Professor Crina Burlacu has recently indicated her intention to step down as Director of Simulation Training at the CAI having fulfilled that role with great success over the past 13 years. On behalf of the College, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Crina for her sustained contribution to our community over that time. I’m acutely aware that the establishment of CAST (College of Anaesthesiologists Simulation Training programme) and, perhaps even more importantly, its growth over the past 13 years have been challenging and achieved in large part through Professor Burlacu’s leadership and hard work. Trainees and others have benefited, not just from the training provided, but also, in many cases from the mentorship that she has offered.

Professor Burlacu has been central to the development CAST from its inception in 2008. The CAST Centre at the CAI headquarters in Merrion Sq. was purposefully built in 2009 and expanded in 2017. It consists of two areas i.e., the Operating Theatre Simulation Suite (OTSS) and the Critical Care Simulation Suite (CCSS). The number and types of courses delivered through CAST has expanded greatly over the years, as did the cohort of dedicated faculty and course leads. Certain of these courses now form an integral part of our National Specialist Anaesthesiology Training Programme and (since 2019) are made available to doctors who are not on the NSAT programme through the Continuing Professional Development support scheme  .

Professor Burlacu was also responsible for supporting those who expressed interest in Simulation based training in the form of Fellowships and research supervision. Her contributions have recently been recognised through her appointment to the ESAIC ( European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care)  sub-Committee on Simulation.

For myself and the wider College community, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to  Crina and to wish her continued success in her future endeavours.

George Shorten

CAI President