Awards/Prizes

WFSA Research Grants

Applications close 1 October 2012.

Annual Registrar's Meeting 2011

At the Annual Registrars' Meeting held in Auckland on 3 December 2011, Dr Sam Wong was awarded the NZSA Quality Assurance/Audit Project Prize for his paper "Evaluation of infrared tympanic thermometers in post anaesthesia care and assessment of perioperative hypothermia" and received a cheque for $1,250.

At the NZA ASM 2-5 November 2011, the Society's President, Dr Rob Carpenter announced the winners of the NZSA Trainee Prize, the Ritchie Prize and the NZSA Poster Prize. Dr Era Soukhin received two awards, the Ritchie Prize 2011 and the Trainee Prize 2011, for her paper "A Single Centre Study of Outcomes from Fractured Neck of Femur: a 5-year audit". Dr David Heather was awarded the Poster Prize for his paper "When the Block Wears off – Transitioning from Reciprocal to Systemic Analgesia". Dr Soukhin received $1,500 for the Trainee Prize and $2,500 for the Ritchie Prize. Dr Heather received $500 for the Poster Prize.

John Ritchie Prize

The John Ritchie Prize was established in 1983 by the New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists.

Dr J. R. Ritchie, President NZSA 1954-1956

Background

The Ritchie Prize is a prestigious award sponsored by the New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists. The Prize is awarded for the best presentation in the Ritchie Prize Session at the ASM that meets the required standard.

Selection of Papers
Selection for the session is made by the Scientific Convenor of the ASM in consultation with the NZSA Education and Research Officer or deputy.
To be accepted for the session the abstract and the work described in it must be of a suitably high standard. Papers should not be accepted simply to fill spaces in the Ritchie Prize Session.
Any questions regarding eligibility shall be referred to the NZSA Education and Research Officer or deputy.

Declaration
Entrants must declare compliance with the following conditions:
·    Work presented in this session must have been carried out predominantly in New Zealand.
·    The presenter should be the lead researcher and must have played the major role in the conduct of the study and preparation of the presentation.
·    The presenter must be a member of NZSA.
·    The work must not have been presented previously at a major Australasian or International Meeting. (Note that presentation at a NZ meeting would not normally preclude later presentation elsewhere)
·    Receipt of appropriate Ethics Committee approval.

Ritchie Prize Session

The Ritchie Prize Session is a named plenary session at the ASM.  If there are insufficient entrants the balance of the session should be made up with other submitted free papers. The format of presentations is a 10 minute oral presentation with 5 minutes for questions.

Judging
·    The judging panel of three is selected and led by the NZSA Education and Research Officer. Judges are ineligible to enter.
·    Judges must be given a copy of these guidelines.
·    The approved marking schedule is to be used.
·    To be eligible for the Prize a presentation shall score well in every section.
·    If there is no presentation of a suitable standard the judges shall make no award.
·    The decision of the judges is final.

The Prize
The current value of the Ritchie Prize is $2500.
The winner will also receive a suitable certificate.
The work of the winner may also be submitted to the NZSA Home Journal Anaesthesia and Intensive Care for publication.
The winner of the Ritchie Prize winner will be invited to apply for the NZSA Ritchie Prize Research Grant. Receipt of the Research Grant is not automatic.
Ritchie Prize Research Award Value $5000.

This will be offered to the winner of the Ritchie Prize who will be asked to submit a proposal to the NZSA Executive (no more than one A4 sheet) within three months of receiving the award.  

The award is to be for a specific project or part of a project and supported by a budget.

The proposal will be considered by a subcommittee convened by the Education Officer who will make a recommendation to the Executive.  
A condition of the award is that a report on the project be submitted within 12 months of receiving the award and that work arising from the award should be presented at a meeting in New Zealand.

2012 New Zealand Anaesthesia Visiting Lectureship

The New Zealand Anaesthesia Visiting Lectureship was established in 2008 by the New Zealand Anaesthesia Education Committee to promote the sharing of knowledge and experience through outstanding presentations amongst anaesthetic departments and practices.

Heads of departments and practices are invited to nominate a member of their staff who has given an outstanding presentation at a CME session.  The 2012 New Zealand Anaesthesia Visiting Lecturer should be an anaesthetist who will give a stimulating, informative and well delivered presentation to his or her colleagues and be willing to travel to two other centres in New Zealand during 2012 to give their lectures.

The anaesthetist awarded the lectureship will receive an award of $1500.

Nominations for the 2012 New Zealand Anaesthesia Visiting Lectureship closed on 30 September 2011.

To request a nomination form, please contact Rose Chadwick, NZAEC administration officer, at nzaec@anaesthesia.org.nz