As you likely noticed, there was a striking lack of gender balance in the recent candidate pool for the 2019 elections. Members of the AUA have expressed concern, a concern we in AUA leadership all share. The AUA is committed to diversity in all of its forms and it is clear that we now must be proactive in recruiting diverse candidates to leadership positions.

The Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care (SNACC) honors the legacy of William L. Young, MD with a research award for junior neuroscientists that bears his name. The award, which is presented annually, commemorates a groundbreaking clinician-scientist and role-model who was a longstanding active member of both SNACC and the AUA, and mentor and friend to many.

We are delighted to welcome 4 new members to the Education Advisory Board (EAB). In June of 2018 we issued a call for membership to the EAB. We received many applications from qualified candidates which made the decision to select only 4 new members quite challenging. Each new member has significant leadership experience and also has a long-term commitment to education.

The Scientific Advisory Board requested applications earlier this year for new members to fill four open positions. We were honored to receive a large number of outstanding applications in response. The SAB is proud to welcome the following new members, who started their three-year terms this summer.

The EAB has been quite fortunate to have Dr. Bob Gaiser as its Chair for the past four years. He has led the EAB with its charge to plan the education program for the Association’s Annual Meeting. In addition, he has arranged to have education-related topics in each of the Association’s Newsletters. We are indebted to his commitment and superb leadership over these past four years.

The AUA call for member nominations is now open. We have a new online nomination form and nominations are only accepted online. Please submit candidates by September 15.

The Educational Advisory Board (EAB) is looking for four (4) new members to join its Committee, which is composed of 11 members plus the Chair.

The Communications and Website Committee is looking for one (1) new member to join its Committee which is composed of 11 members plus the Newsletter Editor.

The AUA call for member nominations is now open. We have a new online nomination form and nominations are only accepted online. Please submit candidates by April 15.

We are concerned deeply by a report that staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were instructed not to use certain words in budget documents. As leaders of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, we are especially stunned that “evidence-based” and “science-based” are reportedly among the barred terms.

A Neuroscience Symposium entitled “Effects of Anesthetics on the Brain” and sponsored by the Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care (SNACC) will be held on Sunday, April 29, 2018 from 3:00 – 8:00 PM at the Sheraton Grand Chicago, 301 E. North Water Street in Chicago, Illinois. There will be no cost to participants either for registration or food/beverages.