Ann Thorac Surg 2003;75:9-10
© 2003 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
President’s page
Final thoughts on a year of significant change
William A. Baumgartner, MD, President, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons*
* Address reprint requests to Dr Baumgartner, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N Wolfe St, Blalock 618, Baltimore, MD 21287-4618, USA.
e-mail: wbaumgar@csurg.jhmi.jhu.edu
| The first 300 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
It is hard to believe that the sun is about to set on my term as President of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). However, I believe the moon and stars shine brightly on the STS. These stars represent our new management team, which has been assembled over the past year as we have transitioned from Smith, Bucklin and Associates to our current independent management group. This hand-picked team has worked extremely hard in helping all of us in volunteer positions carry out the mission of the STS in a seamless manner. As you know, the Society’s new home is in the American College of Surgeons building. The offices are virtually done except for the final touches of memorabilia that will be added by Dr Jerry Rainer, our historian. Having visited our offices I think you will find that we have both an environment and a group of individuals to help support the STS throughout the 21st century. I would encourage you to stop in and visit when you are in Chicago.
In order to address and characterize the forces that will influence the practice of cardiothoracic surgery in America over the next decade, a Future Planning Conference was held this fall under the auspices of the Council on Health Policy and Relationships. Doctors Larry Bonchek and Daniel Harley, cochairs for the Planning Task Force, assembled a number of prominent individuals who addressed the areas of cardiothoracic surgery, government, industry, payers, medical schools and training programs, nursing schools, and other professional surgical organizations. Russell C. Coile, Jr, who is a well-known health care futurist, facilitated the conference. A follow-up on the outcomes of this conference is still being compiled and will be provided to you at a later date.
On October 1, 2002, the STS assumed the management services for . . . [Full Text of this Article]
Copyright © 2003 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
