Anesthesia residents at VCU have fantastic advocacy opportunities that enable them to shape healthcare policies, influence legislative decisions, and champion patient care. One prominent avenue for advocacy lies in engaging with professional organizations like the Virginia Society of Anesthesiologists (VSA). Residents can actively participate in the VSA as resident members, including attending national American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) meetings and collaborating with fellow residents and anesthesiologists to understand the pressing issues affecting the field of anesthesiology.

Residents can also utilize educational platforms provided by the VSA and ASA to stay updated on current healthcare policies and advocacy initiatives. In the 2023-2024 academic year, The VSA funded two residents to attend the ASA meeting in San Francisco as VSA resident delegates, participating in advocacy workshops and voting in the ASA resident leadership elections. The VSA also funded 3 residents to attend the ASA legislative conference in Washington, DC. This was another fantastic opportunity to participate in advocacy workshops, attend forums on specific issues affecting physician anesthesiologists, and meet residents and anesthesiologists from other programs and practices. Additionally, residents attended VSA Capitol Hill meetings with the offices of Virginia members of Congress, including Senator Tim Kaine, where they were able to give valuable perspectives on how policies affect resident education and outlook as future anesthesiologists.

For more information regarding advocacy opportunities and VSA resident involvement, please contact:

Henry Wilson, CA3, VSA resident section president

Email: James.H.Wilson@VCUHealth.org