In this essential piece we discuss, anesthesiology and its global impact with experts, empathy with patients, emotional expression in medicine, improving anesthesia care globally and standardisation in anaesthesiology.

Direct from the 18th WFSA World Congress of Anaesthesiologists in Singapore, Desiree Chappell and Monty Mythen speak with their guest Jannicke Mellin-Olsen, Knight 1st Class of the Order of St.Olav (for services to medicine), past president of the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists, a member of the Board of Directors of the Patient Safety Movement Foundation, she practices at Baerum Hospital, Oslo, Norway.