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

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.

In the second installment of our series on AI, Dr. Striker presents four short conversations with members of ASA’s Committee on Informatics and Information Technology (CIIT). Dr. Christopher Goldstein offers thoughts on the thorny problem of bias in AI; Dr. Matthew Wecksell discusses cybersecurity; Dr. Jonathan Tan considers the various ways AI might be used to boost revenue in anesthesia practices; and Dr. Hannah Lonsdale looks at trends and the future. Recorded August 2025.

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.