What is r.a.s.c.i. ?

            RASCI stand for the Regional Anesthesia Study Centre of Iowa. It is a division of the Department of Anesthesia, of the University of Iowa, in Iowa City. It was founded by Dr. Andre Boezaart 8 years ago with the then prime focus of teaching regional anesthesia with very special reference to using perineural stimulating catheters.  In addition RASCI was a division for research in regional anesthesia.

            RASCI has a new director in Robert Raw MD since 2007.   As regional anesthesia has changed so rapidly in recent years. RASCI course are now exclusively focused on ULTRASOUND guided regional anesthesia teaching. The new courses are regularly offered specific for regional anesthesia fellows, chronic pain fellows, and University of Iowa Anesthesia faculty, University of Iowa anesthesia residents and SRNAs.  In addition

RASCI also offers 4 advertised courses per year for paying delegates.

            RASCI is self funding from course fees and is fully independent and free of conflicts of interest relating to commercial products and drugs.  Companies that offer support do so unconditionally and according to university policies on financial conflicts of interest for teaching.  Funds are received as unconditional grants and managed independently of RASCI, although the grants are used exclusively for RASCI teaching and research purposes. Donated product material is used parallel to competitor products during demonstrations, and loan equipment is used parallel to competitor products during workshops. All such donations or loans are divulged for each course as applicable.