New Board 2026: Sarah Saxena 

Prof. Sarah Saxena — ESAIC Board Member 2026
In this interview, Prof. Sarah Saxena shares her vision, priorities, and motivations for her ESAIC mandate, highlighting how she aims to advance education, research, leadership, and collaboration across European anaesthesiology and intensive care.

What motivates you to take on this role with ESAIC, and what do you hope to achieve during your mandate? 

At 37, I am ESAIC’s youngest board member ever, representing over half of our members under 45. I want to give early- and mid-career colleagues a voice and foster innovation, engagement, and mentorship.  

Drawing on my experience in the Trainees Committee, I aim to ensure ESAIC’s strategies reflect the needs of our next generation of anesthesiologists and intensivists. 

Which aspects of ESAIC’s mission and ongoing initiatives are you most passionate about, and why? 

I am passionate about education, research, and member outreach in a sustainable and inclusive manner. I want to support our members through accessible learning and high-quality training, and a focus on wellbeing, which is often neglected in our profession.  

If you could invite any three people to a dinner conversation on healthcare and innovation, who would they be and why? 

Rather than limiting myself to 3 people, I would love to attend a dinner with all current and past ESAIC Presidents. I would ask about the biggest challenges they faced in their careers, how they overcame them, and what lessons they learned. Their insights would be invaluable for shaping my own path and building resilience while staying true to my core value, integrity. 

What do you see as the main challenges and opportunities for ESAIC over the next few years, and how do you plan to address them in your role? 

Challenges include engaging younger members, adapting to evolving healthcare systems, and keeping pace with rapid technological advances.  

Opportunities like digital education, collaborative research, and stronger networks can help reduce burnout and retain talent.  

I plan to tackle these through mentorship, accessibility, and active member participation, keeping ESAIC innovative, relevant, and forward-looking. 

How will you balance your ESAIC commitments with your clinical or professional duties, and what support or collaboration would you like from colleagues to succeed? 

I lead my life with integrity. I’m motivated, organised, and often plan ‘offline’ time to balance board duties with clinical work and daily life.  

Drawing on a decade of ESAIC experience, I value collaboration, goal-oriented planning, transparency, and shared responsibility to maximize impact while striving for the highest standard of perioperative patient care.