Society News

AGA has developed special sessions at Digestive Disease Week^® (DDW) 2018 to meet the unique needs of physicians who are new to the field. Participants will learn about all aspects of starting a career in clinical practice or research, have the opportunity to network with mentors and peers, and review board material.

With the exception of the AGA Postgraduate Course, all of the sessions are free, but you must register for DDW to attend. Registration is open and is complimentary for AGA member trainees, students, medical residents, and postdoctoral fellows until April 18. Visit the AGA website for additional details about these sessions.

•  AGA Postgraduate Course: From Abstract to Reality

Saturday, June 2, and Sunday, June 3

•  Difficult Conversations: Navigating People, Negotiations, Promotions, and Complications

Sunday, June 3, 4-5:30 p.m.

•  Advancing Clinical Practice: GI Fellow-Directed Quality Improvement Projects

Monday, June 4, 4-5:30 p.m.

•  Board Review Course

Tuesday, June 5, 1:30-5:30 p.m.
 

AGA has developed special sessions at Digestive Disease Week^® (DDW) 2018 to meet the unique needs of physicians who are new to the field. Participants will learn about all aspects of starting a career in clinical practice or research, have the opportunity to network with mentors and peers, and review board material.

With the exception of the AGA Postgraduate Course, all of the sessions are free, but you must register for DDW to attend. Registration is open and is complimentary for AGA member trainees, students, medical residents, and postdoctoral fellows until April 18. Visit the AGA website for additional details about these sessions.

•  AGA Postgraduate Course: From Abstract to Reality

Saturday, June 2, and Sunday, June 3

•  Difficult Conversations: Navigating People, Negotiations, Promotions, and Complications

Sunday, June 3, 4-5:30 p.m.

•  Advancing Clinical Practice: GI Fellow-Directed Quality Improvement Projects

Monday, June 4, 4-5:30 p.m.

•  Board Review Course

Tuesday, June 5, 1:30-5:30 p.m.
 

AGA has developed special sessions at Digestive Disease Week^® (DDW) 2018 to meet the unique needs of physicians who are new to the field. Participants will learn about all aspects of starting a career in clinical practice or research, have the opportunity to network with mentors and peers, and review board material.

With the exception of the AGA Postgraduate Course, all of the sessions are free, but you must register for DDW to attend. Registration is open and is complimentary for AGA member trainees, students, medical residents, and postdoctoral fellows until April 18. Visit the AGA website for additional details about these sessions.

•  AGA Postgraduate Course: From Abstract to Reality

Saturday, June 2, and Sunday, June 3

•  Difficult Conversations: Navigating People, Negotiations, Promotions, and Complications

Sunday, June 3, 4-5:30 p.m.

•  Advancing Clinical Practice: GI Fellow-Directed Quality Improvement Projects

Monday, June 4, 4-5:30 p.m.

•  Board Review Course

Tuesday, June 5, 1:30-5:30 p.m.
 

It’s that time of the year again: Digestive Disease Week (DDW^®)! This event evolved out of the AGA annual meetings and was first advertised as DDW in the January 1969 issue of Gastroenterology.¹ Since that time, it has grown into a truly international event with over 14,000 attendees, 41% of whom attend from abroad.²

DDW is a collaborative event that is jointly sponsored by four professional GI/hepatology-related societies – the AGA, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. The conference topics cover the gamut of GI and hepatology conditions and participants represent all types of professional settings, including private practice (37%), hospitals (33%), and academic medical centers (28%).² Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned participant, DDW offers something for everyone. Below are some tips on how to maximize the benefits of your attendance:
 

Plan ahead

Is there a new treatment or condition you’ve wanted to learn more about? Are you interested in testing the latest endoscopic devices or learning a new procedural technique? Experts from around the world come to DDW to showcase the latest developments in GI. However, with over 5,000 abstracts and lectures and almost 300 exhibition booths, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the offerings. To make the most of your experience, plan ahead.

In the months prior to the conference, visit the DDW website to download the Preliminary Program. Pick out your can’t-miss lectures and events, and put them on your calendar right away. As DDW approaches, invitations from colleagues, societies, and industry grow, so preplanning is a necessity.

Approximately 1 month before DDW, the DDW Mobile App will become available for free download in the Apple and Google Play stores. You can highlight events of interest and place them on a personalized calendar. Allow for push notifications to get the latest updates and schedule changes throughout the event. In addition, the in-app maps of the venue are a fantastic way to locate where scheduled events will take place. Try to attend talks that are located close to one another. The conference center is expansive and you may miss your intended presentations by trying to catch overlapping sessions situated far from each other. If you prefer planning on a desktop or laptop, use the DDW Online Planner (available mid-April) to create your schedule. The information can then be synced to your mobile device through the app.

