Welcome to DAS 2011

2nd-4th November 2011
East-Midlands Conference Centre
Nottingham, UK

I would like to welcome you to the 16th Annual Scientific Meeting at the East-Midlands Conference Centre.

Awarded 15 CPD points by the RCoA, the conference follows the format of workshops on the Wednesday, followed by a two-day scientific programme.

Do come to our welcome drinks reception on Wednesday evening 5pm at the Conference Centre

Thursday morning opens with system safety, individual performance and post disaster management and I am delighted to welcome a diverse group of speakers; Kevin Fong (UCL and NASA), Dr Nick Sevdalis (Imperial), and Prof Emeritus Alan Aitkenhead (Nottingham) who will address this theme.

Our free papers covering a diverse range & will be presented in the 2nd morning session

On Thursday afternoon we welcome our guest lecturer Dr Irene Osborn (New York), Secretary of the Society for Airway Management (SAM) to discuss the airway in neuroanaesthesia. The SAM lecture is followed by an update on DAS projects from Dr Jaideep Pandit, Project Officer for the Society and the Society’s Annual General Meeting

The Gala Dinner on Thursday evening is for many the highlight of the meeting. This year we are in the opulent Council House where we will be treated to dinner featuring the best of our local produce catered by Nottinghamshire’s own Fiona Herbert. The DAS medals will be awarded and all accompanied by the acclaimed local Jo Strange band!

Friday’s focus is on specific clinical problems, current airway science related to anaesthesia, and optimization of teaching and training. In particular I would like to welcome Prof Peter Slinger (Toronto) and Prof David Hillman (Perth).

The final session promises an informative, provocative and lively debate on airway management in the ED, between two core members of the recent intercollegiate working party on airway management and sedation, Dr Richard Telford (Exeter) and Prof. Jon Benger (Bristol).

Our parallel sessions this year include further awake intubation workshops, the military approach to Human Factor training and a further opportunity to hear about and discuss this year’s main news: the results and implications of NAP4. The parallel sessions have proved very popular with early registrants and we await feedback on these with interest.

We hope that between the content, good fellowship, the university city of Nottingham, and the beautiful surrounding countryside you will have an enjoyable, rewarding, and memorable visit to the 16th DAS annual meeting

Andy Norris
Chairman of Organizing Committee