The first PostGraduate Assembly in Anesthesiology (PGA) took place from December 13-15, 1945, at the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City. Originally envisioned as a biennial meeting aimed at assisting physicians returning from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, the second PGA was held in 1947 at the New Yorker Hotel. By 1948, a venue was needed for the annual meeting of the newly formed New York state section of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Thus, the third PGA took place that year. This PGA also included a panel session titled “Diagnostic and Therapeutic Block for the Treatment of Intractable Pain,” chaired by two Harvard surgeons , illustrating the NYSSA’s commitment to utilizing the best experts for panels, regardless of their specialty. The panel’s prominence within the PGA program also demonstrated the importance of pain management to anesthesiology, even in the late 1940s.
Beginning in 1950, the PGA became an annual event. In 1963, the meeting moved to the New York Hilton Hotel, a larger venue that allowed for the expansion of the program and increased attendance. In the 1980s, the PGA continued to grow and new innovations such as mini-workshops were introduced. Focus sessions, problem-based learning discussions, and hands-on workshops were added in the 1990s to keep the PGA on the cutting edge of anesthesiology. In the early 1990s, the general and scientific chair of the meeting began to recruit the best speakers from the international community. Today, anesthesiologists from outside the U.S. represent approximately 30 percent of the PGA’s registered participants.
What began in 1945 as an effort to provide continuing education to local physicians returning from war, has evolved into an international meeting of historic proportions.
Beginning in 1950, the PGA became an annual event. In 1963, the meeting moved to the New York Hilton Hotel, a larger venue that allowed for the expansion of the program and increased attendance. In the 1980s, the PGA continued to grow and new innovations such as mini-workshops were introduced. Focus sessions, problem-based learning discussions, and hands-on workshops were added in the 1990s to keep the PGA on the cutting edge of anesthesiology. In the early 1990s, the general and scientific chair of the meeting began to recruit the best speakers from the international community. Today, anesthesiologists from outside the U.S. represent approximately 30 percent of the PGA’s registered participants.
What began in 1945 as an effort to provide continuing education to local physicians returning from war, has evolved into an international meeting of historic proportions.
THE NEW YORK STATE SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS, INC.
110 East 40th Street, Suite 300, New York, NY 10016 USA
Telephone: 1-212-867-7140
International: +00 followed by number
[email protected]
110 East 40th Street, Suite 300, New York, NY 10016 USA
Telephone: 1-212-867-7140
International: +00 followed by number
[email protected]