Upon arrival, be sure to pick up your attendee conference bag. Before recycling the contents, look for any product theaters, satellite symposia, exhibitor booths, or other advertised activities you may want to add to your schedule.

Practical tips

a) Register ahead of time and pick up your conference bag during off-hours to avoid long lines.

b) Book your hotel early. Most have generous cancellation policies. Registration is required before booking housing.

c) Pack comfortable shoes and dress in layers to accommodate both unpredictable weather and indoor climate control.

Make new connections and nurture old ones

Is your professional hero giving a talk? Are you looking to land your first job or make a move? Do you need some face time with a mentor outside your institution? DDW is a wonderful opportunity to connect with advisers and possible employers as well as potential and established collaborators. Schedules fill up quickly though, so try your best to email requests for meetings well ahead of time. The app also has a messaging feature you can use to communicate with other attendees.

At the meeting, be an active participant and ask questions. One of the greatest benefits of attending the conference is the opportunity to interact with others. For trainees and early career attendees, DDW is your debutante ball! Introduce yourself and your work to the broader GI community. Bring your business cards as well as a notebook to write down questions and comments about your study. Look engaging when standing by your poster and offer to walk visitors through your research. There will also be an opportunity to have free headshots taken in the Early Career area this year.

Also take advantage of DDW’s big draw to reconnect with old friends and colleagues from around the U.S. and the world. Schedule a time to catch up and swap stories. Learn from each other’s successes and mistakes. It’s good for the soul and your career.
 

Post-DDW

Attending DDW is only the start! The most important part of the conference is what happens afterward. Send an email to individuals you met to establish a line of communication and thank them for their advice or insight. Did someone offer to share a protocol, start a collaboration, or introduce you to a colleague? Take them up on the offer! Notes that were taken in the app can also be emailed. In addition, registration includes 2 years of access to DDW On Demand, an online library of sessions. If there were any nonticketed presentations that you missed, you can watch them upon your return. Similarly, access missed posters at the DDW ePosters archive, where you can read poster abstracts and view ePosters, if submitted. Abstracts will still be viewable through the app and online planner as well. Reach out to colleagues if you have questions about their work!

Also, don’t forget to take what you learned back to your community. Share your new knowledge with your colleagues and trainees, and consider if there are any new concepts or approaches that should be implemented in your practice.

Practical tip

Before it falls off your radar, submit for CME credits for the sessions you attended. To claim CME, you may flag sessions for CME using the DDW Mobile App, visit a CME kiosk on site or access the DDW CME Claim Site after the meeting. Visit the DDW website for more information on claiming CME.

Refine, refocus, and recharge

DDW is the most comprehensive GI event in the world. Take advantage of the learning opportunities to improve your own work. Note how the landscape of GI is evolving and use it to reevaluate your own career development strategy and how you want to contribute to the field. Most importantly, get inspired. After exploring the most up-to-date advances and connecting with colleagues and thought leaders at DDW, you will hopefully return to your home institution feeling reinvigorated, refreshed, and ready to apply your newfound insights to your patient care or to your research.

See you at DDW!
 

References

1. Notices. Gastroenterology. 1969;569(1):188-9. http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(69)80085-5/pdf.

2. Exhibitor Prospectus | Digestive Disease Week® 2018. https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/GASTRO/44b1f1fd-aaed-44c8-954f-b0eaea6b0462/UploadedFiles/B4KUryNTNS5lEaFk6jBQ_DDW%202018%20Exhibitor%20Prospectus_Staffchanges.pdf

Dr. Chen is assistant professor of medicine, New York University School of Medicine.

It’s that time of the year again: Digestive Disease Week (DDW^®)! This event evolved out of the AGA annual meetings and was first advertised as DDW in the January 1969 issue of Gastroenterology.¹ Since that time, it has grown into a truly international event with over 14,000 attendees, 41% of whom attend from abroad.²

DDW is a collaborative event that is jointly sponsored by four professional GI/hepatology-related societies – the AGA, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. The conference topics cover the gamut of GI and hepatology conditions and participants represent all types of professional settings, including private practice (37%), hospitals (33%), and academic medical centers (28%).² Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned participant, DDW offers something for everyone. Below are some tips on how to maximize the benefits of your attendance:
 

Plan ahead

Is there a new treatment or condition you’ve wanted to learn more about? Are you interested in testing the latest endoscopic devices or learning a new procedural technique? Experts from around the world come to DDW to showcase the latest developments in GI. However, with over 5,000 abstracts and lectures and almost 300 exhibition booths, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the offerings. To make the most of your experience, plan ahead.

In the months prior to the conference, visit the DDW website to download the Preliminary Program. Pick out your can’t-miss lectures and events, and put them on your calendar right away. As DDW approaches, invitations from colleagues, societies, and industry grow, so preplanning is a necessity.

Approximately 1 month before DDW, the DDW Mobile App will become available for free download in the Apple and Google Play stores. You can highlight events of interest and place them on a personalized calendar. Allow for push notifications to get the latest updates and schedule changes throughout the event. In addition, the in-app maps of the venue are a fantastic way to locate where scheduled events will take place. Try to attend talks that are located close to one another. The conference center is expansive and you may miss your intended presentations by trying to catch overlapping sessions situated far from each other. If you prefer planning on a desktop or laptop, use the DDW Online Planner (available mid-April) to create your schedule. The information can then be synced to your mobile device through the app.

Upon arrival, be sure to pick up your attendee conference bag. Before recycling the contents, look for any product theaters, satellite symposia, exhibitor booths, or other advertised activities you may want to add to your schedule.

Practical tips

a) Register ahead of time and pick up your conference bag during off-hours to avoid long lines.

b) Book your hotel early. Most have generous cancellation policies. Registration is required before booking housing.

c) Pack comfortable shoes and dress in layers to accommodate both unpredictable weather and indoor climate control.

Make new connections and nurture old ones

Is your professional hero giving a talk? Are you looking to land your first job or make a move? Do you need some face time with a mentor outside your institution? DDW is a wonderful opportunity to connect with advisers and possible employers as well as potential and established collaborators. Schedules fill up quickly though, so try your best to email requests for meetings well ahead of time. The app also has a messaging feature you can use to communicate with other attendees.

At the meeting, be an active participant and ask questions. One of the greatest benefits of attending the conference is the opportunity to interact with others. For trainees and early career attendees, DDW is your debutante ball! Introduce yourself and your work to the broader GI community. Bring your business cards as well as a notebook to write down questions and comments about your study. Look engaging when standing by your poster and offer to walk visitors through your research. There will also be an opportunity to have free headshots taken in the Early Career area this year.

Also take advantage of DDW’s big draw to reconnect with old friends and colleagues from around the U.S. and the world. Schedule a time to catch up and swap stories. Learn from each other’s successes and mistakes. It’s good for the soul and your career.
 

Post-DDW

Attending DDW is only the start! The most important part of the conference is what happens afterward. Send an email to individuals you met to establish a line of communication and thank them for their advice or insight. Did someone offer to share a protocol, start a collaboration, or introduce you to a colleague? Take them up on the offer! Notes that were taken in the app can also be emailed. In addition, registration includes 2 years of access to DDW On Demand, an online library of sessions. If there were any nonticketed presentations that you missed, you can watch them upon your return. Similarly, access missed posters at the DDW ePosters archive, where you can read poster abstracts and view ePosters, if submitted. Abstracts will still be viewable through the app and online planner as well. Reach out to colleagues if you have questions about their work!

Also, don’t forget to take what you learned back to your community. Share your new knowledge with your colleagues and trainees, and consider if there are any new concepts or approaches that should be implemented in your practice.

Practical tip

Before it falls off your radar, submit for CME credits for the sessions you attended. To claim CME, you may flag sessions for CME using the DDW Mobile App, visit a CME kiosk on site or access the DDW CME Claim Site after the meeting. Visit the DDW website for more information on claiming CME.

Refine, refocus, and recharge

DDW is the most comprehensive GI event in the world. Take advantage of the learning opportunities to improve your own work. Note how the landscape of GI is evolving and use it to reevaluate your own career development strategy and how you want to contribute to the field. Most importantly, get inspired. After exploring the most up-to-date advances and connecting with colleagues and thought leaders at DDW, you will hopefully return to your home institution feeling reinvigorated, refreshed, and ready to apply your newfound insights to your patient care or to your research.

See you at DDW!
 

References

1. Notices. Gastroenterology. 1969;569(1):188-9. http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(69)80085-5/pdf.

2. Exhibitor Prospectus | Digestive Disease Week® 2018. https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/GASTRO/44b1f1fd-aaed-44c8-954f-b0eaea6b0462/UploadedFiles/B4KUryNTNS5lEaFk6jBQ_DDW%202018%20Exhibitor%20Prospectus_Staffchanges.pdf

Dr. Chen is assistant professor of medicine, New York University School of Medicine.

It’s that time of the year again: Digestive Disease Week (DDW^®)! This event evolved out of the AGA annual meetings and was first advertised as DDW in the January 1969 issue of Gastroenterology.¹ Since that time, it has grown into a truly international event with over 14,000 attendees, 41% of whom attend from abroad.²

DDW is a collaborative event that is jointly sponsored by four professional GI/hepatology-related societies – the AGA, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. The conference topics cover the gamut of GI and hepatology conditions and participants represent all types of professional settings, including private practice (37%), hospitals (33%), and academic medical centers (28%).² Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned participant, DDW offers something for everyone. Below are some tips on how to maximize the benefits of your attendance:
 

Plan ahead

Is there a new treatment or condition you’ve wanted to learn more about? Are you interested in testing the latest endoscopic devices or learning a new procedural technique? Experts from around the world come to DDW to showcase the latest developments in GI. However, with over 5,000 abstracts and lectures and almost 300 exhibition booths, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the offerings. To make the most of your experience, plan ahead.

