Central Line by American Society of Anesthesiologists - a podcast series for the anesthesia community

Dr. Vilma Joseph, guest editor of October's supplemental issue of ASA Monitor, joins Dr. Keya Locke to discuss 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality.  Listen in as they consider the role of anesthesiologists as perioperative physicians, various causes of postoperative mortality and morbidity, tools to help improve patient care, and more. Recorded September 2025. 

Dr. Alexander Choi, guest editor of October’s ASA Monitor, joins Dr. Keya Locke to discuss some of anesthesiology’s most pressing challenges and priorities. From the value of advocacy in uncertain times and the impact of current legislation to the role of anesthesiologists in politics and what ASA is doing to help, this advocacy episode covers the bases. Recorded July 2025.

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Dr. George Tewfik, guest editor of the September ASA Monitor, discusses the evolution of patient communications with Dr. Zach Deutch. They consider the myth that anesthesiologists don’t like talking to patients, share tips for dealing with patients who have suffered trauma, consider best practices for delivering bad news, and more. Recorded July 2025.

Dr. Aaron Primm, editor for Summaries of Emerging Evidence (SEE), joins Dr. Adam Striker to discuss the time-dependent probabilities of favorable outcomes following in-hospital cardiac arrest and optimizing patient position after surgery with general anesthesia with respect to early postoperative hypoxemia, topics featured in SEE Volume 41B. Recorded July 2025.

Dr. Keya Locke interviews Drs. Barbara Rogers and Shobana Rajan, guest editors of the August ASA Monitor, about preoperative medication management. Listen in as they discuss the state of long-standing medication debates, consider new trends and medications, and share thoughts on why the role of anesthesiologists as pre-op physicians is increasing in importance. Recorded July 2025.

Dr. Don Arnold, President of ASA, joins Dr. Striker to discuss the specialty’s present and future. Dr. Arnold shares his thoughts on leadership, ASA initiatives, the challenges and opportunities facing anesthesiology, and more. Recorded June 2025.

Dr. Adam Striker welcomes Dr. Juliet Schmalz, who left her career in anesthesiology to start a bourbon company. She discusses what drove the change, reveals the surprising ways her background in medicine comes in handy, and shares tips for those considering a leap. Recorded May 2025.

Dr. Keya Locke interviews Dr. Joseph Staggenborg, guest editor of July’s ASA Monitor, and Dr. Bob Johnstone, an early practice management champion. They consider the history of practice management, ASA’s efforts to advance the business of anesthesiology, the role of strategy and data, and more. Recorded May 2025.

Drs. Adam Striker and Brooke Trainer consider some of the specialty’s pressing challenges. Listen in as they discuss recent legislative action, the impact of CMS’s conversion factor, the fallout from insurance companies upcharging patients, and more. Recorded May 2025.

Dr. Zach Deutch interviews Dr. Nicole Guinn, guest editor of the June ASA Monitor, and Dr. Steven Frank, contributor, about blood management and transfusion medicine. Listen in as the guests share thoughts on bloodless care, the history of transfusion medicine, patient populations, the possibilities of predictive modeling, and more. Recorded April 2025.

Dr. Kathy Perryman joins Dr. Adam Striker to share her unique experiences as a nurse anesthetist turned anesthesiologist. Listen in as they consider how the roles of CRNAs and anesthesiologists have evolved, differences in training and practice, the value of physician led care, and more. Recorded April 2025.

Dr. Zach Deutch interviews Dr. Tom Grissom, guest editor of May’s ASA Monitor, along with contributor, Dr. Brenda Gentz, about trauma and emergency preparedness. From tips for managing possible large-scale disasters to new guidelines on ketamine usage and the status of the opioid crisis, this episode offers fresh perspectives and resources. Recorded April 2025.

Dr. Adam Striker discusses PECS blocks and nomenclature with Dr. Christine Vo, member of the ACE editorial board. Learn about the history and efficacy of PECS blocks, the challenges of heterogeneous nomenclature, ongoing efforts to standardize nomenclature, and more. Recorded April 2025.

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Drs. Muhammad Rafique and Igor Tkachenko, guest editors of the April ASA Monitor, discuss the road to and from the perioperative experience with Dr. Zach Deutch. Learn about the history of perioperative medicine, the role of anesthesiologists beyond the OR and around the globe, and more. Recorded February 2025. 

Drs. Diana Mosquera and Neeju Ravikant discuss Alternative Payment Models (APMs) with Dr. Brooke Trainer.  Learn how APMs intersect with broader operational and financial goals, how they impact patients and physicians, and what implementation looks like in practice. Recorded February 2025.

Dr. Zach Deutch speaks with Drs. Beth Darnall and Meredith Barad, contributors to the March ASA Monitor, about the advances in pain medicine. The episode explores the rewards and pitfalls of pain medicine, the subspecialty’s outlook, and the emerging role of biopsychosocial interventions and other innovations. Recorded February 2025.

Dr. Brooke Trainer speaks with Dr. Jason Chi, editor for Summaries of Emerging Evidence (SEE), about two studies included in the 41A issue of SEE that aim to help anesthesiologists manage patients who resist blood transfusions due to concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine, and add to our understanding of bias in pulse oximeter readings with patients who have darker pigmented skin. Recorded January 2025.