Central Line by American Society of Anesthesiologists - a podcast series for the anesthesia community

Dr. Brooke Trainer interviews Mr. Robert Avin, Vice President of USI Affinity, about the ins and outs of insurance. Find out what anesthesiologists at every career stage should consider, how to know if you’re truly covered, how ASA is working to help members meet their insurance needs, and more. Recorded April 2026.

Dr. Adam Striker talks to Dr. Thomas Vetter about his new role as editor-in-chief of the ASA Monitor. Learn about the responsibilities of an editor-in-chief, how the publication fits into the broader media landscape, changes on the horizon, and more. Recorded April 2026. 

The guest editors of May’s ASA Monitor, Drs. Brooke Trainer and George Tewfik, discuss practice models with Dr. Zach Deutch. Listen in as they consider the wide array of career paths available to anesthesiologists and weigh competing concerns such as clinical environment decision making, payment, work-life balance, culture, and more. Recorded March 2026.

Dr. Adam Striker welcomes Dr. Shamsuddin Akhtar, member of the ACE editorial board, for a discussion of the use of various narcotics in patients with liver disease. Listen in as they discuss how the liver metabolizes opioids in patients with cirrhosis, dosing considerations, and more. Recorded March 2026.

Dr. Keya Locke welcomes Drs. Ana Maria Crawford and Elizabeth Drum, guest editors of April's ASA Monitor, to discuss global health. Listen in as they consider how medicine is changing across the globe, why anesthesiologists are well placed to lead, and what can be done to expand patient care. Recorded February 2026.

Dr. Edward Mariano, co-chair of ASA’s Acute Pain Taskforce, discusses ASA’s new guideline on acute postoperative pain management with Dr. Adam Striker. Find out why this new guideline is needed, who the recommendations are for, what’s changed, and more. Recorded February 2026. 

ASA’s president, Dr. Patrick Giam, joins Dr. Adam Striker to discuss the specialty, the society, and the future. He shares his thoughts on ASA’s plans and anesthesiology’s most salient issues, from workforce and physician wellness to payment advocacy and mentorship. Recorded February 2026. 

Dr. George Tewfik, guest editor of the March ASA Monitor, and Dr. Emily Methangkool, contributor, discuss ambulatory anesthesia with Dr. Zach Deutch. Learn how ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are transforming care, how practicing in an ASC differs from the inpatient setting, what is on the horizon, and more. Recorded January 2026. 

Dr. Adam Striker speaks with Dr. Jason Chi, editor for Summaries of Emerging Evidence (SEE), about two topics featured in SEE Volume 42A: the relationship between sedation type and the rate of precancerous polyp detection in colonoscopies, and rates of respiratory and acute cardiovascular complications, as well as 30-day mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease who received neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs). Recorded January 2026.

In the first episode of a three-part series on mentorship, Dr. Brooke Trainer talks to Dr. Vanessa Henke about how being a mentor, or mentee, impacts physician wellness and shares the details of ASA’s new mentorship program. Recorded January 2026. 

Dr. Eugenia Ayrian, guest editor of the February ASA Monitor,  speaks with Dr. Keya Locke about neuroanesthesiology. From awake craniotomy to thrombectomy, Drs. Ayrian and Locke review advances in neuromonitoring and the ways physiological optimization, cerebral protection, and hemodynamic control are evolving patient management in this subspecialty. Recorded December 2025. 

Dr. Adam Striker shares clips from ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025 in this special episode. Listen in as TopMedTalk interviews leaders from the specialty. Guests include outgoing president, Dr. Donald Arnold, and incoming president, Dr. Patrick Giam, along with Dr. Mary Dale Peterson, Tom Miller, Dr. Jonathan Gal, Dr. Gordon Morewood, Dr. Sheila Barnette, Dr. Patrick Guffey, and Dr. Samer Narouze. This prestigious group of thoughts leaders discusses workforce, economics, quality initiatives, the treatment of pain, and more. Recorded at the ASA annual meeting in October 2025.