In the months prior to the conference, visit the DDW website to download the Preliminary Program. Pick out your can’t-miss lectures and events, and put them on your calendar right away. As DDW approaches, invitations from colleagues, societies, and industry grow, so preplanning is a necessity.

Approximately 1 month before DDW, the DDW Mobile App will become available for free download in the Apple and Google Play stores. You can highlight events of interest and place them on a personalized calendar. Allow for push notifications to get the latest updates and schedule changes throughout the event. In addition, the in-app maps of the venue are a fantastic way to locate where scheduled events will take place. Try to attend talks that are located close to one another. The conference center is expansive and you may miss your intended presentations by trying to catch overlapping sessions situated far from each other. If you prefer planning on a desktop or laptop, use the DDW Online Planner (available mid-April) to create your schedule. The information can then be synced to your mobile device through the app.

Upon arrival, be sure to pick up your attendee conference bag. Before recycling the contents, look for any product theaters, satellite symposia, exhibitor booths, or other advertised activities you may want to add to your schedule.

Practical tips

a) Register ahead of time and pick up your conference bag during off-hours to avoid long lines.

b) Book your hotel early. Most have generous cancellation policies. Registration is required before booking housing.

c) Pack comfortable shoes and dress in layers to accommodate both unpredictable weather and indoor climate control.

Make new connections and nurture old ones

Is your professional hero giving a talk? Are you looking to land your first job or make a move? Do you need some face time with a mentor outside your institution? DDW is a wonderful opportunity to connect with advisers and possible employers as well as potential and established collaborators. Schedules fill up quickly though, so try your best to email requests for meetings well ahead of time. The app also has a messaging feature you can use to communicate with other attendees.

At the meeting, be an active participant and ask questions. One of the greatest benefits of attending the conference is the opportunity to interact with others. For trainees and early career attendees, DDW is your debutante ball! Introduce yourself and your work to the broader GI community. Bring your business cards as well as a notebook to write down questions and comments about your study. Look engaging when standing by your poster and offer to walk visitors through your research. There will also be an opportunity to have free headshots taken in the Early Career area this year.

Also take advantage of DDW’s big draw to reconnect with old friends and colleagues from around the U.S. and the world. Schedule a time to catch up and swap stories. Learn from each other’s successes and mistakes. It’s good for the soul and your career.
 

Post-DDW

Attending DDW is only the start! The most important part of the conference is what happens afterward. Send an email to individuals you met to establish a line of communication and thank them for their advice or insight. Did someone offer to share a protocol, start a collaboration, or introduce you to a colleague? Take them up on the offer! Notes that were taken in the app can also be emailed. In addition, registration includes 2 years of access to DDW On Demand, an online library of sessions. If there were any nonticketed presentations that you missed, you can watch them upon your return. Similarly, access missed posters at the DDW ePosters archive, where you can read poster abstracts and view ePosters, if submitted. Abstracts will still be viewable through the app and online planner as well. Reach out to colleagues if you have questions about their work!

Also, don’t forget to take what you learned back to your community. Share your new knowledge with your colleagues and trainees, and consider if there are any new concepts or approaches that should be implemented in your practice.

Practical tip

Before it falls off your radar, submit for CME credits for the sessions you attended. To claim CME, you may flag sessions for CME using the DDW Mobile App, visit a CME kiosk on site or access the DDW CME Claim Site after the meeting. Visit the DDW website for more information on claiming CME.

Refine, refocus, and recharge

DDW is the most comprehensive GI event in the world. Take advantage of the learning opportunities to improve your own work. Note how the landscape of GI is evolving and use it to reevaluate your own career development strategy and how you want to contribute to the field. Most importantly, get inspired. After exploring the most up-to-date advances and connecting with colleagues and thought leaders at DDW, you will hopefully return to your home institution feeling reinvigorated, refreshed, and ready to apply your newfound insights to your patient care or to your research.

See you at DDW!
 

References

1. Notices. Gastroenterology. 1969;569(1):188-9. http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(69)80085-5/pdf.

2. Exhibitor Prospectus | Digestive Disease Week® 2018. https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/GASTRO/44b1f1fd-aaed-44c8-954f-b0eaea6b0462/UploadedFiles/B4KUryNTNS5lEaFk6jBQ_DDW%202018%20Exhibitor%20Prospectus_Staffchanges.pdf

Dr. Chen is assistant professor of medicine, New York University School of Medicine.

