34th Annual Conference PSA Karachi
Theme: Anesthesiologist – A Clinician and a Scholar
34th Annual Conference of Pakistan Society of Anesthesiologist was held on April 26-27, 2014 at Movenpick Hotel Karachi. PSA Karachiinvited doctors and delegates from all over the Pakistan. This year the theme of the annual conference was Anesthesiologist-a Clinician and a Scholar. The idea is to raise awareness about the specialty among the medical fraternity, as it is still not given the due importance that it deserves.
In past 2-3 decade, the role of Anesthesiologist has been redefined, worldwide. They are no longer confined to the operating rooms but also their services are needed in other areas e.g. critical care medicine, pain medicine, trauma, etc. In addition to their expanding role as a clinician, they contribute significantly in education due to their applied knowledge required in the field of Anesthesia covering anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, physics and medicine.
PSA has also organized 14 pre-conference workshops, for the first time in last 34 years, on various topics at different hospital all over Karachi which included Difficult Airway Management, Combined Spinal Epidural, Peripheral Nerve Blocks (Nerve Stimulator), Ultrasound Guided Peripheral Nerve Blocks, Sepsis, I/V Fluid Therapy, Invasive Monitoring (Arterial BP, CVP), Paediatric Epidural, Advanced Airway Techniques, Ultrasound Guided Central Neuraxial Blockade, BLS (for Paramedical Staff), Central Venous Pressure Monitoring and Labour Analgesia.
The two Days Conference included the various topics of discussions and presentations i.e., Recent Advances, Focus Points, Pros & Cons, Clinical Practices Session, Post-Operative Complications, Multi-Disciplinary Practices, Industry Sponsored Lectures, Monitoring Related – Critical Incidents and Free Paper by Residents. It was very well attended by all professionals from all over Pakistan as well as delegates from Bangladesh. It seems the organizers have put in sincere and very well coordinated efforts.
Dr. Zia Akhtar as a president welcomed the guests and delegates at the 34th Annual Conference.
Dr. Zahid Akhtar Rao in his annual report emphasized the role-model exemplary tradition of Pakistan Society of Anaesthesiologists to promote the specialty by being in the forefront in all academic and Continuing Medical Education activities. He highlighted the achievements accomplished by the society over the last year including various CME programs, symposiums and meetings. PSA’s concerted efforts for indexing its official journal, i.e. Apicare, in Pubmed were also accentuated.
Prof. S. Tipu Sultan being a keynote speaker addressed and illustrated the specialty of Anesthesia in Pakistan today, in terms of quality is as sophisticated as anywhere in the developed world. The Evolution & Progress of this specialty has taken place in the last four decades. At the time of partition (1947), anesthesia was in a very primitive state just like in the rest of the subcontinent. Modern equipment and latest drugs started to come in and as gradually replaced all un-acceptable armamentarium. Advancement in surgery owes it to advancement in anesthesia. All state of the art surgery is being performed today in Pakistan by surgeons under qualified & skilled anesthesiologists.
Prof. Khalil ur Rehman (Past President, SAARC Association of Anesthesiologist) was invited as Guest of Honor, he emphasized the role of anesthesiologist as a clinician and a scholar. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Qaiser (Vice Chancellor, University of Karachi) was a Chief Guest of the occasion he praises the role of anesthesiologist in the society emphasized it’s the need of time in Pakistani society.
The event was made successful with the collaboration of sponsors and several exhibitors were found at the venue.
PAME 2nd National Conference, April 26-27th 2014
Pakistan Association of Medical Editors (PAME) in collaboration with Eastern Mediterranean Associaton of Medical Editors (EMAME), Health Research Advisory Board organized its Second National Conference at University of Health Sciences Lahore from April 26-27th 2014. Three hundred fifty eight participants got registered for this conference from all over Pakistan. The invited two guest speakers from overseas included Prof. M.B Rokni Editor Iranian Journal of Public Health and Iranian Journal of Parasitology from Tehran University of Medial Sciences and Dr. Behrooz Astaneh Editor Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences who is also a Council Member of COPE.
The scientific programme of the conference started with a seminar on ‘How to run a successful Biomedical Journal’ in which five senior editors from Pakistan participated. Mr. Justice Amer Raza Khan Chairman Punjab Healthcare Commission was the chief guest while Prof. Kh. Saadiq Hussain former President College of Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan was the guest of honour in the inaugural session.
Prof. M.B.Rokni delivered Dr.Sarwar Zuberi Memorial Lecture entitled “The present situation of Medical Journalism in Iran” while Dr. Behrooz Astaneh delivered Prof. Manzar Saleem Memorial Lecture entitled “COPE- the aims and new Features”. In all twenty seven papers were presented by local and foreign speakers in four sessions. The topics discussed included ‘Editing qualitative studies in Medial Education’, ‘Unusually frequent submissions from a single author’, ‘Study design and statistical analysis- the Editors dilemma’, ‘Analysis of qualitative based study designs’, ‘Citation Amnesia‘, ‘Tribulations of Reviewing a Journal manuscript‘, ‘Audit of Medical Journals of Pakistan‘, ‘Statistical flaws in manuscripts submitted for publication‘, ‘Burnout Syndrome among medical journal editors‘, ‘Problems and challenges faced while running a specialty journal‘, ‘Impact of maintaining a website of journals‘, ‘Profile and pattern of dental research in Pakistan‘ and ‘Benefits of mutual cooperation among journals’.
Four concurrent workshops were held in the afternoon on April 26th on ‘Medical Writing’, ‘Journal Indexing’, ‘Publication Ethics’ and ‘Electronic Publishing’. PAME Online Learning Resource for Editors designed and produced by Dr. Masood Jawaid was launched.
