Summer 2020 Newsletter

Letter from the President

Dear SATA members,
It has been a time of great reflection in the nation.  The death of Mr. George Floyd ignited an outcry for immediate change.   Our role as physicians and caregivers to the public has never been more important than now.  We share the public’s grief at the injustice and civil unrest, but know we must remain strong because we are and will always be the ones people rely on in the most difficult times.  
In these challenging times I believe there is no greater time of hope than now.  We contribute by continuing our time-honored tradition of doing the most to honor and save every life; one at a time.  This is our commitment to all humanity.  As transplant anesthesiologists, we have a unique understanding of the purposeful work it takes to ensure every person has an equal access to all resources.  We believe that every single life matters. 
I send this message to all our members to thank you for the tireless work you continue to do that serves the public. 

Welcome to our new Councilors-at-Large: Welcome to Dr. Adrian Hendrickse from the University of Colorado and Dr. Ranjit Deshpande from Yale University who will serve on the executive council for a two-year term. We thank Dr. Jeron Zerillo from Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine in NY and Dr. Ryan Chadha from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville FL for their service as Councilors at-Large. We recognize our membership for selecting our new representatives.

Introducing the SATA Webinar Series SATA is introducing a webinar series for our membership.  The first in this series is “Transplant Anesthesiology During the COVID-19 Pandemic”: a Zoom event on June 25, 2020 at 5:00 EST.  Join transplant anesthesiologists from the country’s COVID-19 hot spots to hear what they learned. Sign up and access the Webinar through the SATA website.

In the Transplant News Visit UNOS.org for the latest updates and webinars on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on transplantation UNOS reaffirms their commitment to saving and improving lives through transplantation, regardless of background, including race and ethnicity.  Irene Kim MD and Paulo Martins MD, PhD explain that equity is the fundamental goal of the transplant community and how this goal is incorporated into the Final Rule which mandates the OPTN ensures “the equitable allocation of cadaveric organs.” Read more here   The existing system for kidney and pancreas organ allocation is revised.  These changes include a new definition of medical urgency for kidney transplant candidates and allocation priority for those meeting the criteria, procedures for reallocating organs accepted for a candidate but not transplanted, and allocation of organs from Alaska where there is no transplant program.   Commentary on the dangers of standardized practices in heart transplant.  Read more at here