NEWSLETTER
March 2003
Letter from the President
Inauguration of the European School for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery
Editor’s Report
Secretary General’s Report
European Board of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery – Examination Dates
Additional Information …
Dear colleagues,
During the last months the activities of our Association have focused on implementation and practical realisation of projects that have been initiated earlier.
The outstanding event was the inauguration of the European School for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery in Bergamo on March 1st 2003. After four year's planning, the school was officially opened in the presence of the Italian Minister of Health, Prof. Girolamo Sirchia, representatives of the supporting parties Cariplo Foundation, the International Academy for Advanced Medical Sciences, and the Clinico Humanita, as well as in the presence of both councils of EACTS and ESTS, who expressed their sincere thanks to Lucio Parenzan and Hans Borst and all others, who have contributed to the realisation of the project.
Villa Elios, Bergamo
Some of the first participants of the ESCTS
This opening marked the beginning of another achievement of EACTS in its endeavour to build the structural requirements for performance of cardio-thoracic surgery within Europe according to quality criteria. The first cardiac and thoracic course weeks will be held from March to May 2003. Already 4 further weeks have been organised in autumn this year and I want to encourage you to send your residents to these outstanding courses. The European School for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery intends to become the standard for postgraduate education in Cardio-Thoracic surgery in Europe.
In parallel to the opening procedure, council of EACTS has held its regular meeting, which was followed by a joint council meeting of EACTS and ESTS. This represented a historical moment and expressed the increasingly closer collaboration and the tighter contacts between the two Societies. Both parties share several common interests with regard to preserving and enhancing the speciality of general thoracic surgery.
One practical consequence of our closer relationship is the repetition of the successful 1st Joint meeting in Lisbon. Both Councils have decided to have Joint Meetings in Vienna this year and 2004 in Leipzig. For these joint meetings, it was agreed within both councils to have a concentration of all original papers for the year in one meeting. ESTS will also have an additional spring meeting in 2004. This will be run without original papers, focusing on invited lectures, educative sessions and discussions. In parallel to this concentration of peer-reviewed science, it was decided to concentrate industrial activities and support in the joint meeting as well. In compensation for this asset, EACTS has taken responsibility for the financial coverage of the ESTS spring meeting. This forward looking agreement was only possible thanks to a significant will of both councilsto a closer collaboration. Ultimately, this should help to strengthen the position of both cardiac and thoracic surgery. It should also optimise the use of the available resources.
In view of these developments, the Vienna meeting will have several new features and many outstanding social opportunities. For the first time, Techno-College will be an official part of the Annual Meeting. Besides the traditional cardiac part a separate thoracic part will be organised. Live surgery, video presentations, invited lectures on new products and developing technologies will all together provide an extremely interesting programme.
The Local Organising Committee headed by Werner Mohl and Michael Rolf Müller have organised a unique social programme that will include several aspects for which Vienna is famous for: classical music and traditional Viennese dancing. You should not overlook the deadline for abstract submission of April 1st, to make sure that your paper can be presented at a highly interesting scientific meeting.
Our Association has been in a continuous process of development and expansion during the last 18 years. However, to keep on this successful track, it will need to develop adequate strategies for concentration and use of resources, as well as for exploration of new fields. In this regard two upcoming events are of great importance. The definitions for "Optimal structures for congenital cardiac surgery in Europe" have been approved by Council and are now available for planning and argumentation with local authorities in a similar way as the "Structures for general thoracic surgery" has been 2 years earlier. The other important activity within the Association will be the decision on the new Secretary General. The intensive search for this position has resulted in applications of a number of highly distinguished candidates and it will be the task of a special committee to make the final selection among them.
An important background towards an improved quality management is the collection of data and the creation of benchmarks. Whereas the European adult and congenital cardiac databases already provide us with some knowledge, the actual contributions to the European general thoracic database are still limited. Improvements and a significantly higher degree of participation will be necessary to make this endeavour become a valuable tool as well.
I will close this letter by thanking all of you who are contributing to the highly satisfying progress that this Association has made. The future tasks and goals that we are facing demand a continuous effort. We need to have as many active people in this society as possible. All members, who have not yet actively participated in these activities and who would like to do so, are invited to contact either the Secretary General or myself.
