Greetings fellow ASRA members. In this edition, we have what I believe are some phenomenal contributions from a variety of authors and some insights from and reflections on some of the giants in our field. What has always impressed me about our ASRA leadership is how giving they are with their time and advice, and I hope this is reflected in the articles that we provide for you. In this this article, Dr. Vincent Chan provides his advice and experience on becoming a successful clinical and academic anesthesiologist. 

What has always impressed me about our ASRA leadership is how giving they are with their time and advice.

This edition also reflects on some of the phenomenal outreach work being done by ASRA and its members. Specifically, ASRA has provided scholarships to allow for international attendees to attend meetings such as the World Congress. The impact of these awards has had a profound impact not just on the award winners but also their colleagues and the patients that they care for. In this edition, we additionally learn how ASRA members are working to spread the use of the regional anesthesia in areas of the world where it has not previously been available. The provision of regional anesthesia and exclusion of general anesthesia to patients in these areas has the potential to provide immensely safer and more efficacious anesthesia and analgesia.

Finally, this edition provides fantastic examples of some of the interventions attempted by our colleagues for the treatment of chronic or cancer pain. While treatment of these patients may certainly be difficult, the potential for tremendous rewards associated with the provision of quality care for these patients is certainly present.

We have established then that ASRA and its members are phenomenal. What I need is to hear from more of you rock stars of pain management. Many of you have probably read articles in the ASRA News and thought, “That’s not the way that I would do it.” Perhaps you read the interview with Dr. Chan and thought “I achieved academic success via a totally different approach.” Awesome! There are so many great approaches to many of the problems that we all approach on a day-to-day basis, and it is often difficult for us to consider all of them. ASRA News accepts letters to the editor, and this provides an opportunity for all members to share their perspectives on topics covered in the ASRA News, topics that should be covered, or questions to pose to the general membership. If you have something you would like to share with general ASRA membership, submit your letter to me at kmschro1@wisc.edu.

Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you in the future.