The Society of Critical Care Medicine's 37th Critical Care Congress was held during February 2-6, 2008 and took place outside the continental US for the first time with a record breaking success of over 5,000 participants from all over the world. This year's venue was Honolulu, Hawaii. For obvious reason, the participation from countries around the Pacific Ocean was especially large. The program was outstanding. Dr. Samuel Tisherman served eminently on the Program Planning Committee. The faculty included many current Pitt CCM Department members and alumni, such as Drs. Marie Baldisseri, Joseph Carcillo, Perren Cobb, Andy Egol, Alan Fields, Ake Grenvik, John Kellum, Eric Milbrandt, Juan Ochoa, Michael Pinsky, Manni Rivers, Sam Tisherman and Randy Wax. Four of our faculty members were honored with Presidential Citations: Drs. Derek Angus, Marie Baldisseri, Paul Rogers and Scott Watson. Dr. Marie Baldisseri was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of CCM. Barbara Daly, RN, PhD, of Cleveland received the Grenvik Family Award for Ethics in CCM. Dr. Mitchell Fink received the most honoring ACCM Distinguished Investigator Award and Marilyn Hravnak, CCRN, PhD, was the 2008 recipient of the Norma Shoemaker Award for Critical Care Nursing Excellence. In addition, Dr. Karen Walson received the Intraining Award, Dr. Raghavan Murugan received the Specialty Award in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation and Dr. Vijay Karajala received the Young Investigator Award. We congratulate all these current and past Pitt faculty members and trainees for their successful accomplishments.

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The many sight seeing trips offered at the congress included a visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center on the North Coast of Oahu.”

Oral Interviews Tell History of SCCM

At the Hawaii Congress Drs. Ake Grenvik and James Snyder expanded their collection of video recorded oral history interviews. These now span the entire history of the Society including Presidents Weil, Shoemaker, Raphaely, Hoyt, Dellinger, Taylor, Bekes, Harvey, Buchman, Parker, Durbin, Ognibene, and Barie, President-elect Levy, as well as dozens of other leaders. Critical care physicians, nurses and PharmDs tell their accounts of the early and explosive growth of the field, extending into such new considerations as targeting maximal patient functionality rather than 28-day survival, and reliable application of proven therapies. Information obtained by these interviews will help to create the content and context of Dr. Grenvik’s upcoming book of the Society. Video-recordings are by Jim Rieker.

Drs. James Snyder and Mitchell Levy

Annual MCCTP Alumni Reunion 2008

In what has become a yearly event, the Department of Critical Care Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh organized a reunion ceremony for its alumni.  The location was in the heart of the magnificent Hawaiian island of Oahu, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Waikiki Beach.  The Occasion: The Annual Society of Critical Care Medicine Congress held at the Hawaiian Convention Center in Honolulu during February 2-6, 2008. On a warm and breezy night, Pitt alumni from across the globe came to mingle with other CCM faculty and fellows who were present and actively participating at the Congress. Drs. Ake Grenvik, James Snyder, Ann Thompson, and Joseph Darby were there to welcome the attendees.  With drinks and hors d'oeuvres served, the mood was festive and the time opportune to reminisce over the invaluable fellowship training days with their challenging and funny moments. Dr. Grenvik opened with a welcoming speech and a 'thank you' to the decades of followers of the Pitt-Way.  The cheers were loud and sincerely suggested the 'yes we can' attitude that has helped to revolutionize the critical care practice.  Dr. Ann Thompson followed with the announcement of the transfer of leadership to Dr. Derek Angus as the new CCM Department Chair.  The celebratory mood went on throughout the night and discussions roamed around the most recent treatments, devices, and achievements of fellow alumni on national and international levels

Left to right: Oleg Sorokoumov, Emilio Ganitano Jr, Brian S. Gruber, & Shigeki Fujitani

Karol Richards and Edwin Ozua

Left to right: Peter Linden, Linas Mockus, John Lee,
Ragi Murugan, & Robert Chavko

Left to right: Mehrnaz Hadian, Ake Grenvik, Bouchra Lamia,
Mamatha Balasubramanian (Ragi’s wife) & Antonella Cotoia

Akhtar Khan & Joseph Darby

James Snyder & George Matuschak