Deb Wagner, PharmD
The Society of Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) held its annual meeting on May 31 through June 4 in Montreal, Canada. Representing our Obstetric Anesthesia Division, were Dr. Norah Naughton, Clinical Assistant Professor, Dr. Linda Polley, Clinical Assistant Professor, Dr. Deanna Dorantes, Instructor, Deborah Wagner, PharmD, Instructor, and Mark Erber, Research Assistant. Dr. Polley’s keynote presentation of the “Ostheimer Lecture,” with a bibliography narrowed to 600 or so key articles, came to fruition with an occasional joke squeezed in for good measure.
In the lineup for our group were platform presentations by Dr. Naughton and Deb Wagner. Our anxiety had plenty of time to brew as both presentations fell on close to the last day. Dr. Naughton spoke on her research in the lecture “Efficacy of Nalmefene for the Treatment of Intrathecal Opioid-Induced Pruritus.” Deb Wagner spoke on “Potency and Sterility of Anesthetic Drugs in an Obstetrical Setting.” Additionally, Dr. Naughton presented a poster on her monkey studies involving ketorolac. The animal rights advocates were missing this year, perhaps due to our Canadian location.
Speaking of location, Montreal offered a multitude of options other than SOAP. Hockey fan Mark Erber couldn’t resist a trip to the Montreal Forum, with a Molson Brewery Center tour on the side. Then there was the rafting trip through the Lachine Rapids in the St. Lawrence Seaway. We looked like giant bananas in the weather gear that was donned. When Deanna, Deb, and Dr. Brian Woodcock, Clinical Assistant Professor, returned they had been drenched by the icy waters and smelled of wet wool. Our new resident French chef, Dr. Woodcock, engaged himself in French cooking classes while the rest of the team were in meetings. The University of Michigan was well represented at the meeting by our Obstetric Anesthesia Division, which is already looking ahead to the future. In the meantime, bon appetite.