Office Location Location: 3A Telephone: 860.545.9899 Fax: 860.545.9130 Contact Person Craig C. Bonanni, MD, Director E-mail cbonann@ccmckids.org

CLINICAL CARE
CCMC is the principal clinical site for the division but we also provide care at numerous locations throughout the greater Hartford area.  At CCMC, we coordinate care for over 8,000 patients each year requiring elective and emergent surgery, endoscopy, imaging, and cardiac catheterization.  In addition we care for patients who need postoperative pain control, airway management and sedation.  As part of the Trauma Team we provide the complex care these patients need regardless of the location.   Working with perioperative nurses and child life specialist we strive to make every visit as uncomplicated and stress free as possible.  Our vision is to provide the most compassionate care with extraordinary expertise.  For patients requiring MRI/MRA, Nuclear Medicine, Interventional Radiology or other services at Hartford Hospital we provide the necessary care and familiar face for these patients.  Neonates at John Dempsey Hospital are also provided the clinical expertise of our division for many of their urgent and elective surgical procedures.

TEACHING
Although our history as a Division is relatively short it is steeped with the rich Anesthesia traditions established in Hartford during the last century.  The spirit of innovative educational advances is incorporated into our daily practice and as a result we have become a center of pediatric education in southern New England.  We serve as the main pediatric teaching arena for the University of Connecticut Anesthesia residency program.   In addition we have residents from nearby programs who are attracted to CCMC for subspecialty training.  Anesthesia residents rotate here during their Ca-2 year and then for electives during their Ca-3 year.  Many of our residents choose to specialize in pediatric anesthesia and we are fortunate to attract them back to Connecticut for faculty positions.  SRNA students from Connecticut’s two nurse anesthetist schools receive their pediatric training during rotations with our division.  Several UCONN residencies use our division and CCMC to fulfill pediatric airway management competencies including Emergency Medicine, Pediatric Dentistry and Pediatrics.   Emergency Medicine Fellows also spend time honing advanced pediatric airway skills with members of the Division as do Lifestar nurses.  Several members of the Division participate in the “state of the art” simulation exercises for our anesthesia residents.  Dr. Garrison serves on the UCONN Department of Anesthesiology Education Committee.  Our commitment to teaching extends beyond the borders of our country.  Drs Rossetti, Kuntz and Kernisan have traveled worldwide to provide both anesthesia expertise and training.  We have also been fortunate to have physicians from Germany spend time with us broadening our understandings of the similarities and differences in medical practice.

ACHIEVEMENTS
An academic environment and genuine scholarship are the foundation for our continued success as a division and our commitment to innovation.  As a Division we are working with leadership to improve antibiotic dosing, minimizing surgical site infections and improving patient safety.  Drs. Mathew, Garrison and Bonanni have been involved in industry-sponsored studies involving drug safety in Pediatric patients.  Our faculty have presented at local, regional and national meetings.  Dr. McIsaac has edited a book, Hospital Preparation for Bioterror, written numerous book chapters and contributed to the 2008 ASA Refresher Course in Anesthesiology.  He presented at this years ASA annual meeting on “Technological Challenges for the Anesthesiologist.”  Dr. McIsaac is a consultant to many local and national corporations and lectures extensively on hospital preparation for disaster.  In addition he is CEO and Director of Research for Mountain Laurel Biomedical.  Dr. Piserchia continues as a senior examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology.

In addition to intense clinical practice, many members of the Division are involved in medical center activities.  Dr. Mathew is member of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee and Director of Cardiac Anesthesia.   Dr. Garrison is a member of the Sedation Committee and certified in acupuncture.  Dr. McIsaac is a member of the Multidisciplinary Trauma Committee.  Dr. Bonanni serves as the Medical Director of Perioperative Services and as a member on the Medical Staff Peer Review, TOPIC, Patient Safety, Transfusion and Clinical Council Committees.  Drs. Garrison, Cortland and Bonanni are PALS instructors and involved in division wide education. Dr. Lin the newest member of the division has published on the impact of obesity in Pediatric Anesthesia.

GOALS
We strive to maintain our leadership and excellence in all of our educational activities.  Working with leadership we are preparing to support the strategic plan for increased growth and research.    We continue to recruit motivated individuals committed to providing the highest quality, cost effective compassionate patient care possible.  In keeping with the strategic plan we encourage new faculty members to advance the field of pediatric anesthesia with academic pursuits.  It is our intention to improve our regional and national visibility.  Our support of ongoing patient safety initiatives in the perioperative area will continue as well as new endeavors in thermal regulation.  We continue to hope to set records for patients cared for, expand the breath of services while achieving best in practice quality.