & State branches for office bearers and members will be planned and encouraged as stress busters and also to socialise and strengthen our bonds.
I will endeavour to see that guidance on Work Life Balance, Finance and Investment options for members (including alternate income sources), Legal advice and safe practice are all provided by ISA so that all of us lead a happy and safe Professional, Family and Social Life.
The ISA National will make efforts to reach to the Government of India for institution of an Annual Award in the name of first lady anaesthesiologist of the world Rupa Bai Fundunjee for an eminent anaesthesiologist.
And I request all our members to participate in maximum strength in our own National Conference, the ISACON 2022 at Shillong, hopefully a physical meeting after the unfortunate nature -thrust, mainly online Conference during 2021.
Before ending I request each & every member of City, Metro and State Branches to formulate some activities to observe Amruth Mohotsav in most befitting manner. Some suggestions by me are Pain free post op period, Creating awareness about our specialty and our work among patients and common public, Arranging CPR classes for students & public, Arranging family meeting at City level, Respecting at least one of your anaesthesia teacher on National Teachers Day, Gifting of books written by anaesthesiologists (anecdots from OT or our work etc.) to others.

Long Live ISA! Wishing All a Happy and Healthy New Year 2022!



Dr. Venkatagiri K. M.
President
Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists