Cite as: Machi A. Editor’s corner: look back and leap forward. ASRA Pain Medicine News 2025;50. https://doi.org/10.52211/asra020125.002.

Editor’s Corner

The year 2025 marks a significant milestone for the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA), celebrating 50 years of pioneering advancements in regional anesthesia, acute pain medicine, and chronic pain medicine. To honor this journey, ASRA Pain Medicine News will feature a series of historical articles that trace the society’s origins and evolution through the decades. We are fortunate to have many members who played integral roles during past decades and can contribute to these efforts. The first article in this series comes from Dr. Joseph Neal, chronicling the early days of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. For those of us whose careers have been shaped by the research and insights shared through this journal, revisiting these pivotal moments and decisions is fascinating. Moreover, it provides insight into how we now stand on the shoulders of our founding fathers and many early leaders.

From the efforts of the early years, we now leap towards a new era for regional anesthesia and pain medicine. This issue of ASRA Pain Medicine News delivers multiple articles about this. First, the president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), Dr. Donald Arnold, contributes an article on the key collaboration of ASA, ASRA Pain Medicine, and the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society in the Pain Medicine Coalition. Together, we can sit at the table and accomplish much for our patients, members, and specialties. In tandem with this article is Dr. Richard Chou’s article on advocacy and ASRA Pain Medicine’s advocacy efforts. ASRA Pain Medicine largely sat on the sidelines of advocacy in the early years, but its involvement has evolved markedly in the past decade. Dr. Chou shares the basics of advocacy and how you can get involved.

Next is an article by Drs. Tan, Sng, and Sia on how artificial intelligence is used in ultrasound imaging. Artificial intelligence is growing exponentially in clinical utility, and the authors explain how they employ artificial intelligence specifically in the development of an ultrasound-guided, automated spinal landmark identification program for neuraxial procedures.

February is Black History Month in the United States, a time to recognize the invaluable contributions of African Americans, including in medicine. Despite our efforts and some progress, the patient-physician relationship for Black patients and those from diverse cultural backgrounds is an area for improvement. Drs. Brown and Fadumiye identified some critical issues and strategies for improving patient-physician relationships for Black patients and bridging cultural divides in healthcare. These will strengthen connections and improve outcomes in diverse medical settings.

The February issue of ASRA Pain Medicine News also delivers clinical content to enhance patient care. As such, we introduce a new core feature for ASRA Pain Medicine News called “ASRA Answers.” ASRA Answers seeks to provide concise answers to clinical questions in areas with limited guidance, insufficient evidence, or practices that warrant evolution of thought. The inaugural article by Drs. Simha and Cohen tackles the common and potentially unwarranted practice of making a subcutaneous local anesthetic skin wheal before an interventional pain procedure.

The core clinical material is further augmented by fantastic articles on platelet-rich plasma for knee osteoarthritis, transdiscal approach to celiac plexus block, neuromuscular diagnostic ultrasound, regional anesthesia and regional anesthesia fellowship development in Guyana, POCUS for the pediatric anesthesiologist, and literature reviews.

And last, I extend a warm thank you to the readers, authors, newsletter team members, editors, ASRA Pain Medicine staff, and all volunteers who make this and every edition of the newsletter possible. Your contributions fuel our collective mission to advance knowledge and care in regional anesthesia and pain medicine. As always, I welcome your feedback and ideas at asraeditor@asra.com.