DEPARTMENT OF ANESTHESIOLOGY ANNUAL REPORT

Safe Post-Dive Surface Intervals Before
Military Free-Fall Parachuting (Drs. Vann,
Pollock, Thalmann)
Human studies are underway for
the U.S. Military Special Operations
Command to determine the minimum
appropriate interval between diving
to depths of 60-100 feet and ascent to
22,500 feet altitude followed by free
fall/parachute descent to sea level.
Divers Alert Network (DAN)
The Divers Alert Network, a recreational
diving medical safety association, was
organized in 1980 in order to (1) collect
data on recreational diving accidents,
(2) provide 24 hour emergency consultation
for scuba diving accident management,
(3) provide consultation for
physicians and recreational divers on
medical conditions which pertain to
scuba diving safety, (4) promote diving
safety by research.
In 1991 DAN had grown too large
to be accommodated within the Hyperbaric
Center, and new facilities were
rented in the University Tower. In addition
to providing office space for 52
full-time DAN employees, there were
conference rooms, a classroom and
a production facility of the bimonthly
DAN newsletter, Alert Diver. The construction
of a new 27,000 sq ft DAN
building was completed and DAN
moved its now 65 staff to it in July
of 1997.
In 1991 DAN became international
with DAN-Japan, DAN-Europe, DAN-
South East Asia-Pacific and in 1997 DAN
Southern Africa were organized in
order to enlarge the database. During
2000 DAN answered 11,452 dive medical
and safety telephone calls, 2,988
e-mail inquiries and responded to 2,889
emergency calls. Additional accomplishments
include collection of data
on dive fatalities, organization of CME
dive accident management courses and
instruction of Medical Technicians
(EMT's) in O 2 administration. DAN
supports salaries of Department faculty
who participate in DAN activities and
provides funds for research.
DAN Staff
Administration: Peter B. Bennett, Ph.D.,
D.Sc., President and CEO, Cindi
Easterling, M.Ed. Vice President CME
and Executive Assistant to CEO; Sherry
Strickland, Staff Assistant; Cindi Duryea,
Staff Assistant; Operations: Dan Orr,
MS, Executive Vice President and COO;
Jeannie Floyd, Staff Specialist; Webb
Roberts, M.B.A., Vice President Operations;
Brian Levering, Material Control
Manager; Doris Lynch, Buyer; James
Fisher, Ralph Ariail, Tommy Fowler,
Larry Crabtree, Bill Terry; Shipping,
James Hallmon, Shirley Fowler, Marge
Rimmer, Cliff Nutt, Mailroom; Medical:
Richard E. Moon, M.D., C.M., M.Sc.,
FRCP(C), FACP, FCCP, Vice President
and Medical Director; Bryant W. Stolp,
M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Medical Director;
Guy deLisle Dear, M.B., FRCA, Assistant
Medical Director; Edward D. Thalmann,
M.D., Assistant Medical Director; Joel
Dovenbarger, RN, Vice President Medical
Services; Daniel Nord, Director
Medical Services; Medics: Celia Evesque,
Dan Kinkade; Jane Foley, Administrative
Secretary; Julie Ellis, Research
Secretary; Finance: Chris Bennett,
M.B.A., Vice President Finance and
CFO; Beth Hawkins, CPA, Controller;
Pam Everline, Allan Krehbiel, Lucy
Williams; IDAN: Chris Wachholz, RN,
M.B.A., Vice President IDAN; Elizabeth
Carrasquillo, Latin America Coordinator;
Martha Davis; Research: Richard D.
Vann, Ph.D., Vice President Research;
Petar Denoble, M.D., D.Sc., Senior
Research Director; Donna Uguccioni,
Research Physiologist; Randy Sitzes,
Research Manager; Lisa Li, Computer
Programmer; Jamahl Greene, Secretary;
Training: Bill Clendenen, M.B.A., Vice
President Training; Denise Haskins,
Secretary; Eric Douglas, Mark Butler,
Staff Specialists; Marketing: Barry
Shuster, M.B.A., Vice President Market-
CLINICAL ACTIVITIES
PHOTO BY STEVE BARNETT
DAN research participants undergo a
series of tests to determine their overall
fitness to dive, including this neurological
examination.
ing; Jim Gaston, Marketing Services
Manager; Steve Barnett, Sales and
Promotions Manager; Colin Taylor,
Field and Services Representative; Rick
La Reno, Shelby Cutts, Dave Lawler,
Manager Industry Membership Program;
Laura Johnson, Eileen Weckerle;
Information Technology: Donna Heath,
Vice President Information Technology;
Panchabi Viethiyanathan, Bryon
Buesser, Peter Winkler, Kim Walker,
Bud Elvin; Sponsorship: Cindi Courter,
M.B.A., Sponsor/Development Chief;
Michele Harrison, Deb Taft; Renee
Westerfield, Communications Director;
Rick Melvin, Steve Mehan, Dan Leigh,
Wesley Hyatt.
DAN provides research funding
(total $400,000) for a number of investigations
being pursued by Anesthesiology
faculty. These include Flying after
Diving, Project Dive Exploration and
Plasma Glucose Monitoring during Recreational
Scuba Diving, Doppler Data
Collection during Open Water Diving
and Development of a Rebreathing
Circuit for Emergency Oxygen Delivery.
CLINICAL ACTIVITIES 59