IARS 2026: WFSA Programs and Paediatric Anaesthesia Training in Africa

At the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) and Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists (SOCCA) meeting in Montreal, TopMedTalk hosts Mike Grocott and Desiree Chappell speak with Dr Faye Evans, Senior Associate in Perioperative Anesthesia at Boston Children's Hospital and Associate Professor of Anaesthesia at Harvard Medical School and Director of Partnerships on the Board of Directors for the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA). The conversation covers efforts to improve access to safe surgery and anesthesia for children globally. Evans explains the WFSA as a society of over 150 member societies focused on advocacy, safety, quality, publications, short courses (including SAFE), and a fellowship program that has trained over 400 fellows from 62 countries. She highlights growing emphasis on leadership, teaching, and evaluation within fellowships and describes Pediatric Anesthesia Training in Africa (PATA), formed to expand fellowship training, which has developed a shared curriculum and launched four programs with support from ELMA Philanthropies and Smile Train. Evans outlines ways to get involved through teaching, virtual support, and donations via the WFSA website. If you would like to support the WFSA Scholars Program we mention this link in the show: https://wfsahq.org/get-involved/donate/ -- The 2026 International Practicum on Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing will be held at the Balmer Lawn Hotel in Brockenhurst, UK, from September 16th to 18th this year. It is organised by iPOETTS , the international perioperative testing and training society. Come and join us at this premier educational event designed for clinicians, scientists, and healthcare professionals interested in sport, exercise, and perioperative medicine. This is an International Perioperative Testing and Training Society accredited event so when you attend you can get your iPOETTS accreditation, showing that you are a practitioner who has reached a high, standardized level of competence in performing and interpreting Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) for patients preparing for major surgery. Go now to http://www.ebpom.org