The 28th annual meeting of the Chinese Society of Anesthesiology (CSA) took place from September 21-24, 2023, in the picturesque city of Changsha, China. During this event, over 10,000 attendees from 20 countries and regions engaged in workshops, seminars, and presentations covering a wide range of topics related to anesthesiology. These topics included advancements in anesthesia techniques, patient safety, pain management, and critical care. The event served as a valuable platform for professionals to exchange knowledge and experiences, fostering collaboration and innovation within the field.

Michael W. Champeau, MD, FAAP, FASA, then-ASA President, was honored with an invitation to the meeting. Before departing from the United States, Dr. Champeau participated in an interview conducted by one of China’s most influential health care media outlets, Physician News. This nearly two-hour Zoom interview resulted in a full-page article published in Chinese on September 22, 2023, titled “China and the United States work together to build a new global anesthesia ecosystem.”

On September 21, 2023, Dr. Champeau delivered remarks during the opening ceremony, in which he expressed his appreciation for attending such an important gathering. He also extended congratulations to Dr. Weifeng Yu, the newly elected president of CSA, and emphasized the significance of collaboration between major anesthesia societies like CSA and ASA.

On September 22, 2023, Dr. Champeau delivered a keynote speech titled “Anesthesia Workforce Issues: A Global Perspective.” During the speech, Dr. Champeau addressed the worldwide shortage of anesthesia professionals and the disparities in workforce distribution among different regions and within regions. He emphasized the need for a collaborative effort among individual anesthesia care providers, societies, and governmental agencies. Dr. Champeau also highlighted the importance of efficiently utilizing the available workforce and establishing a robust and healthy model for anesthesia care teams, elaborating on its critical significance.

Following his keynote speech, Dr. Champeau engaged in a dialogue with the newly elected president of CSA, Dr. Yu, moderated by the Executive Editor-in-Chief of Physician News, Ms. Yanping Zhang. The video-recorded discussion was later broadcasted on their official website and via the WeChat platform. In this interview, Dr. Champeau outlined the mission and vision of ASA, and discussed opportunities and challenges within the field of anesthesiology, while Dr. Yu stressed the critical importance of collaboration among large societies and the challenges the anesthesiology profession faces. He also advocated for individual and societal efforts in promoting collaboration. The accompanying article of the dialogue appeared on the cover page of the Physician News on September 28, 2023.

Later that same evening, the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding between the CSA and ASA took place. This MOU establishes the framework for long-term collaboration in education, research, and leadership development between the two influential anesthesia societies.

Dr. Champeau delivered another speech during the signing ceremony, expressing his deep appreciation for being part of the CSA Annual Meeting in 2023. He acknowledged the profound impact of the pandemic on global collaborations but commended the resilience and productivity of the partnership between CSA and ASA. He praised the dedication of health care professionals who played a crucial role during the COVID-19 crisis and expressed optimism for future collaborations.

Dr. Champeau also had the opportunity to meet with several leaders from CSA, the Korean Society of Anesthesiologists (KSA), the Serbian Society of Anesthesiologists (SSA), and numerous scholars and students. He attended the exhibit sessions to explore the latest technologies in the field. Looking ahead, Dr. Champeau expressed his hope to see everyone at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2023 and extended his best wishes for the success of CSA 2023.

On September 25, 2023, before his departure, Dr. Champeau was invited by Dr. Junmei Xu, vice president, and Dr. Ruping Dai, chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, Second XiangyaHospital, to visit their facility, tour the ORs, and meet with students and faculty.