COMMITTEES

When Your Heart is in the Brain - You Belong to SNACC!

The Role of SNACC in Dr. Girija Rath’s Neuroanesthesia Career

M. Angele Théard, MD
Chair of Membership Committee

M. Angele Théard, MD

Membership in SNACC provides so many opportunities to work with many different researchers, clinicians, and educators. I feel very fortunate to work with Dr. Rath on the membership committee to brainstorm ideas for increasing our membership. Dr. Rath’s enthusiasm and sincere interest in SNACC are inspiring. Recently, he shared with me why he joined SNACC and why he continues being a member. The title of this piece provided by Dr. Rath is from a social media post that he feels best describes his love of neuroanesthesia and his commitment to our society.

Girija Rath, MD, DM

As an anesthesiologist from New Delhi, Dr. Rath joined SNACC in 2008.  His decision to join was inspired by his mentor, Professor Dash, a renowned neuroanesthesiologist in India and SNACC’s 2010 Distinguished Teaching Award recipient. It took time and a travel grant award from his government to attend his first international conference (SNACC along with the ASA).  Achieving his goal of meeting leading academicians in neuroanesthesia and collaborating with fellows and scientists from all over the world was most gratifying. Membership in SNACC has provided Dr. Rath an opportunity to broaden his understanding of various areas of neuroscience research integral to affording him an opportunity to closely examine his work and enrich his research in India. Engaging with neuroscientists and clinicians as a member of SNACC at meetings and through committee work has been a very valuable aspect of his own scholarly growth. Dr. Rath credits SNACC, a well-regarded medical society in his country, for much of his success as a leader in neuroanesthesia and neurocritical care. It is hard to stop here without taking the time to share with you what Dr. Rath contributes to SNACC.

Dr. Rath brings to SNACC serious scientific inquiry and research, stimulating conversation, a patient and thoughtful manner, and a determination accompanied by a smile. Dr. Rath is a Professor in the Department of Neuroanesthesiology and Critical Care in the Neurosciences Center at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, India. He is an active participant at SNACC Annual Meetings, regularly submitting and presenting abstracts.  Dr. Rath is also a peer reviewer for the Journal of Neuroanesthesiology (JNA) and he serves as the Executive Editor of the Journal of Neuroanaesthesiology and Critical Care (JNACC).  

In an effort to broaden SNACC’s membership this year, our SNACC president Dr. Deepak Sharma, expanded the membership committee to include a subcommittee on global outreach headed by Dr. Rath.  In this role Dr. Rath brought a wonderful energy to SNACC.  Moreover, his work supporting the ‘International News’section of our newsletter is a worthwhile and exciting opportunity for all of us to learn about neuroanesthesia in different countries. This includes understanding ways of addressing the neurosurgical disease burden in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Nepal, Philippines, Iran, Pakistan, and Qatar, along with understanding medical training in a diverse group of programs and gaining insight into society meetings hosted by the Indian Society of Neuroanesthesiology and Critical Care (ISNACC) and the Asian Society for Neuroanesthesia and Critical Care (ASNACC).

These are some wonderful examples of activities which support SNACC’s commitment to promoting diversity. As a leader on the membership committee, Dr. Rath devotes much of his time to strengthening our organization through cultivating relationships with clinicians and scientists all over the world facilitated by his memberships in organizations like the ASNACC, ISNACC, and neuroanaesthesia and neurocritical care with the Society of Great Britain and Ireland (NACCSGBI); and his efforts to support a collaborative association between SNACC and ISNACC.  This year Dr. Rath is determined to find creative ways of making membership in SNACC more affordable for our international colleagues.