if you have any feedback, please send us a text! Thank you!

Welcome back to Vital Times, the podcast of the California Society of Anesthesiologists.

The news: CSA is launching its first Podcast Host Contest. We're looking for new voices for this show — and we're looking for it among you.

Who's eligible: Anesthesiology residents and fellows at California programs. Medical students at California medical schools with a demonstrated interest in the specialty. Any year. All subspecialty tracks.

No podcasting experience required. None. If you've never touched a microphone and you have something to say, we want to hear it.

How to enter. Send us:

1. An audio or video file, two to five minutes. Introduce yourself, or talk through a topic you care about. It doesn't need to be polished. We want to hear how you think and how you sound.
2. A written statement, 250 to 500 words. Why hosting interests you. What you'd cover. Who you'd want in the room.

Who's judging: selected members of the Communications Committee and staff. We're scoring on communication style, content knowledge, professionalism, enthusiasm, creativity, and alignment with CSA values.

Why it matters. This is more than a published episode with your name on it or a line on your CV. It's mentorship — working with us on the craft of interviewing and the discipline of talking well about hard subjects. It's visibility across CSA, and a leadership network most trainees don't see for years.

The winner is recognized in the CSA Newsletter, on our website, and at the Annual Meeting.

And if you don't win: strong entries may be featured on the CSA website. Either way, you'll have made something that's yours.

The bottom line. Sixty to ninety percent of residents already listen to podcasts monthly. Some of the people making them should be you.

Submissions open September 9th and close November 9th. Send yours to csa@csahq.org.