PUF Award Program Update
Dear SCA Members,
We are pleased to share two important updates to SCA’s quality improvement and registry-based research funding programs.
Expanding Our Registry Partnerships
SCA has long supported the use of the STS National Database as a tool for measuring and improving the quality of cardiovascular anesthesia care and as an important resource for research. We are excited to announce that SCA is now also partnering with the Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group (MPOG) registry.
MPOG is a national quality improvement collaborative that collects and analyzes detailed anesthesia data from participating institutions. By adding MPOG alongside the STS National Database, SCA is expanding the tools available to members who want to benchmark their practice, identify opportunities for improvement, and demonstrate the value of cardiovascular anesthesia care.
A New Name for the PUF Award Program
You may also notice a name change to one of SCA’s research programs. The PUF Award Program is now the SCA-Registry Based Projects (SCA-RP) Award Program. The program’s purpose remains the same — to support SCA members who want to conduct research using registry data — but the new name better reflects SCA’s broad commitment to registry participation and research.
More details on the program, including how to apply, are available on the SCA website.
As always, thank you for your commitment to advancing the quality of cardiovascular anesthesia care.
Warm regards,
Vikram Fielding-Singh
Chair, STS/SCA Database Subcommittee
Member Spotlight
Agnieszka Trzcinka, MD
Tufts Medical Center
Director, Cardiovascular Center Procedural Anesthesia
| Q & A | |
|---|---|
| Q | Where is your current place of practice? |
| A | I currently work at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. |
| Q | What do you like most about being a member of the SCA? |
| A | I am grateful for the opportunities through the SCA to further our amazing specialty. Working within the Scientific Program Committee has led to new conference content for our diverse membership. While collaborating with amazing colleagues within WICTA (Women in Cardiothoracic Anesthesia) special interest group, we created new webinar content designed specifically for our fellows to successfully navigate professional challenges within academic and private practice. Being part of the SCA offers tremendous opportunity for this productive collaboration. |
| Q | What do you most look forward to at the SCA Annual Meetings? |
| A | I feel inspired by colleagues and friends I meet during the SCA meetings. Our profession is very demanding of our time and energy. Drawing from experience and camaraderie of other SCA members inspires professional and personal development. |
| Q | Name one member of the SCA who has been an impactful mentor to you and why. |
| A | Dr. Stan Shernan has been a mentor since my training days at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. I continue to be inspired by his unwavering commitment to professional excellence while maintaining a perspective of gratitude for support of family and friends. |