January, 2012 - THAT WILL BE US!

92nd AATS President Craig R. Smith, MD President, AATS Columbia University New York, New York

During this past year, the AATS leadership has taken steps to assure that the association does not become a “That Used to be Us” organization. During the 2011 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, six focus groups, representing a diverse cross section of the membership, took place with a professional facilitator to generate confidential first-hand comments about the brand and value of AATS to our members. Over 50 members participated, representing active members who had or had not been involved in Association programs, international members, women members, individuals elected to membership within the past five years, and participants in the AATS Academy. The results of these discussions were used by the Council as the basis for a Retreat to develop plans for the short and long term future of the association.

In early December of this past year, AATS leadership brought together a heterogeneous group of more than 40 members of the Association, in addition to members of the Council, to engage in two days of planning for the future of the AATS. Four primary groups were formed to address the following: “Education” chaired by Dr. Emile Bacha; “Annual Meeting” chaired by Dr. John Puskas; “Publications” chaired by Dr. Marc Moon; and “Interface with Other Organizations” chaired by Dr. Robert Cerfolio. Participants were asked to evaluate current AATS programs and activities in these areas and develop at least three key strategic initiatives the Association should address in the next one to five years. The discussions took place with the officers of the Association episodically present and were lively and productive. Progress reports were provided in general sessions throughout the two days and an oral summary of each group’s recommendations presented at the conclusion.

The Council will be addressing the reports with the chairs of the discussion groups early in 2012 and will share with all of the participants and the membership its recommendations for future actions of the Association. I want to assure you that the enthusiastic participation of the cross section of the membership in both the focus groups and the Retreat demonstrates our organization’s commitment to our mission “Promoting Scholarship in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery” and provides impetus for a new volume entitled “That WILL be Us”.

Past Presidents