On May 21, the ShandsCair Critical Care Transport Program and the University of Florida College of Medicine department of anesthesiology hosted a two-part workshop called Difficult Airway Course that included a lecture and a simulation lab on caring for those with difficulty breathing. The event, which is held biannually, drew a combination of medics, nurses and respiratory therapists from across North Central Florida.

The program began with a lecture by Felipe Urdaneta, M.D., an associate professor of anesthesiology and program director of the UF College of Medicine’s Master Educator Fellowship Program. Urdaneta outlined the basics of airway management followed by advanced airway management and rescue techniques. Participants then spent three hours on seven simulation stations, where they practiced different techniques and had to navigate challenges in the airway to successfully oxygenate and ventilate the patient.

“It was an honor to work with our ShandsCair colleagues in building on their difficult airway skills,” said Kevin Olsen, M.D., a resident physician in the department of anesthesiology. “We look forward to strengthening this relationship in the future to better our community and improve out-of-hospital difficult airway management.”