Dr. Zach Deutch interviews the guest editor of January's ASA Monitor, Dr. Muhammad Rafique, and his editorial co-author, Dr. M-Irfan Suleman, about pediatric regional anesthesia. Learn how our understanding of pain in neonates and small children has changed, what new techniques are making an impact, how to establish a pain center for children, and more. Recorded November 2025.

Drs. Diana Mosquera and Patricia Fogarty Mack join Dr. Brooke Trainer to discuss Medicare’s new alternative payment model, Transforming Episode of Care Model (TEAM). Learn what’s driving the change, who will be impacted, how anesthesiologists can participate, and more. Recorded November 2025.

Dr. Steve Shafer, Editor-in-Chief of the ASA Monitor, visits with Dr. Zach Deutch to discuss the changing landscape of accreditation. Discover how accreditation agencies are evolving, where their authority comes from, how USP 797 impacts anesthesiology, how to best prepare for a visit, and more. Recorded October 2025.

Recorded live at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025, Dr. Jed Wolpaw, host of the ACCRAC podcast, interviews Dr. Joyce Wahr, who offered the John W. Severinghaus Lecture: It’s Not Your Fault! The Cognitive Basis of Error. Learn from Dr. Wahr as she shares her expertise on system 1 and system 2 thinking, and forcing functions that could reduce errors, with Dr. Wolpaw and attendees. Recorded October 2025.

Dr. Adam Striker interviews the co-guest editors of November’s ASA Monitor, Dr. Della M. Lin and Dr. Scott Markowitz, about harassment, incivility, and disrespect. Learn how incivility impacts the specialty, what the ad hoc committee is doing about it, and how anesthesiologists can make a difference. Recorded October 2025.

Dr. Natalie Bodmer, member of the ACE editorial board,  joins Dr. Adam Striker to discuss new guidelines regarding the perioperative cardiovascular management of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery (NCS). Learn about optimal timing of elective or time-sensitive NCS for prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Topics include the management of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), what researchers have learned, and more. Recorded September 2025. 

Dr. Vilma Joseph, guest editor of October's supplemental issue of ASA Monitor, joins Dr. Keya Locke to discuss 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality.  Listen in as they consider the role of anesthesiologists as perioperative physicians, various causes of postoperative mortality and morbidity, tools to help improve patient care, and more. Recorded September 2025. 

Dr. Alexander Choi, guest editor of October’s ASA Monitor, joins Dr. Keya Locke to discuss some of anesthesiology’s most pressing challenges and priorities. From the value of advocacy in uncertain times and the impact of current legislation to the role of anesthesiologists in politics and what ASA is doing to help, this advocacy episode covers the bases. Recorded July 2025.

In the second installment of our series on AI, Dr. Striker presents four short conversations with members of ASA’s Committee on Informatics and Information Technology (CIIT). Dr. Christopher Goldstein offers thoughts on the thorny problem of bias in AI; Dr. Matthew Wecksell discusses cybersecurity; Dr. Jonathan Tan considers the various ways AI might be used to boost revenue in anesthesia practices; and Dr. Hannah Lonsdale looks at trends and the future. Recorded August 2025.

Dr. George Tewfik, guest editor of the September ASA Monitor, discusses the evolution of patient communications with Dr. Zach Deutch. They consider the myth that anesthesiologists don’t like talking to patients, share tips for dealing with patients who have suffered trauma, consider best practices for delivering bad news, and more. Recorded July 2025.

Dr. Aaron Primm, editor for Summaries of Emerging Evidence (SEE), joins Dr. Adam Striker to discuss the time-dependent probabilities of favorable outcomes following in-hospital cardiac arrest and optimizing patient position after surgery with general anesthesia with respect to early postoperative hypoxemia, topics featured in SEE Volume 41B. Recorded July 2025.

Dr. Keya Locke interviews Drs. Barbara Rogers and Shobana Rajan, guest editors of the August ASA Monitor, about preoperative medication management. Listen in as they discuss the state of long-standing medication debates, consider new trends and medications, and share thoughts on why the role of anesthesiologists as pre-op physicians is increasing in importance. Recorded July 2025.

Dr. Don Arnold, President of ASA, joins Dr. Striker to discuss the specialty’s present and future. Dr. Arnold shares his thoughts on leadership, ASA initiatives, the challenges and opportunities facing anesthesiology, and more. Recorded June 2025.

Dr. Adam Striker welcomes Dr. Juliet Schmalz, who left her career in anesthesiology to start a bourbon company. She discusses what drove the change, reveals the surprising ways her background in medicine comes in handy, and shares tips for those considering a leap. Recorded May 2025.

Dr. Keya Locke interviews Dr. Joseph Staggenborg, guest editor of July’s ASA Monitor, and Dr. Bob Johnstone, an early practice management champion. They consider the history of practice management, ASA’s efforts to advance the business of anesthesiology, the role of strategy and data, and more. Recorded May 2025.

Drs. Adam Striker and Brooke Trainer consider some of the specialty’s pressing challenges. Listen in as they discuss recent legislative action, the impact of CMS’s conversion factor, the fallout from insurance companies upcharging patients, and more. Recorded May 2025.

Dr. Zach Deutch interviews Dr. Nicole Guinn, guest editor of the June ASA Monitor, and Dr. Steven Frank, contributor, about blood management and transfusion medicine. Listen in as the guests share thoughts on bloodless care, the history of transfusion medicine, patient populations, the possibilities of predictive modeling, and more. Recorded April 2025.

Dr. Kathy Perryman joins Dr. Adam Striker to share her unique experiences as a nurse anesthetist turned anesthesiologist. Listen in as they consider how the roles of CRNAs and anesthesiologists have evolved, differences in training and practice, the value of physician led care, and more. Recorded April 2025.

Dr. Zach Deutch interviews Dr. Tom Grissom, guest editor of May’s ASA Monitor, along with contributor, Dr. Brenda Gentz, about trauma and emergency preparedness. From tips for managing possible large-scale disasters to new guidelines on ketamine usage and the status of the opioid crisis, this episode offers fresh perspectives and resources. Recorded April 2025.

Dr. Adam Striker discusses PECS blocks and nomenclature with Dr. Christine Vo, member of the ACE editorial board. Learn about the history and efficacy of PECS blocks, the challenges of heterogeneous nomenclature, ongoing efforts to standardize nomenclature, and more. Recorded April 2025.

In this special episode, Dr. Striker presents four short conversations with members of ASA’s Committee on Informatics and Information Technology (CIIT). Dr. Beth Minzter offers an intro to AI; Dr. Vesela Kovacheva discusses patient safety and predictive models; Dr. Kent Berg shares thoughts on remote monitoring; and Dr. Vikas O’Reilly-Shah sheds light on AI’s academic and subspecialty applications. Recorded March 2025.

Drs. Muhammad Rafique and Igor Tkachenko, guest editors of the April ASA Monitor, discuss the road to and from the perioperative experience with Dr. Zach Deutch. Learn about the history of perioperative medicine, the role of anesthesiologists beyond the OR and around the globe, and more. Recorded February 2025. 

Drs. Diana Mosquera and Neeju Ravikant discuss Alternative Payment Models (APMs) with Dr. Brooke Trainer.  Learn how APMs intersect with broader operational and financial goals, how they impact patients and physicians, and what implementation looks like in practice. Recorded February 2025.

Dr. Zach Deutch speaks with Drs. Beth Darnall and Meredith Barad, contributors to the March ASA Monitor, about the advances in pain medicine. The episode explores the rewards and pitfalls of pain medicine, the subspecialty’s outlook, and the emerging role of biopsychosocial interventions and other innovations. Recorded February 2025.

Dr. Brooke Trainer speaks with Dr. Jason Chi, editor for Summaries of Emerging Evidence (SEE), about two studies included in the 41A issue of SEE that aim to help anesthesiologists manage patients who resist blood transfusions due to concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine, and add to our understanding of bias in pulse oximeter readings with patients who have darker pigmented skin. Recorded January 2025.