Apply to become a member of the Academy of Master Surgeon Educators, a unique program of the American College of Surgeons. Membership will be open to master surgeon educators from across the surgical specialties. Learn more here. The deadline for nominating a colleague is April 20. The deadline for self-nomination is May 14.

Apply to become a member of the Academy of Master Surgeon Educators, a unique program of the American College of Surgeons. Membership will be open to master surgeon educators from across the surgical specialties. Learn more here. The deadline for nominating a colleague is April 20. The deadline for self-nomination is May 14.

Apply to become a member of the Academy of Master Surgeon Educators, a unique program of the American College of Surgeons. Membership will be open to master surgeon educators from across the surgical specialties. Learn more here. The deadline for nominating a colleague is April 20. The deadline for self-nomination is May 14.

The theme of this year’s Vascular Annual Meeting is “Home of the Vascular Team – Partners in Patient Care.” To celebrate the work of all of the members of the vascular team, we want you to send in your team pictures. Round up the staff and take a picture with your cell phone or tablet. Then send it by May 15 to [email protected]. We’ll use these team photos for social media and, during the meeting itself, in various slide shows. VAM will be June 20 to 23 in Boston. Exhibits are June 21-22 and scientific sessions are June 21-23.

The theme of this year’s Vascular Annual Meeting is “Home of the Vascular Team – Partners in Patient Care.” To celebrate the work of all of the members of the vascular team, we want you to send in your team pictures. Round up the staff and take a picture with your cell phone or tablet. Then send it by May 15 to [email protected]. We’ll use these team photos for social media and, during the meeting itself, in various slide shows. VAM will be June 20 to 23 in Boston. Exhibits are June 21-22 and scientific sessions are June 21-23.

The theme of this year’s Vascular Annual Meeting is “Home of the Vascular Team – Partners in Patient Care.” To celebrate the work of all of the members of the vascular team, we want you to send in your team pictures. Round up the staff and take a picture with your cell phone or tablet. Then send it by May 15 to [email protected]. We’ll use these team photos for social media and, during the meeting itself, in various slide shows. VAM will be June 20 to 23 in Boston. Exhibits are June 21-22 and scientific sessions are June 21-23.

SVS and the SVS Community Practice Committee will hold an informative webinar for SVS members on April 30 on “Negotiating Physician Employment Agreements.” The 75-minute webinar will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Central, 6 p.m. Mountain and 5 p.m. Pacific times. Topics will include current trends, regulatory overview and key contractual provisions. Register here.

SVS and the SVS Community Practice Committee will hold an informative webinar for SVS members on April 30 on “Negotiating Physician Employment Agreements.” The 75-minute webinar will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Central, 6 p.m. Mountain and 5 p.m. Pacific times. Topics will include current trends, regulatory overview and key contractual provisions. Register here.

SVS and the SVS Community Practice Committee will hold an informative webinar for SVS members on April 30 on “Negotiating Physician Employment Agreements.” The 75-minute webinar will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Central, 6 p.m. Mountain and 5 p.m. Pacific times. Topics will include current trends, regulatory overview and key contractual provisions. Register here.

When: June 20-23
Where: Hynes Convention Center, Boston
Scientific Sessions: June 21-23
Exhibit Hall: June 21-22
Register: vsweb.org/VAM18
#VAM18

What’s happening this year at the Society for Vascular Surgery’s Vascular Annual Meeting?

• Enhanced online program planner that syncs with meeting app and makes it simple to plan your schedule. Follow this link to start now
• New opportunities for audience participation and discussion
• Programming aimed at physicians and the vascular team in all practice settings
• Cooperative scheduling with the Society for Vascular Nursing and physician assistants
• Great minds, stimulating discussions and events that include the entire vascular team

The 2018 VAM, sponsored by the SVS, will be at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Mass., June 20-23. The scientific sessions and exhibit hall open June 21. Registration numbers are already exceeding last year’s benchmarks, organizers said.

Abstracts for all the scientific sessions will be available in the June Journal of Vascular Surgery supplement.

Some of the highlights:

Inclusive. – This year’s meeting has a theme: The Vascular Team: Partners in Patient Care.  Every member of the vascular team – surgeons, nurses, nurse practitioners, PAs – will find a reason to attend.

The meeting provides programming across all practice settings with an even stronger focus on practical, take-home information for all.

View Dr. Darling’s “wicked awesome” Welcome to VAM18 video

The Society for Vascular Nursing’s annual meeting will be in the same location June 20-21. Registration for the SVN meeting includes access to VAM.

This year, the newly established membership section for vascular PAs will present PA-focused education. Within just the past few months, more than 130 PAs joined SVS and many are expected to be at VAM.

