This story started with a number—a shortage of 139,000 physicians—and for anesthesiology that could mean a shortage of between 17,000 and 42,000 physician anesthesiologists. Throughout this season, it became clear that the exact number of physicians wasn’t the real story. All of the elements affecting the specialty, from changing practice models to the role of physician anesthesiologists to new business models, could leave anesthesia providers with either a