2012 Combined Meeting of the 13th International Congress of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia and the New Zealand Anaesthesia Annual Scientific Meeting

Ritchie Prize

Background
The NZSA 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 NZSA 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 NZSA 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 NZSA 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.

As its November 1999 Executive Meeting the NZSA determined to offer a Trainee Prize for Scientific work presented at the ASM. The prize was first contested at the Auckland ASM in the year 2000, and it is hoped that the award will receive the enthusiastic support of Trainees, especially those working towards their Provisional Fellowship year of its equivalent.

The conditions of the prize are as follows:

The NZSA Trainee Prize will be awarded at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for the best presentation by a Trainee in the award section of free papers. The work may be on any subject that advances the state of knowledge in Anaesthesia, Intensive Care or Pain Management. The applicant should have made the dominant contribution to the work for the prize. A letter to this effect written by the Trainee's Supervisor must accompany submission of the abstract. The ANZCA "Formal Project" may be submitted as a prize entry. The award will have a minimum value of NZD500, together with a certificate of achievement and a free subscription of one year to the Journal "Anaesthesia and Intensive Care.

Eligibility
This will be limited to NZSA members who are Trainees in Anaesthesia, Intensive Care, or Pain Management. The Trainee does not need to be registered with ANZCA but if not, the application must be supported by a statement from the Trainee's Supervisor. The presentation must be delivered by the Candidate. Eligibility problems will be referred to the Presdient NZSA for consideration.

Abstract
An abstract must be submitted on the ASM abstract form in accordance with the abstract submission instructions in the format prescribed (refer below), and stating that the work is being submitted for the prize. Acceptance of the paper for presentation will be the prerogative of the Scientific Committee for the Meeting.

Presentation
The candidate should address the following important aspects in their presentations:

1. A concise and clearly worded hypothesis or aim for the research project.
2. A critical review of the topic from published and other relevant literature, using evidence based approach.
3. A clear description of the approach or relevant methodology used in the project.
4. A concise presentation of results.
5. A discussion to present an analysis of the results, conclusions and implications for the specialty.

Attention should be given to the preparation of good quality audiovisual material and to precise timing of the presentation. The judges will consider scientific merit, originality, amount of work by the candidate, clarity of presentation including introduction, methods, results and conclusions where applicable, and the ability to defend the paper in discussion.

Adjudication
TheNZSA Education Officer will chair the Session and convene the Adjudication Panel. NZSA Executive will select two other judges for the prize. An award will only be made if, in the opinion of the judges, there is a paper of sufficient merit, and in all decisions their opinion will be held final.

Format for Abstracts
The following format must be followed for all abstracts:

It is important that you need to make a statement about ethics committee (IRB) approval where applicable and also patient consent where it is a case presentation.

Title - 12 point, arial font, bold typeface, left aligned
Leave one blank line
Authors – 10 point, arial font: Surname, First name, Presenting Author to be bold, Affiliations numbered in superscript
Leave one blank line
Affiliations – 10 point, arial font, italics: Affiliation, City, Country
Leave one blank line
Abstract Text – 10 point, arial font, left aligned, single spacing, maximum of 450 words
• Abstracts should be a summary of the presentation and must not exceed 450 words
• Do not include titles or degrees
• Check spelling and grammar. Submitted material will be published in the Conference Handbook – the abstract should, therefore, contain no errors
• Tables, graphs and images may be included, however they will not be published in the Conference Handbook.
• Present sufficient data to support conclusions of research – it is unsatisfactory to use statements such as "data will be presented" or "results will be discussed"
• Name the file with the first 8 characters from the surname of the submitting author (eg Johnston.doc)
• Please only submit abstracts in .doc format
• Click here to see an example

At the Meeting

All presenters must register to attend the ICCVA ASM 2012 meeting and are responsible for their own travel, accommodation and registration expenses. Registration must be received by 5 September or it will be presumed to be withdrawn and not be published.

Further instructions will be provided on acceptance.

Submission Process

First, ensure that you have your abstract material prepared as per the above instructions. Click here to enter the secure online submission process. You will receive acknowledgement that your submission has been successfully completed and instructions on how to gain access to your submission in order to make amendments up until the closing date.

Abstract submission closes midnight 31 May 2012 (New Zealand time).

Selection will be advised by 20 June 2012.

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For further information

Contact the conference secretariat:
Rachel Cook – ICCVA 2012 Meeting Manager
Conference Innovators
PO Box 7191
Christchurch 8240
New Zealand
Tel: +64 9 525 2464
Fax: +64 9 525 2465
Email: rachel@conference.co.nz

New Zealand Anaesthesia Annual Scientific Meeting combined with the 13th International Congress of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia