Clinical Practice Committee (CPC) Update

by Gozde Demiralp, MD, FCCM
Chair, SOCCA Clinical Practice Committee
UW-Madison, Madison, WI
&
R. Alok Gupta, MD
Vice Chair, SOCCA Clinical Practice Committee
Northwestern University, Chicago, IL

Volume 36 | Issue 4 | Dec 2025

The SOCCA Clinical Practice Committee (CPC), under the leadership of Dr. Gozde Demiralp (Chair) and Dr. Alok Gupta (Vice Chair), continues to demonstrate remarkable progress in advancing the clinical, educational, and collaborative missions of SOCCA. The CPC’s diverse subgroups have remained active throughout 2025, engaging in national and international initiatives, launching workshops and panels, and driving quality improvement and education within critical care anesthesiology.

MCS/ECMO/CTICU
(in collaboration with SCA)
Led by Dr. Lovkesh Arora and Dr. Lauren Sutherland, this subgroup has made impressive strides in education and curriculum development. Their ECMO Workshop was accepted for IARS/SOCCA 2026. The workshop will provide a hands-on learning experience in percutaneous cannulation and ECMO case management through simulation-based sessions, while providing opportunities for subcommittee members to participate in the workshop as faculty.

This workgroup is also working in conjunction with the Program Directors Advisory Council (PDAC) and the Service Chiefs Advisory Council (SCAC) for a position paper regarding MCS competencies for ACCM fellowship. We hope to be able to report more on this soon.

NEUROCRITICAL CARE
(in collaboration with SNACC)
Under the leadership of Dr. Vishal Yajnik and Dr. Kate Rosenblatt, the Neurocritical Care subgroup continues to bridge the gap between perioperative care and ICU management of this unique patient population. Their Brain Death Workshop and Symposium, accepted for IARS 2026, will feature case-based learning aligned with the latest clinical guideline updates.

The subgroup also continues its Perioperative EVD Campaign, aiming to provide anesthesiologists with practical tools for managing external ventricular drains in the perioperative setting—an important initiative that strengthens cross-disciplinary learning with SNACC.

Obstetric Critical Care Medicine
(in collaboration with SOAP)
Chaired by Dr. Ioannis (Yanni) Angelidis with Dr. Emily Naoum as vice chair, the OB-CCM subgroup has been instrumental in promoting collaboration with SOAP. Their SOCCA–SOAP panel was accepted for IARS 2026, featuring three case-based discussions in obstetric critical care.

Building on this success, the group has also proposed a “Crushing Postpartum Patient Workshop” for the upcoming SOAP Annual Meeting and continues to develop refresher courses for the ASA Annual Meeting—initiatives that highlight their sustained educational impact.

Quality and Safety Workgroup
The Quality and Safety Workgroup, chaired by Dr. Somnath Bose with Dr. Joy Chen as vice chair, continues to advance SOCCA’s commitment to excellence in patient care. Their major project, the QI Project Inventory, is under active development on the SOCCA website. Intake forms are about to be launched, allowing members to upload and review quality improvement projects. The repository aims to serve as a living database and educational resource, particularly valuable for fellows seeking project inspiration. Collaboration with PDAC is being pursued to expand access and engagement across training programs.

Transplant Critical Care
(in collaboration with SATA)
The Transplant Critical Care subgroup, chaired by Dr. Ranjit Deshpande and Dr. Megan Rashid, has maintained steady progress on the upcoming publication dedicated to perioperative liver transplant care. The group continues to explore publication venues to ensure broad dissemination of this vital work. Their recent contribution to Interchange (2025Q3), “From Bedside to Boardroom: Opportunities in Critical Care—How Anesthesiology Can Drive Innovation, Integration, and Impact Across Health Systems,” underscores their vision for anesthesiologists as leaders in system-level improvement.

Global Critical Care Medicine
Chaired by Dr. Vanessa Moll and Dr. Ana Crawford, the Global Critical Care Medicine subgroup has focused on broadening global engagement and academic exchange. Following member surveys and meetings earlier in the year, the subgroup refined its direction toward education and advocacy for global critical care access. Members have been encouraged to submit abstracts to the World Congress of Anesthesiologists 2026 in Marrakech, Morocco, and to volunteer with the World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists (WFSA).

LOOKING AHEAD
As 2025 draws to a close, the CPC continues to build momentum across educational, clinical, and scholarly domains. Each subgroup’s commitment to collaboration, innovation, and education reflects SOCCA’s broader mission to elevate the practice of critical care anesthesiology. The committee’s growing presence in national and international forums—through IARS, SOAP, SATA, SNACC, and global outreach—demonstrates the strength of interdisciplinary teamwork and shared purpose. If you are inspired by our work and interested in collaborating within CPC, please keep an eye out for upcoming committee membership announcements. Together, we look forward to another year of advancing excellence and shaping the future of critical care anesthesiology.