Walter Klepetko, MD
President
Inauguration of the European School for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, ESCTS, Bergamo, Italy, 1 March 2003
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EDITOR'S REPORT
European Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery is doing well. We still get increasing numbers of manuscripts in submission. By the end of February we had received 205 manuscripts in submission since January 1, 2003. This represents a growth of 22 % as compared to end of February 2002 (165 submissions), and more than 50 % increase as compared to end of February 2001 (125 submissions). We are indebted to the submitting authors for entrusting us with their newest scientific work as well as to our reviewers who give their best to assess the incoming manuscripts without delay.
Our new publication platform entitled Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery is doing well too. Its development is exactly following our plans. This includes pre-publication on the web at www.icvts.org followed by an edited but public discussion period prior to releasing a printed hard copy including the primary papers with the readers' comments and the author's replies. The initial plan was to produce 4 printed issues during the first 12 months. As a matter of fact, issues 1 and 2 of volume 1 appeared in print in September and December 2002. Issue 1 of volume 2 (2003) is available on the net with the discussion closed, the printed version is in press and will be shipped shortly. Issue 2 of volume 2 (2003) is available on the net, and open for discussion: you are cordially invited to check out the most recent publications at www.icvts.org and to submit your comments. If you want to read your comment - send it today!
The first two courses (Cardiac level 1) have been given in the European School of Cardio-thoracic Surgery in Bergamo. They have been a huge success. The course evaluations have shown that the pupils are extremely satisfied with the tuition, the teachers, the format and the environment. One more Cardiac level 1 course is scheduled for 15-21 June. Thoracic Courses will take place 30 March - 5 April and 11-18 May. In the autumn, there will be more courses, both Cardiac and Thoracic.
The responses of the pupils have assured us that it was a correct initiative to start the School. The main workers during the preparation of the School have been Hans Borst, Lucio Parenzan, Pieter Kappetein, Erino Rendina and Ottavio Alfieri.
Students enjoying a break
Lucio Parenzan to the right, surrounded by students
The EACTS has devoted some of its financial assets to the survival of the School. However, it has to be up to the individual surgeon and the individual department to ensure, that the adequate intellectual and factual knowledge is present when the aspiring surgeon takes the Board examination. Please help us maintain the School by sending your own pupils to it. It is worth your while!
A new brochure with the new programme will be printed and distributed shortly.
Negotiations with Elsevier
We have had fruitful discussions with Elsevier. The Journal has matured and should be further developed and promoted. Elsevier will initiate a marketing campaign to start at the Annual Meeting in Vienna. The aim is to spread the Journal and solicit new members.
Elsevier will take over more costs of the Journal and share a higher proportion of the advertising revenue with us. Elsevier's confidence in the Journal is high praise for the three Editors, Hans Borst, Marko Turina and Ludwig von Segesser.
How to prepare a paper
One of the topics of a Breakfast session in Vienna will be "How to prepare a paper for the Journal". This will among other things take up the electronic aspects of submitting a paper in order to let the manuscript flow through the reviewing process. Very useful!
Professional help to less developed countries
As a follow-up to his presidential address in Monaco, Past President Marko Turina has prepared a questionnaire in order to screen your interest in giving professional aid to less developed countries. It will be sent via e-mail, probably beforethe next Newsletter.
Fontan Prize - Deadline 15th of April
The Fontan Prize is the major scholarship given by EACTS. It is given to a promising young surgeon wanting to spend time in another department other than his own. Please help us to select the most promising young cardio-thoracic surgeon by encouraging your own pupils to apply for the prize.
Development of the UEMS
The way forward has been decided. There will be a Section as well as a Board of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Within the Section there will also be Divisions of Cardiac and Thoracic surgery.
The Statutes for these bodies have been prepared and will be decided upon at a meeting of the Section on the 26th of April 2003.
European Board of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery
Examination dates 2003:
Cardiac: May 14 Istanbul and October 15 Vienna
Thoracic: October 15 Vienna
Toni Lerut has succeeded Hans Huysmans as chairman of the European Board, which is now under transition between the old organisation and the new, UEMS one. Contact details of the European Board Secretariat:
3 Park Street, Windsor, Berks SL4 1LU, UK
Tel. +44 1753 832166 - Fax: +44 1753 620407
The e-mail address will be available shortly. Please also check the future homepage of the Board, to be posted under 'Organization Sites' at www.ctsnet.org
Deceased members
David Skinner and Sir Keith Ross.