Drs. Jeans Santana and Gage Parr from the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists join Dr. Adam Striker to discuss the role of cardiac anesthesiologists in and beyond the OR, the use of transesophageal echocardiography, recent AHA guidelines, and more. Recorded January 2025.

Drs. Henry Rosenberg and Kumar Belani, guest editor of the February ASA Monitor, speak with Dr. Zach Deutch about genetic breakthroughs in malignant hyperthermia. The episode touches on the advances and limitations of genetic testing, the expanding scope of malignant hyperthermia, how to best manage a diagnosis, and more. Recorded January 2024.

Drs. Adam Striker and Brooke Trainer discuss hot button issues facing the specialty today. Their lively conversation touches on the recent Anthem Blue Cross decision to propose and then rescinded a cap on anesthesia time, how the media covers anesthesiology, potential legislative solutions, and more. Recorded December 2024. 

Dr. Adam Striker shares clips from ANESTHESIOLOGY 2024 in this special episode. Listen in as outgoing president Dr. Ronald Harter and incoming president Dr. Donald Arnold—along with Drs. Sean Runnels, Barrett Larson, Michael Hofkamp, Benjamin Houseman, Lois Connolly and Jonathan Gal—discuss commercial payer policies, Anesthesia Toolbox, Swimming with the Sharks, the specialty’s challenges, and more. Recorded by TopMedTalk in October 2024 at the ASA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.

Dr. Lalitha Sundararaman, guest editor of the January ASA Monitor, and Dr. Aaron Tebbs, Chair of the Committee on Late Career and Retired Members, join Dr. Zach Deutch to discuss retirement. This episode explores the stages of retirement, ways to stay involved with the specialty, considerations beyond finances, and more. Recorded November 2024.

Recorded live at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2024, Dr. Adam Striker discusses the opioid epidemic with accomplished journalist and ASA’s keynote speaker, Sam Quinones. Listen in as Mr. Quinones shares what he learned from his extensive research about the role of pain specialists, pharmaceutical companies, and Mexican drug cartels as well as the state of legislation today and how anesthesiologists can contribute to solutions. Recorded October 2024.

Dr. Muhammad Rafique, guest editor of December’s ASA Monitor, joins Dr. Zach Deutch for a conversation about what happens when bad things happen to good anesthesiologists. Learn how physicians and health care organizations can prepare for, or react to, bad outcomes, legal issues, personal challenges, and more. Recorded November 2024.

Recorded live at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2024, Dr. Jed Wolpaw, host of the ACCRAC podcast, interviews Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, anesthesiologist and secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Listen in as Dr. Wolpaw and the live audience ask Dr. Arkoosh about the intersection of anesthesiology and public service. Recorded October 2024.

Dr. Zach Deutch discusses palliative care with Dr. Sandra Sacks, guest editor of November’s ASA Monitor. Learn how palliative care differs from hospice; understand the aims of palliative care and its role outside of the ICU; get practical tips for prognosis, planning, and end of life discussions; and more. Recorded October 2024.

Dr. Ahmed Shalabi, member of the ACE editorial board, joins Dr. Adam Striker to discuss medical ethics in mass casualty situations, a topic highlighted in the 21B issue. Listen in as they discuss the role of ethics in managing mass casualties, what health care organizations can do to prepare, issues anesthesiologists face in a crisis, and more. Recorded September 2024.

Dr. Keya Locke discusses advocacy with Dr. Sam Page, guest editor of October’s ASA Monitor. Learn about the issues ASA is fighting for, what’s at stake, how to get involved, and more. Recorded September 2024.

Drs. Brian Brenner and Jeffrey Carness, medical officers in the United States Navy, share their unique experiences and knowledge with Dr. Adam Striker. Learn about the history and evolution of military medicine, as well as what it’s really like to practice anesthesiology in military settings today. Recorded September 2024.

Drs. Heather Nixon and Tracey Vogel from the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) join Dr. Brooke Trainer for a no-holds-barred conversation about intraoperative pain during cesarean delivery. Listen in as they explore the consequences of painful birth experiences and consider how anesthesiologists can meaningfully address the problem. Recorded August 2024.