Congress Newsletter 2022
Becoming a Fellow of the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (FESAIC)
As part of his time in office as society President, Prof Kai Zacharowski introduced the system of Fellowship of ESAIC (see interview text below). Becoming a Fellow of the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (FESAIC™) is a prestigious honour awarded to healthcare professionals who have made a significant contribution to anaesthesiology and intensive care.
“To be a FESAIC indicates and proves an exceptional level of service to the Society and patients – from congress and research to education and advocacy – that distinguish FESAIC from their peers,” Kai explains. “The FESAIC title is now recognised throughout the anaesthesiology and intensive care community as a symbol of excellence.”
“Being a FESAIC is not only a recognition of your contribution to anaesthesiology and intensive care, but it also means that you belong to a dedicated group of professionals that demonstrate integrity and excellence in the care of your patients.”
The two pathways by which one can apply for Fellowship are detailed on the FESAIC page of ESAIC.
Former Presidents Paolo Pelosi and Stefan De Hert were the first to be awarded FESAIC in 2021. Below, Kai tells us more about this project.
Q: Kai, are you able to tell us about some new Fellowships awarded in 2022?
A: Of course, with great pleasure. We have awarded 42 FESAICS this year, including all four of this year’s Honorary Members who received their awards in the opening ceremony. A further 30 were able to receive them at yesterday’s award ceremony. My warmest congratulations to all of them.
We have received plenty of applications around Europe and even from different continents. To ensure a very high standard of review we have established a review board. All applications will be first screened by the ESAIC Headquarters, where checks are made to ensure all the formal conditions are fulfilled. Hereafter, the ‘Review Board FESAIC’ is meeting and going through all applications piece by piece (through both pathways you can see in the link above). Hereafter, decisions are made. The pathway is a highly professional decision-making process.
Q: What made you introduce the Fellow system, and how is different from, for example, becoming an Honorary Member?
A: An Honorary Member is recognised due to the actions of the Society (this person has done a lot to bring ESAIC forward…). To become a FESAIC without (or as well as) being an Honorary Member is a more personal thing, this person has achieved great things in her/his professional life…
Q: We know that yours was the most unusual Presidency probably in the society’s history, due to the COVID Pandemic. But this global emergency also energised the anaesthesiology and intensive care communities. What are your highlights from your 2 years in charge?
A: The name change to ESAIC (it took me 8 years of preparation); this FESAIC project is my baby!; and obtaining EU projects and research projects for ESAIC and to further evolve the Patient Blood Management Program (www.patientbloodmanagement.eu).
Q: We are likely to experience further waves of COVID-19 as autumn and winter approach. You have helped ESAIC obtain a lot of funding to address this global health concern. Tell us about these projects?
A: Firstly our ENVISION study received 6 million euros of funding, and this project has generated the data which now will be analysed and used to ‘train’ our systems so that artificial intelligence software will look for new treatments for COVID-19.
Our other COVend project was awarded 10 million Euros which was used to produce a new treatment (called FX06) to prevent or reduce the worsening of COVID infection. As the underlying pathological disease process of COVID-19 is characterized by a continuous progression of endothelial injury, FX06, a protective substance against endothelial damage, is expected to prevent the disease from progressing from a moderate to a severe stage. A multi-centre clinical trial (called IXION) will now assess the efficacy of this treatment.
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