Vital Times 2017 - 10

A Letter from CSA's
Executive Director
By David Butler | CSA Executive Director

trong leadership and strategic
action were both hallmarks
of 2017 for the California
Society of Anesthesiologists. As
an organizational management
professional and your executive
director, it was very gratifying for
me to see CSA's volunteer leaders 2017 truly "push the
envelope" on behalf of CSA members, the specialty of
anesthesiology, and medicine as a whole.

This remarkable achievement was not the result of a
specific organizational initiative, nor have we showcased
CSA's all-female leadership team in communications or
at meetings. It just happened. I do believe, however, that
this unprecedented presence of women in leadership
with CSA is an illustration of a very healthy organization
and a group of very talented individuals. The leadership
track at CSA is open and available to anyone who
chooses to invest time and talent to lead and make a
difference.

It would be an understatement to say that the value
and importance of female leadership were hot topics
this year. In national politics and as an organizational
best practice, cultivating and encouraging leadership
opportunities for women is seen as a way to bring greater
diversity in experience and perspective to decisionmaking.

Under the shepherding of CSA Presidents Mark
Zakowski, MD, FASA, (2016-17) and Dr. Sibert (201718), the year 2017 also brought the development,
approval, and implementation of a set of strategic
priorities that respond to critical organizational needs
and member priorities.

Under the leadership of Linda Hertzberg, MD, FASA,
CSA's representative on the ASA Board of Directors,
the ASA has undertaken efforts to encourage leadership
opportunities for women within the society, practice
groups, and organized medicine.
Once again, CSA has led the way in a priority area. One
untold story of 2017 is that every primary single officer
position within the CSA is held by a woman: President
Karen Sibert, MD, FASA, Treasurer Judi Turner, MD,
PhD, Secretary Rima Matevosian, MD, Speaker of the
House Christine Doyle, MD, FASA, and ASA Director
Linda Hertzberg, MD, FASA. In addition, CSA's own
Past President Linda Mason, MD, FASA, was elected
First Vice President of ASA and will become President at
the 2018 House of Delegates meeting in San Francisco.

10 | CSA Vital Times

Leadership. ASA Director Linda Hertzberg, MD, FASA,
ASA First Vice President Linda Mason, MD, FASA, and CSA
President Karen Sibert, MD, FASA, at the CSA Delegation
Dinner during ANESTHESIOLOGY 2017 in Boston

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vital Times 2017