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THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR CARDIO-THORACIC SURGERY
EACTS Newsletter March 2008 |
Dear Member,
Letter from the President
Cardiothoracic surgery has undergone major changes these last years and faces many new challenges. We are extremely lucky that several members are leading the way in some of these challenges. As an organisation we need to rethink our organisation and make it more adaptable.
The Council has decided to change the structure of the organisation. A total of four domains are created: Thoracic, Vascular, Adult Cardiac Acquired and Congenital. These domains are managed by Chairs, who are ex-officio members of Council. The domain Chairs will be in charge of their domains for a maximum rotation of three years, thereby rejuvenating the core group of Councillors.
The domain committees will be responsible for every single scientific aspect of this domain, as there is abstract selection, postgraduate programme, guideline creation, database work ?. All the projects will be budget-controlled to improve transparency and efficacy.
At this moment the Thoracic and Congenital domains have been operational in this fashion for some time. Their numerous projects are a proof of benefit of this new approach. The main role of the Council will be a strategic one, including the supervision of these projects and budgets.
The Council has redefined the other Committees into facilitating Committees, interfacing and bringing highly specific expertise to these domains. Examples are the New Technology Committee (formerly New Technology Resource Group), the Guidelines Committee, the Database Committee and others. The EACTS has therefore been transformed into a matrix where the expertise of each active member is used towards the stability and the consolidation of our organisation.
The Membership Committee has repeatedly suggested simplifying the membership process. The Council has redefined the membership into only two categories: member or non-member. The membership status will be independent from the medical (surgeon, cardiologists, radiologist, anaesthetist) or non-medical profession (nurse, perfusionist, health economist, biostatistician). The membership status will be similarly independent of the professional status (in training, active or retired), but the membership dues will be adapted. The process will be a pure administrative process.
In addition, the Council has redefined the educational responsibilities of the EACTS organisation. Every project or activity will be evaluated according to the science of education and transfer of knowledge and optimised where possible. The intention of all these changes is to create a lean and mean educational machine called EACTS.
This process has been guided by the exceptional leadership of our founding fathers who have understood the need and the process of these changes. Some of these changes demand confirmation at the next general assembly in Lisbon. The Council hopes that you will understand our drivers and support the Council in this process.
Wishing You all the best in the abstract submission.
Please do not forget that outside the flowers are growing,
so are Your children and Your grandchildren!
Paul Sergeant
President EACTS
22nd Annual Meeting, 13 ? 17 September 2008, Lisbon, Portugal
An overview of
the meeting programme is available
here. Do not miss an interesting symposium on
Emergency Surgery which will be organised on the Wednesday.
Programmes of
the Postgraduate Courses and Breakfast Sessions are available on our
website. Registration and accommodation booking is open.
You are welcome to submit your abstract online. Closing date is the 1st of April.
Birmingham Review Course in Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Birmingham, 2- 5 Oct. 2008
The organisers of this course and the International Cooperation Committee of EACTS are offering two complimentary places to attend this excellent course. The offer includes registration to the four day course, accommodation and travel (economy class) and most meals. If you are interested, please fill in the Application Form prior to the 15th of August 2008.
Events
EACTS Thoracic Oncology, Milan, 5-7 March 2008.
Applied Science for Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons, Prague, 17-19 April 2008.
European School for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Bergamo. The next thoracic course will take place 12-17 May 2008 and the cardiac course 9-14 June 2008.
Deadlines 2008
Abstract submission 1st April.
Membership application 30th April
Applications for the Fontan and the Thoracic Prizes 15th April
Early registration for the Annual meeting 29 June
Techno-College Innovation Award 1 July
Annual Dues
You have recently received your invoice covering the annual dues. If you have not settled your invoice yet, please note that you can use online payment
EACTS
Executive Secretariat
3 Park Street, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1LU, UK
Tel: +44 1753 832166, Fax: +44 1753 620407
Email:
info@eacts.co.uk Website:
www.eacts.org