An Intuitive Planner - VAM18 meeting will see a new online program planner that allows attendees to filter by session type, areas of interest, faculty, and more. Attendees can favorite a session to build their own meeting schedule. The online planner will sync with the new meeting mobile app, so that attendees can carry their schedule with them. The mobile app will be available through the SVS store in June.

Interactive sessions - Meeting organizers have added more opportunities for small group and audience interaction during and after sessions. 

Industry’s best – This year’s Exhibit Hall will run for two days with longer hours each day than in previous years. It will feature the crowd-pleasing Vascular Live sessions each day, as well as exhibits showing off innovative devices and offering a chance to chat one-on-one with company representatives. To add to the festivities, a scavenger hunt will foster interaction.

Familiar favorites will be back – workshops, postgraduate courses, international sessions, posters, collaborative events with other societies and many, many chances to network and catch up with old friends. The essential VAM on Demand post-meeting slides, audio and video will help members revisit VAM anytime.

Learn more about the 2018 VAM here: All about VAM18

When: June 20-23
Where: Hynes Convention Center, Boston
Scientific Sessions: June 21-23
Exhibit Hall: June 21-22
Register: vsweb.org/VAM18
#VAM18

What’s happening this year at the Society for Vascular Surgery’s Vascular Annual Meeting?

• Enhanced online program planner that syncs with meeting app and makes it simple to plan your schedule. Follow this link to start now
• New opportunities for audience participation and discussion
• Programming aimed at physicians and the vascular team in all practice settings
• Cooperative scheduling with the Society for Vascular Nursing and physician assistants
• Great minds, stimulating discussions and events that include the entire vascular team

The 2018 VAM, sponsored by the SVS, will be at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Mass., June 20-23. The scientific sessions and exhibit hall open June 21. Registration numbers are already exceeding last year’s benchmarks, organizers said.

Abstracts for all the scientific sessions will be available in the June Journal of Vascular Surgery supplement.

Some of the highlights:

Inclusive. – This year’s meeting has a theme: The Vascular Team: Partners in Patient Care.  Every member of the vascular team – surgeons, nurses, nurse practitioners, PAs – will find a reason to attend.

The meeting provides programming across all practice settings with an even stronger focus on practical, take-home information for all.

View Dr. Darling’s “wicked awesome” Welcome to VAM18 video

The Society for Vascular Nursing’s annual meeting will be in the same location June 20-21. Registration for the SVN meeting includes access to VAM.

This year, the newly established membership section for vascular PAs will present PA-focused education. Within just the past few months, more than 130 PAs joined SVS and many are expected to be at VAM.

An Intuitive Planner - VAM18 meeting will see a new online program planner that allows attendees to filter by session type, areas of interest, faculty, and more. Attendees can favorite a session to build their own meeting schedule. The online planner will sync with the new meeting mobile app, so that attendees can carry their schedule with them. The mobile app will be available through the SVS store in June.

Interactive sessions - Meeting organizers have added more opportunities for small group and audience interaction during and after sessions. 

Industry’s best – This year’s Exhibit Hall will run for two days with longer hours each day than in previous years. It will feature the crowd-pleasing Vascular Live sessions each day, as well as exhibits showing off innovative devices and offering a chance to chat one-on-one with company representatives. To add to the festivities, a scavenger hunt will foster interaction.

Familiar favorites will be back – workshops, postgraduate courses, international sessions, posters, collaborative events with other societies and many, many chances to network and catch up with old friends. The essential VAM on Demand post-meeting slides, audio and video will help members revisit VAM anytime.

Learn more about the 2018 VAM here: All about VAM18

When: June 20-23
Where: Hynes Convention Center, Boston
Scientific Sessions: June 21-23
Exhibit Hall: June 21-22
Register: vsweb.org/VAM18
#VAM18

What’s happening this year at the Society for Vascular Surgery’s Vascular Annual Meeting?

• Enhanced online program planner that syncs with meeting app and makes it simple to plan your schedule. Follow this link to start now
• New opportunities for audience participation and discussion
• Programming aimed at physicians and the vascular team in all practice settings
• Cooperative scheduling with the Society for Vascular Nursing and physician assistants
• Great minds, stimulating discussions and events that include the entire vascular team

The 2018 VAM, sponsored by the SVS, will be at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Mass., June 20-23. The scientific sessions and exhibit hall open June 21. Registration numbers are already exceeding last year’s benchmarks, organizers said.

Abstracts for all the scientific sessions will be available in the June Journal of Vascular Surgery supplement.

Some of the highlights:

Inclusive. – This year’s meeting has a theme: The Vascular Team: Partners in Patient Care.  Every member of the vascular team – surgeons, nurses, nurse practitioners, PAs – will find a reason to attend.

