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Fearless FONA

NextGen Learning Designed to Elevate Your Airway Practice
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The emergency surgical airway is a simple procedure. Why then, is it so hard? In this space we shatter the myth that performing FONA is something that should fill you with fear, and take you on a journey that will help you to cultivate a FEARLESS FONA MINDSET. The first step on that path is understanding that the cut is easy, it’s mastering ourselves that’s the challenge. To be successful requires identifying all the human factors that impact our ability to perform a surgical airway in the real world. If we simply understand ourselves, the environment in which our knowledge is deployed, and the unique training demands that a high stakes, low frequency procedure places on us, then we can build a successful FONA strategy that works. This space is here to help you do just that, and getting started is as easy as scrolling down. 👇


”the failed airway is not just something that happens, its something you experience.”

Ron Walls MD

learning objectives

Upon completing this learning space, learners should be able to:

  • Describe the key elements of successful FONA practice
  • Have an understanding of the human factors involved in successful FONA, and the tools that can be employed to mitigate them.
  • Describe a strategy and tactics for implementing FONA.
  • Identify the important clinical anatomic landmarks.
  • Successfully complete the scalpel, finger, bougie FONA technique.

the elements of fona

What are the four elements of successful FONA, and how do you cultivate them.

our toxic relationship to failure

Human factors are some of the most powerful barriers to making the cut when the time comes. Understand why, and begin the process of cultivating a fearless FONA mindset. Yes it’s time to rewire your brain.

why simple does not mean simplistic

In a stressful and time dependent environment you need to streamline and uncluttered. Explore this critical element of the FFM and use it to create an elegant and minimalist approach to the CICO scenario.

the path to your objective

FONA is a simple procedure, but the path to making the cut has many pitfalls. Just knowing the failed airway algorithm is not enough you need an actionable plan. Just another critical element of cultivating your fearless fona mindset.

defeat skill erosion

Time erodes all skills. Knowing the steps of FONA and being comfortable doing it are two different things. That’s why the element of practice and a simplified approach is required to maintain your skills.

what’s next

Sure you could stop here, but why would you? Use the digital content in this space for guided practice, get feedback from our expert faculty at a PAC Live!! event, sign up for one of our simulation challenges, or dive into any of the other learning spaces below. 👇


meet the creators

Each learning space takes a collaborative and design forward approach. We draw on the power of the creative arts to inspire and tell stories, on the sciences to improve our clinical practice, and on the diverse perspectives of our combined experience to deepen our knowledge. Each unique creation has one goal: to elevate your emergency airway practice.

JOnathan St George MD

Jonathan St. George is an Emergency Medicine attending at Weill Cornell University in New York City. He is the creator behind the methodology for PAC with a lifelong interest in airway management and MedEd innovation with the goal of improving how we learn.

Jason HIll MD

Jason Hill is an Emergency Medicine attending at Columbia University and holds a long-term interest in design.   This interest began during his PhD years where he developed software to reconstruct 3D models from brain MRI scans to study cerebral development.  He has since made a foray into 3D design, 3D printing, and virtual reality to create novel medical training tools.  It is his firm belief that these new technologies will allow for innovative and accessible new avenues to train the next generation of medical practitioners.

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