On January 29th I gave birth to twins via scheduled cesarean delivery. As I lay on the operating room table with left uterine displacement, after drinking sodium citrate and receiving a spinal anesthetic expertly placed by my friend and colleague Jodie Buxbaum, M.D., I experienced a moment of extraordinary gratitude to all of the obstetric anesthesiologists who had contributed to making this a completely routine and uneventful procedure. The 2002 Distinguished Service Award will honor six physicians who had the foresight and perseverance to create an organization that would facilitate intellectual exchange among obstetric anesthesiologists.
On May 25, 1968 six visionary anesthesiologists with a love for obstetric anesthesia met at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to discuss the formation of an obstetric anesthesia interest group. The "Chicago Six" were Robert D. Bauer, M.D. (University of California at Los Angeles), Richard B. Clark, M.D. (University of Arkansas at Little Rock), James O. Elam, M.D. (Chicago Lying-In), James A. Evans, M.D. (Emory University), Robert F. Hustead, M.D. (Johns Hopkins), and Bradley E. Smith, M.D. (University of Miami). In January 1968 Dr. Elam had formally proposed the idea of this society to Dr. Otto Phillips, the outgoing chairman of the ASA's Committee on Obstetrical Anesthesia. Dr. Elam suggested that the interest group would provide "education of physicians and nurses on the safe practice of obstetric anesthesia..., (education of) the public on their right to receive the best possible care…, (stimulation of) the intellectual development of OB anesthesia…, (and fostering) proper…fee schedules for obstetrical and neonatal care". In October 1968 Dr. Smith became chairman of the ASA Committee on Obstetrical Anesthesia and it fell to him to implement the goals of the O'Hare group.
In October 1968, an informal meeting was held in conjunction with the annual ASA convention. All persons known to be interested in obstetric anesthesiology were invited. During the next few months much discussion ensued about whether or not this group should be independent or formally affiliated with either the ASA or ACOG. After just a few months the decision was reached to establish an independent organization. Dr. Smith observed in a letter to Dr. Evans "the ASA has no provisions for associating in any way with independent groups of any nature". The first formal meeting of this new group was organized by Dr. Robert Hustead and held in September 1969. During this meeting, attended by approximately 60 physicians, it was resolved that a new organization had been born and that it should tentatively be called the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology.
The second meeting was held the following September in Nashville, hosted by Dr. Smith. At the first formal business meeting of the society a committee was charged to create bylaws for the organization. Dr. Smith assumed the position of President and Dr. Evans that of Secretary for the year of 1970-71. The 1971 meeting was held in Atlanta in April. The Emory University Departments of Anesthesiology, Gynecology and Pediatrics sponsored this meeting, hosted by Dr. Evans. The "What's New in OB Anesthesia" lecture, delivered by Drs. Sol Shnider and Paul Poppers, debuted at this meeting. Bylaws were approved and SOAP was up and running.
As we look forward to the 34th Annual Meeting of SOAP I hope that every member will make an effort to attend and join the Board of Directors in presenting the 2002 Distinguished Service Award to our Founders. Drs. Clark, Hustead and Smith will be in attendance and Ms. Cybill Evans Hunt will accept the award for her father, Dr. Evans, who passed away in January. Drs. Bauer and Elam will be honored posthumously. These individuals gave birth to an organization that has had tremendous impact on the safety and quality of care delivered to mothers and babies for the last three decades. By fostering a uniquely supportive environment for the exchange of ideas our founders have created a legacy that will benefit our patients and the professional development or our members for decades to come. Acknowledgement: Thanks to Dr. Smith for providing me with the manuscript from which the historical information was taken.
Valerie Arkoosh, MD
President