The meeting provides programming across all practice settings with an even stronger focus on practical, take-home information for all.

View Dr. Darling’s “wicked awesome” Welcome to VAM18 video

The Society for Vascular Nursing’s annual meeting will be in the same location June 20-21. Registration for the SVN meeting includes access to VAM.

This year, the newly established membership section for vascular PAs will present PA-focused education. Within just the past few months, more than 130 PAs joined SVS and many are expected to be at VAM.

An Intuitive Planner - VAM18 meeting will see a new online program planner that allows attendees to filter by session type, areas of interest, faculty, and more. Attendees can favorite a session to build their own meeting schedule. The online planner will sync with the new meeting mobile app, so that attendees can carry their schedule with them. The mobile app will be available through the SVS store in June.

Interactive sessions - Meeting organizers have added more opportunities for small group and audience interaction during and after sessions. 

Industry’s best – This year’s Exhibit Hall will run for two days with longer hours each day than in previous years. It will feature the crowd-pleasing Vascular Live sessions each day, as well as exhibits showing off innovative devices and offering a chance to chat one-on-one with company representatives. To add to the festivities, a scavenger hunt will foster interaction.

Familiar favorites will be back – workshops, postgraduate courses, international sessions, posters, collaborative events with other societies and many, many chances to network and catch up with old friends. The essential VAM on Demand post-meeting slides, audio and video will help members revisit VAM anytime.

Learn more about the 2018 VAM here: All about VAM18

Planning to attend CHEST 2018? We know you’re always on the go, so we’ve come up with a few quick things to do in San Antonio without having to go more than a few blocks outside of the convention center.

Whataburger

While some may be hardcore In-N-Out fans, there’s another well known burger joint in Texas with a location that happens to be next to the convention center on E Commerce St. Head on over to Whataburger and experience what the company calls a “bigger, better burger.”

San Antonio Riverwalk

Want to experience the San Antonio, Texas atmosphere but don’t have time for a long excursion? The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center is a few steps away from the Riverwalk, which winds throughout the city. Off of the northwest corner of the convention center, take a stroll and experience the picturesque beauty of the San Antonio river, the restaurants, and the bright colorful surroundings.

La Villita Historic Arts Village

Interested in art? Interested in architecture? La Villita, located on the west side of the convention center on S Alamo St, is on the US government’s National Register of Historic Places as a Historic District. Take a look at different architectural styles, like adobe, early Victorian, and Texas vernacular limestone buildings. You’ll find markers throughout La Villita with information about each building’s history. You’ll also find local artists, custom art, and unique dining options.

Tower of the Americas

Exit the south end of the convention center to go to the Tower of the Americas for a spectacular view of the city. This 750-foot tall tower has an observation deck, revolving restaurant with panoramic views, a stationary bar, and a 4D theater adventure ride great for the whole family. This is a great stop for lunch, dinner, or a nice afternoon activity.

The Alamo

Lastly, if you have an hour to spare, take a tour of the Alamo that commemorates the 1836 siege and battle. There are free and ticketed activities, including audio or guided tours (ticketed) or history talks, visiting the Alamo Church, exhibitions, and more! Don’t forget to stop at the gift shop for a souvenir or two to take home.

Planning to attend CHEST 2018? We know you’re always on the go, so we’ve come up with a few quick things to do in San Antonio without having to go more than a few blocks outside of the convention center.

Whataburger

While some may be hardcore In-N-Out fans, there’s another well known burger joint in Texas with a location that happens to be next to the convention center on E Commerce St. Head on over to Whataburger and experience what the company calls a “bigger, better burger.”

San Antonio Riverwalk

Want to experience the San Antonio, Texas atmosphere but don’t have time for a long excursion? The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center is a few steps away from the Riverwalk, which winds throughout the city. Off of the northwest corner of the convention center, take a stroll and experience the picturesque beauty of the San Antonio river, the restaurants, and the bright colorful surroundings.

La Villita Historic Arts Village

Interested in art? Interested in architecture? La Villita, located on the west side of the convention center on S Alamo St, is on the US government’s National Register of Historic Places as a Historic District. Take a look at different architectural styles, like adobe, early Victorian, and Texas vernacular limestone buildings. You’ll find markers throughout La Villita with information about each building’s history. You’ll also find local artists, custom art, and unique dining options.

Tower of the Americas

Exit the south end of the convention center to go to the Tower of the Americas for a spectacular view of the city. This 750-foot tall tower has an observation deck, revolving restaurant with panoramic views, a stationary bar, and a 4D theater adventure ride great for the whole family. This is a great stop for lunch, dinner, or a nice afternoon activity.

