Volume 78 Number 1

Enhancing Patient Outcomes through Collaboration – Recapping PGA79  

NYSSA’s 79th PostGraduate Assembly in Anesthesiology—one of the largest annual gatherings for anesthesiologists worldwide—brought together thousands of clinicians, researchers and industry leaders. More than twenty percent of attendees traveled from outside the United States, strengthening collaboration across borders, institutions and practice settings.

Convening last December at the New York Marriott Marquis in the heart of Times Square, the event encompassed four days of engaged learning, networking and sharing experiences. Importantly, an underlying theme across all sessions was innovation to enhance patient care, thus shining a spotlight on advances in all aspects—and outcomes—of anesthesiology practice.

“Many good take-home messages from all speakers. Enjoyed the session very much!”

Content Summary: A Birds-eye View

Hands-on workshops and small-group discussions remained the cornerstone of the meeting, allowing attendees to build practical skills and engage directly with topical experts. These interactive formats emphasized application of knowledge to clinical practice to foster deep understanding of complex scenarios.

With more than 190 sessions—and opportunities to earn up to 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™—the conference offered a comprehensive look at the evolving landscape of the profession.

As any previous NYSSA PGA attendee can attest, one of the event’s most appreciated aspects is that its selection of offerings suit a wide range of learning preferences. December’s PGA79 event was no exception; the variety of options included:

• Scientific Panels addressing relevant knowledge and practice gaps and included interactive discussions and panel-audience questions and comments.
• Spotlight Sessions on topics such as non-obstetric surgery during pregnancy, pain management and spinal surgery cases as well as well-being for woman anesthesiologists and navigation of the leadership “journey.”
• Workshops demonstrating use of equipment for situations like ultrasound-guided injections, difficult airways, and basic cardiac POCUS—giving participants an opportunity to seek out focused training or work toward a clinical competence.
• Case-Based Learning Discussions exploring specific clinical problems such as atypical intraoperative anaphylaxis in an ambulatory setting; rethinking routine oxygen supplementation and intravenous hydration; and diagnosis and management of massive intraoperative pulmonary embolism.
• Engaging with the Experts that fostered engaged exchanges on topics like drug shortages, epidurals, patients on cannabinoids, managing blood and office-based anesthesia.
• Scientific Posters, Medically Challenging Cases and Quality Improvement Projects that highlighted scientific research and interesting cases throughout a two-day presentation period. These sessions also offered opportunities for residents and early-career physicians to share research and engage with peers and mentors.

And as always, the Exhibit Hall showcased new medications, devices, equipment and services from a multitude of vendor experts.

“Great diverse discussion.”

Advancing Our Specialty: For Today and Tomorrow

Throughout PGA79, the importance of lifelong learning and multidisciplinary collaboration was clear. Presenters addressed knowledge gaps through varied teaching methods—and encouraged lively dialogue across subspecialties to improve overall patient outcomes. As PGA79 concluded, attendees departed with ready-to-implement insights and strengthened connections for ongoing professional collaboration.

One takeaway from PGA79 was clearer than ever before. Anesthesiology is evolving rapidly. With the impact of technology such as diagnostic advances and AI—along with budgetary and workforce constraints on our healthcare system and the prevalence of complex cases—a “status quo” for our specialty no longer exists. NYSSA PGA remains a central forum for sharing knowledge, advancing research and strengthening the professional community. Indeed, the assembly continues to serve as a cornerstone event for shaping the future of anesthesiology in all practice settings.

“All three speakers were phenomenal and seemed like they would be awesome to work with!”

“By hosting educational webinars, publishing a quarterly journal, and encouraging its members to exchange knowledge and raise funds for scholarships in anesthesiology, [NYSSA] has ensured continued excellence in the field and nurtured the next generation.

Today’s PGA builds on this strong foundation through its plethora of panels, workshops, discussions, and networking opportunities. As you gather to advance the society’s goals, I applaud its members and supporters for their dedication to delivering high-quality care and promoting ongoing innovation.”

The Honorable Eric Adams
Mayor, City of New York

Save the Date for PGA 80

December 11 – 14, 2026
Marriott Marquis in New York City

“Presenters were knowledgeable and very accessible. Great talks.”