ANES 70Q: Critical Illness: Patients, Physicians, and Society
General Education Requirements
Not currently certified for a requirement. Courses are typically considered for Ways certification a quarter in advance.
Please note: Instructor change! This seminar will be co-taught by Dr. An Diem La and Dr. James McAvoy.
Course Description
This seminar examines the impact of critical illness on patients and their family members, and the psychological and socioeconomic influences that affect the subsequent course of hospitalization. The weekly sessions and readings will challenge students' preconceived notions about the disease course of critically ill patients, and, it is hoped, reveal the difficulties involved in the decision-making process for both the health care professionals and the patients' families and loved ones as various medical challenges arise. Some of the topics we will cover are conventional views of death and dying; the epidemiology of critical illness; trends of inpatient care in the United States; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; health economics, such as the cost of an intensive care unit (ICU); grief and coping skills; euthanasia/withdrawal of care; palliative and hospice care; advanced directives and legal aspects of medical catastrophe; family meetings, including psychosocial dynamics; emotional ramifications of medical decisions; and rounds in the ICU.
Meet the Instructors: An Diem La, MD, & James McAvoy, MD
An Diem La, MD
"I am currently a Clinical Assistant Professor of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, and serve as the Anesthesia Resident ICU Rotation Director. I joined the faculty at Stanford in 2020, and currently work as an anesthesiologist in the perioperative care and operating room setting, as well as in the medical intensive care units. Since medical school, I have been drawn to Critical Care Medicine, and believe that it is the pinnacle of where science intersects with humanity – where life and death are balanced by the mastery of pharmacology and physiology.
"I am passionate about integrating innovative practices into critical care education, simulation education, and education about communication under crisis. I believe that education can be a path to well-being. Achieving academic success, building a robust knowledge base, or discovering novel ideas can lead to fulfillment, combat burnout, and empower medical providers to do what they do best – save lives."
James McAvoy, MD
Dr. McAvoy serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor within the Division of Anesthesia Critical Care Medicine. He is an alumnus of the University of Vermont College of Medicine, completed his anesthesiology residency at Stanford Healthcare, and is a product of our multidisciplinary critical care fellowship, class of 2020. His professional pursuits include quality improvement initiatives, transfusion medicine, and he is highly respected for his contributions to medical education.
