As I write this and peek at the gorgeous fall colors outside, I am reflecting on the SNACC Annual Meeting in sunny Denver, Colorado just a few short weeks ago. Our meeting was once again a massive success with a record attendance of 234 participants who traveled from 18 different countries from around the globe, including 62 students, residents and fellows. The program organized by Girija Rath provided an excellent selection of exciting sessions with cutting edge science and clinical controversies. International speakers and experts from adjacent specialties provided new insights in thought-provoking multi-disciplinary panels that stimulated great discussions. Scientific Affairs Committee Chair Susana Vacas put together two outstanding abstract sessions, both in person and with a virtual option to accommodate presenters who were unable to attend the meeting in person. Rich discussions were had in the abstract rooms and may even have sparked a few new collaborations. A big thank you to our speakers and to all who attended the meeting and contributed to the discussions, with a special shout-out to the many who provided additional financial support to the SNACC mission by attending the fundraiser event on Friday evening and by donating to SNACC and to the William Young Research Fund. Huge kudos also to the IMI team who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure smooth proceedings throughout.
SNACC has accomplished a lot over the last few years since we launched our free-standing annual meeting in 2019. We adapted to a world changed by a global pandemic and seamlessly pivoted to a successful virtual meeting format while also creating much needed clinical guidance for the community. We have since returned to even stronger in-person meetings, starting with the widely successful 50th anniversary celebration in Seattle in 2022. We have established a new fully virtual annual Clinical Spring Symposium that focuses on clinical updates of relevance to both full time and casual neuroanesthesiologists, further broadening our reach. While adapting to the challenges of a global pandemic, we also successfully navigated the transition to a new management company, completed strategic planning, and revised our governance structure. None of this would have been possible without the outstanding leadership of prior presidents, including Chanannait Paisanthasan, Alana Flexman, and John Bebawy, or the hard work by our Board of Directors. and the many committed SNACC members who dedicate their time and energy to work in committees or otherwise support the SNACC mission. SNACC is shaped by its members, and I thank you all for what you do. I invite everyone to continue their engagement or maybe become newly engaged with our society. Our committees are seeking new members, and I encourage everyone to apply and join a committee that aligns with your passion and interest.
New members join the SNACC leadership team at the Annual Meeting. Congratulations to incoming BOD members Eugenia Ayrian and Chanhung Lee as well as our newly elected Secretary/Treasurer Tumul Chowdhury and to the new ICPNT Chair Shobana Rajan. Two new committee chairs, Nicolai Goettel (research) and Geraldine Jose (global outreach), and our new newsletter editor-in-chief Adele Budiansky round out the team.
Looking ahead, we will continue our work to fulfill the SNACC mission, which rests on the three pillars of excellent clinical care for patients with neurologic injuries, the quest to improve our understanding of pathologies and develop new treatment through translational neuroscience research, and our desire to improve perioperative brain health and outcomes for patients at risk. We will continue to expand our membership beyond North America and learn from our global members. We will also further our investment in inspiring and educating the next generation of clinicians and neuroscientists to work in this space. I look forward to our continued collaboration with ICPNT to grow this important endeavor. Financial health is crucial to allow sustained focus on our mission. We will continue to identify and develop new financial opportunities and partnerships as industry sponsorships decline in a changing healthcare environment.
I look forward to an exciting year and to seeing you all again at the 2025 Annual Meeting, organized by Marie Angele Theard, which will take place in beautiful Atlanta, Georgia. I know the future of SNACC is bright and am honored to serve with you as we continue the journey to advance our field.
Figure 1: Attendees traveled from 18 countries to the 2024 SNACC Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado.
