Articles written by Kara M. Barnett
Dr. Rebecca S. Twersky: A Pioneer in Ambulatory Anesthesia Safety (1955–2023)
Rebecca Twersky, M.D., MPH, FASA, affectionately known as Riki, grew up as the third of four children in an Orthodox Jewish household in Los Angeles. Her father, a Holocaust survivor, was a prominent rabbi, and her mother was daughter of a rabbi who had emigrated to the United States after World War I. Dr. Twersky’s […]
Read the articleWomen Pioneers
For the past 20 years, women have comprised roughly half of all medical school classes in the United States. Yet only 36% of today’s full-time academic anesthesiologists in this country are women—and even fewer women hold leadership roles within the specialty. Here in the 21st century, the gender gap in anesthesiology still persists.
Read the articleBuilding on a Strong Foundation
It is an honor to step into the role of Sphere editor and chair of the NYSSA Communications Committee. This marks an exciting opportunity to build on the strong foundation put in place by our former editor and communications chair, Dr. Sonia Pyne. I would like to thank Dr. Pyne, who served as chair for […]
Read the articleParadoxical Breathing in a Patient Undergoing CT-Guided Needle Biopsy Under Propofol Sedation
Maricka Bennett, M.S., Joanna Serafin, Ph.D., and Kara M. Barnett, M.D., FASA, SAMBA-F Introduction Propofol is a commonly administered anesthetic due to its ease of titration to a desired level as well as its safety profile. However, propofol administration in a patient with a natural airway can lead to respiratory depression, hypoxia and, less commonly, […]
Read the articleSupporting Your Lactating Colleagues in the Workplace
As physicians, we are all aware of the benefits of lactation for both mother and child,1 but lactating clinicians face many workplace barriers. A 2018 article by Cantu et al. identified the most common barriers reported by female physicians, including lack of time to pump, unpredictability of one’s schedule, and lack of an appropriate place […]
Read the articleExamining the Advantages of an Ambulatory Extended Recovery Facility
Ambulatory extended recovery facilities, which have evolved from ambulatory outpatient surgery programs, provide a unique set of benefits for many patients. Rather than limiting recoveries to just hours with a same day discharge, these facilities allow carefully selected complex procedures and patients to recover outside of the hospital for a one-night stay.
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