Announcements

Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine is accepting applications for peer reviewers. Peer-reviewers play a critical role in reviewing the science, research, accuracy, and clarity of submitted manuscripts. Reviewers are invited to review approximately six manuscripts related to their expertise per year and are required to provide feedback and comments through the journal’s electronic submission and review system, ScholarOne. Training is provided if needed. Reviewers should have experience in the scientific writing and editing process. Physicians, PhDs, psychologists, and others working in the field are invited to participate. All peer reviewers are recognized on the publication masthead. Reviewer terms are autorenewable; however, reviewers who do not accept assignments after one year are automatically removed from the process.

To apply, go to https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/rapm and create an account. Indicate your areas of expertise using the keywords section. Questions may be directed to info.rapm@bmj.com or asraeditor@asra.com.

Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, the official journal of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, is now accepting letters of interest for a newly created Executive Editor for Basic Science position on the Editorial Board.

Responsibilities will include 1) overseeing the peer review process for basic science, 2) building a network of committed researchers and reviewers interested in supporting the journal’s goal to expand its basic science footprint, 3) participating in the development of journal policy and supporting best practices in publishing.

This is a stipend position. Interested candidates should submit a curriculum vitae and summary statement of why they wish to be considered by March 1, 2020, to Dr. Brian Sites, editor-in-chief.

The ASRA Chronic Pain Medicine Research Grant is designed to promote and facilitate high-quality research to guide clinical practice and improve patient care. Research is needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pain interventions and treatments. Learn more. 

The Asokumar Grant for Global Scholars enables up to 100 physicians from low-resource countries to receive an annual subscription to ASRA's official journal, Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (RAPM).

The grant was established in 2019 by ASRA President Asokumar Buvanendran, MD, and his wife Jenn Asokumar to support physicians from low-resource countries and share the latest findings and evidence-based standards of regional anesthesia and pain medicine. 

The grant has been targeted for an initial three-year commitment commencing in 2019. Interested parties must complete an application, and recipients will be selected by a committee process. 

The deadline to apply for this opportunity is March 1st. 

ASRA's Trailblazer Awards are designed to honor the achievements of women in the Society and the specialties of acute and chronic pain and regional anesthesia. These awards will only be presented in 2020 as part of an overall focus on the "Year of Women in ASRA." 

The purpose of the awards is to recognize women who may have been overlooked for ASRA Awards in the past, possibly due to a lack of inclusivity or unconscious bias. These awards celebrate individuals' impressive careers and contributions to our field.

Individual contributions of a Trailblazer may have resulted in one or more of the following:

• Growth of a subspecialty of regional anesthesia or pain medicine 
• Evolution of the knowledge base that guides practice
• Enhancement of education programs
• Significant changes in governance or the political milieu for regional anesthesia or pain medicine
• New understanding of pain mechanisms or regional anesthesia
• Mentoring of and/or advocating for women colleagues and/or trainees
• Improved patient care, satisfaction, and outcomes.

Trailblazers will be recognized at the 45th Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting in San Francisco and the 19th Annual Pain Medicine Meeting in Las Vegas. 

ASRA is accepting nominations for the Trailblazer Awards until January 15, 2020. 

The ASRA John J. Bonica Award Committee is seeking nominations from the ASRA membership for physicians and scientists who have distinguished themselves in the following areas of pain medicine: research, teaching, and clinical practice.

The John J. Bonica Award honors the abundant contributions Dr. Bonica made to the field of pain medicine. Dr. Bonica championed the collaboration of specialists from multiple disciplines in the evaluation and treatment of patients with pain. He wrote the first comprehensive textbook devoted to pain management, mentored clinicians and colleagues, and started the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). Nominees for this award should embody the ideals of John Bonica and his passion for pain medicine as manifested through their contributions by way of research, teaching, and clinical practice.

The nominee does not have to be a member of ASRA. Previous awardees and current members of the Board of Directors of ASRA are not eligible. 

ASRA is seeking nominations for the 2021 award cycle. Awardees will become lifetime members of ASRA and be recognized at the 20th Annual Pain Medicine Meeting held in San Francisco, CA, November 18-20, 2021.

Nominations should be made using this John J. Bonica Award nomination form by January 15, 2020.

ASRA is seeking nominations from the ASRA membership for the Resident/Fellow of the Year Award. This award is given annually to a Resident or Fellow who has demonstrated significant contributions to ASRA events or activities related to Regional Anesthesia and/or Pain Medicine.

To be eligible, the nominee must be a current Resident/Fellow member of ASRA. 

Nominations may be submitted by ASRA Regular, Affiliate, Young Professional, and Resident/Fellow members. Self-applications are not eligible.

Nominations must include at least one letter of recommendation summarizing the reasons for the nomination, as well as the candidate's C.V.

All materials including this completed form must be received by 11:59 PM EST December 13, 2019. Incomplete nominations will not be considered.

We need YOU to make it happen! 

ASRA Committee membership offers an opportunity to contribute to the administration, development, and implementation of ASRA programs and services; network with your fellow colleagues; and become a leader in the Society. Terms begin at the close of the Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting in Spring 2020. Self-nominations are permitted.

If you want to get more involved in YOUR membership society, now is the time to apply for open committee positions for the 2020-2021 term. The deadline to apply is September 30th.