New Jersey State Society of Anesthesiologists

President’s Message

I take this opportunity to thank the nominating committee for nominating me as the President of the New Jersey State Society of Anesthesiologists (the Society) and the membership for electing me as your President. I also thank our executive medical director, Ervin Moss, MD, and the esteemed members of the Society’s executive committee, who gave their support and encouragement to me during my long association with the Society. My personal thanks go to our legal counsel, John Fanburg Esq., our lobbyist, Beverly Lynch and our administrator, Linda Bartolo.

My ambition is to maintain an expanded executive committee that represents all our members across the state, to exhort the general membership for more involvement in the Society’s activities by attending our annual meetings and by visiting our website regularly which informs members about current issues and provides contact information, and to facilitate greater participation of the residents-in-training from our teaching programs. The resident research presentation at the last annual meeting was a success and I thank the program directors for their cooperation. I wish to see this new endeavor an on-going process in the future.

My goal during my tenure is to address the issues facing us, such as individual member concerns, fair reimbursement for our professional services, scope of practice in anesthesia and a safe anesthetic practice in the state of New Jersey. In this respect, the Society will be working in close collaboration with the state legislators and regulators to make the anesthetic practice in New Jersey the best in the nation.

At a national level, I assure you that you will be well represented, through your directors and delegates, at the various national meetings including the annual legislative conference and the ASA annual meeting.

All Presidents’ learn an undeniable lesson, early in their career, during their service to the Society; that is, the need for doctors to participate in the politics of medicine. Anesthesiologists are not exempted. So, do not ignore your obligation to support the political action committee wing of our Society – NJAPAC.

Finally, I along with the talented and focused executive committee plan to steer our Society in a direction that will assure welfare of our members and a safe anesthetic care to the patients they serve. Your support, encouragement and prayers are the best asset I can have to implement those goals during my tenure.

Rex N. Ponnudurai, MD
President, New Jersey State Society of Anesthesiologists
June, 2010