Working the fundamentals

Abstract

Ladies and gentlemen, members and guests, It is a great pleasure for me today to stand on this podium in front of you as President of the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS), a society which I have had the honour to serve as Councillor, Regent, Editor, local organizer of the annual meeting, and now as President. The Presidential address is perhaps the most hazardous duty of the Presidency because, besides the summary of the recent activities of the Society, I am expected to give you a vision of its future. Unfortunately, I have no crystal ball and my perceptions of the future are very much predicated on my past experiences. ESTS will soon enter its 20th year. The 20th year marks the end of adolescence, a period characterized by striking physiological changes and efforts toward the construction of identity. Adolescence is sometimes viewed as a transitional state, during which young people begin to separate themselves from their parents but still lack a clearly defined role in society. It is generally regarded as an emotionally intense and often stressful period. I joined the ESTS as councillor in those troubled times which culminated—in 2006, after the Stockholm meeting—that marked the end of the Toronto agreement regarding the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS)/ESTS joint meetings. Six years later, ESTS made a success of its transition into independence, as it became the first society in the world dedicated to general thoracic surgery, in terms of membership and attendances at its annual meeting. This required a total re-think of the structure of the Society. The ESTS School has been established and continuously strengthened and its finances have been placed on a very firm footing. It is of course too early for a formal assessment: however, it is crucial for the society’s leadership to look ahead to avoid crude errors of management which can lead the most beautiful construction to failure. Undoubtedly, the years ahead will necessitate adaptation to disruptive challenges. It is how we adapt to change which will determine our future. A solid basis for these efforts is to work head-on on those fundamentals that have made us successful.