EDITOR'S CORNER
Editor's Message
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Fenghua Li, MD
Editor-in-Chief
We are living in unprecedented times! The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly changed our personal and professional life. Practicing social distancing, staying at home, and wearing a mask in public have become the new normal in our daily lives. While we are at work, we have to adapt our practice to the ever-changing environment. Wearing personal protective equipment (PPEs) such as an N95 mask, eye goggles, and a face shield is now routine during patient care. We had to stop shaking patient’s hands while greeting them in presurgical areas to contain the virus spreading. We now talk to patients through a mask without their family present. Although we endure the emotional burden from coronavirus, I have seen uncompromised care to our patients. As the battle of the COVID-19 disease continues, more innovative but safer ways managing our patients in both the operating room and neurointerventional suite, have been created. As front liners, we face high risk of infection, but I have not heard any complaints, just greater professionalism within my colleagues and residents who are more than willing to help their patients as before as well as each other. Our commitment, dedication, and love to our profession grows stronger than ever in this difficult time.
SNACC supports its members during this stressful time in many ways. First, SNACC is staying focused on advancing neuroscience even in pandemic times. The scheduled Neuroscience Symposium on May 16, 2020 was held virtually. Our president, Dr. Deepak Sharma, stays in close communication with his inspiring messages. Second, COVID-19 resources have been created on the SNACC homepage and is available to all members. These resources are relevant to us and can be easily accessed and downloaded. Third, SNACC has published timely consensus and guidelines for neuroanesthesia practice during this pandemic era. The guidelines provide us the most up to date evidenced based practice recommendations and help us to adapt our practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. One guideline is the “Anesthetic Management of Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Consensus Statement from the Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care”. The other one is “Neuroanesthesia Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Recommendations from the Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care”. I applaud SNACC’s great effort and I am grateful for all authors who contributed to this important work.
The summer issue features three COVID-19 related articles from China, India, and the United States. The experiences that the authors share with us are amazing. You can read the article “Impact of the COVID Pandemic on Neuroanesthesia Fellowship Programs: A Global Survey” by Dr. Rajan. Our William L. Young Neuroscience Research Awardee Dr. Boris Heifets gives insights into his research on MDMA. His article “Science at the Border of Anesthesiology and Psychiatry” is truly eye-opening.
I hope you all enjoy the Summer issue of SNACC Newsletter. Stay healthy and safe!
