US Anesthesia Partners Support Early-Career Investigators

June 27, 2024

The Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) thanks US Anesthesia Partners (USAP) for its generous $15,000 annual gift in support of FAER’s mission to develop the next generation of physician-investigators. An annual sponsor since 2016, USAP supports several FAER efforts, including the grants and programs FAER offers for medical students, residents, and early-career faculty investigators.

FAER is proud of its work in developing physician-investigators and providing them with the skills and experience needed to flourish as anesthesiology researchers. FAER funds students in the earliest stages of their journey through the Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship (MSARF), to investigators working to make the leap to federal or larger funding through the Mentored Research Training Grant (MRTG). The Foundation is honored to help foster the scientists responsible for leading anesthesiology into the future. To learn more about FAER and its activities, view the Foundation’s 2022 Annual Report here, and stay tuned for FAER’s 2023 Annual Report this fall.

USAP is a physician-owned and clinician-led practice, dedicated to providing high-quality anesthesia services to over 2 million patients across the nation annually. With over 4,500 clinicians and expertise in many anesthesia subspecialties – including pediatric, trauma, cardiac, and OB anesthesia – USAP sets the standard for high-quality patient care. Its data-driven quality metrics enable continuous innovation and improvements that are shared across USAP via a robust national Clinical Quality Committee.

USAP believes the future of anesthesia is strengthened by investments in today’s clinicians and students. To that end, USAP has developed tools, training, and programs designed to promote continued clinical learning – for both its own teams and for future anesthesia professionals. These include internal educational programs for our clinicians, leadership conferences for Residents and future CRNAs, and the sponsorship of multiple residency programs. USAP has teamed with universities and health systems to conduct half a dozen anesthesia research studies resulting in peer-reviewed papers, all designed to improve the specialty of anesthesiology and enhance patient outcomes. 

“USAP is proud to be a supporter of FAER and join with other donors who are committed to the continued evolution of our specialty. We look forward to contributing our knowledge and our infrastructure to answering important clinical questions and promoting future careers in our specialty.”
- Richard P. Dutton, MD, MBA, USAP Chief Quality Officer

“I’d like to thank USAP for its many years of resolute support for anesthesiology’s up-and-coming investigators through giving to FAER. On many occasions, FAER has expressed the importance research and academia represent to private practice, with the innovations introduced through research helping shape the practice of anesthesiology. By supporting FAER and our work, USAP has shown its own firm belief in the critical role of science in our specialty. It will be exciting to see the early-career investigators who will benefit from USAP’s giving flourish, and how their work will one day impact anesthesiology, patient care, and medicine.”
- Max B. Kelz, MD, PhD, FAER President and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)

In addition to its support for FAER, USAP is proud to highlight its DROP-Benzo study. This study is a current example of USAP’s unique collaboration with academic practices. Working with investigators at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University, USAP undertook a year-long study of quality improvement methodology to promote de-prescribing of benzodiazepines for older patients having general anesthesia. Using a block-randomization scheme across hundreds of USAP hospital and surgery center partners, patient-level data was collected on more than 500,000 patients, documenting a 20% decrease in benzodiazepine use over the year of study. Analysis and presentation of the primary results are underway at this time.

Please join FAER in thanking USAP for its support. For more information, visit USAP’s website here.

THE FOUNDATION FOR ANESTHESIA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (FAER)
FAER is a related organization of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). For over 35 years, FAER has been dedicated to developing the next generation of physician-investigators in anesthesiology. Charitable contributions and support to FAER help fuel the future of anesthesiology through scientific discovery. Funding priorities include: Research, Education, and Training. At the time of this article's publication, FAER has awarded more than $58 million in research grants and programs since 1986. To donate to FAER, visit FAER.org/donate.