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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.

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

Decreasing insurance reimbursements, rising costs, longer hours, lower pay, less agency over your working conditions, and increasing administrative and educational requirements. These are just a few of the issues that many anesthesiologists and physicians face. Meanwhile, governments make ill-considered rules, cut funding, prevent fair and equitable negotiations, and non-physician providers continue to fight for greater authority to practice medicine without having attended medical school. A physician and anesthesiologist shortage emboldens them to feel entitled to greater independence. New residencies are being developed to counter this shortage, but how can they successfully navigate all the obstacles they may face? How do any of us try to make our practices, working conditions, or pay structures better?

Organizations like the California Society of Anesthesiologists and others exist to support their members. They advocate, educate, collaborate, network, and elevate anesthesiologists throughout California. None of this work can be done without engaged and enthusiastic members.

Join my guests today as they explain why they got involved with the CSA and why they think it is important for all members to do so.

Dr. Newhide completed his Anesthesiology residency training at the University of Maryland Medical Center and a fellowship in Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Management at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. With a strong commitment to serving the underserved, he returned to his home state of California to help found a new residency program in Stockton, CA. He is currently serving as the Residency Program Director at St. Joseph's Medical Center, helping to develop a new generation of anesthesiologists to serve the Central Valley.

Dr. Klein is a fourth-year resident in anesthesiology at UCLA and serves as her residency program's ASA and CSA resident delegate. She will be completing her fellowship in Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Management at Duke University in the upcoming academic year. As a resident on a research track, she is involved in informatics and policy-related research on insurance utilization and physician payments. She plans to practice in a large academic setting so she can continue on her path as a physician-researcher while staying involved in the health policy space.

Dr. Mariam Sarwary is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford and the Program Director for the Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship. She has been involved with the CSA since residency and currently sits on the organization's Board of Directors. Mariam also serves as a mentor for Stanford's Leadership Education in Advancing Diversity (LEAD) program and is a member of the GME Well-Being Committee.

Dr. Christina Menor is a board-certified anesthesiologist in private practice in Los Angeles. She specializes in ambulatory, pediatric, and obstetric anesthesiology. Dr. Menor currently serves as the President of the California Society of Anesthesiologists. She co-authored an article that describes California survey data on medical titles. She is a member of Physicians Protecting Patients and is an active advocate for physician-led care and title transparency. She has been active with the CSA since residency.

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

Dr. Beth Duggan, Vice Chair of faculty development at UAB, and Dr. Daryl Oakes, Stanford Associate Dean of Post Graduate Medical Education, speak on ways anesthesiologists can escape being pigeonholed to instead craft a fulfilling and sustainable career.