The Alamo

Lastly, if you have an hour to spare, take a tour of the Alamo that commemorates the 1836 siege and battle. There are free and ticketed activities, including audio or guided tours (ticketed) or history talks, visiting the Alamo Church, exhibitions, and more! Don’t forget to stop at the gift shop for a souvenir or two to take home.

Planning to attend CHEST 2018? We know you’re always on the go, so we’ve come up with a few quick things to do in San Antonio without having to go more than a few blocks outside of the convention center.

Whataburger

While some may be hardcore In-N-Out fans, there’s another well known burger joint in Texas with a location that happens to be next to the convention center on E Commerce St. Head on over to Whataburger and experience what the company calls a “bigger, better burger.”

San Antonio Riverwalk

Want to experience the San Antonio, Texas atmosphere but don’t have time for a long excursion? The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center is a few steps away from the Riverwalk, which winds throughout the city. Off of the northwest corner of the convention center, take a stroll and experience the picturesque beauty of the San Antonio river, the restaurants, and the bright colorful surroundings.

La Villita Historic Arts Village

Interested in art? Interested in architecture? La Villita, located on the west side of the convention center on S Alamo St, is on the US government’s National Register of Historic Places as a Historic District. Take a look at different architectural styles, like adobe, early Victorian, and Texas vernacular limestone buildings. You’ll find markers throughout La Villita with information about each building’s history. You’ll also find local artists, custom art, and unique dining options.

Tower of the Americas

Exit the south end of the convention center to go to the Tower of the Americas for a spectacular view of the city. This 750-foot tall tower has an observation deck, revolving restaurant with panoramic views, a stationary bar, and a 4D theater adventure ride great for the whole family. This is a great stop for lunch, dinner, or a nice afternoon activity.

The Alamo

Lastly, if you have an hour to spare, take a tour of the Alamo that commemorates the 1836 siege and battle. There are free and ticketed activities, including audio or guided tours (ticketed) or history talks, visiting the Alamo Church, exhibitions, and more! Don’t forget to stop at the gift shop for a souvenir or two to take home.

An update to CHEST’s lung cancer screening guideline, Screening for Lung Cancer: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report, has just been published online in the journal CHEST®. This update was made possible by the hard work of my co-authors and the amazing support of the CHEST staff.

Our goal was to update the evidence base for the benefit, harms, and implementation of low-radiation dose chest CT screening, then use this evidence base to produce meaningful and usable recommendations. The process for developing the guideline followed the rigorous methodological standards of CHEST in which the evidence was gathered from a systematic literature review, and the overall quality of the body of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. Recommendations were developed and graded based on this assessment.

There are a few aspects of the new guidelines to highlight. First, we have updated some of the core recommendations; second, we have developed new recommendations related to the implementation of high-quality screening; and third, the CHEST approach to guideline development has evolved to allow us to provide recommendations in which the evidence allows and statements based on experience and expert consensus in which it does not. Through this process, we developed six graded recommendations and nine ungraded consensus-based statements.

In this update, a few changes to the core recommendations about who should be screened are worthy to note:

• We have recommended an increase to the upper age of the screen-eligible cohort from 74 to 77, in line with CMS coverage and reflecting the oldest age of participants in the National Lung Screening Trial at the end of the screening period.
• We have directly addressed the cohort of individuals who are at high risk for having/developing lung cancer based on clinical risk prediction calculators but do not meet the current eligibility criteria. We recommended that this cohort should not be routinely screened given the greater potential for this cohort to have comorbid conditions that would influence morbidity from the evaluation and treatment of screen-detected findings and death from any cause. We did, however, state that there will be individuals within the cohort deemed to be at high risk for lung cancer from a clinical risk prediction calculator who are healthy enough to benefit from lung cancer screening and that low-radiation dose CT screening could be considered in these individuals.
• We recommended against low-radiation dose CT screening in cohorts at low risk of developing lung cancer and in individuals with comorbidities that adversely influence their ability to tolerate the evaluation of screen-detected findings, tolerate treatment of an early stage screen-detected lung cancer, or that substantially limit their life expectancy.
• We also highlighted that screening is reserved for patients without symptoms that could be caused by the presence of lung cancer, stressing that all symptomatic patients should receive an appropriate diagnostic evaluation.

Our remaining recommendation and statements are focused on aspects of screening implementation that influence the balance of benefit and harms of screening and lend to an approach to screening that respects patient values. An extensive literature review, followed by a recommendation or statement, is provided to guide programs in the following areas:

• the choice of nodule size to define what constitutes a positive test;
• maximizing compliance with annual screening exams;
• developing a comprehensive approach to lung nodule management;
• minimizing overtreatment of potentially indolent lung cancers;
• the provision of evidence-based tobacco cessation treatment;
• providing effective counseling and shared decision-making visits prior to the low-radiation dose CT scan;
• how to perform the low-radiation dose CT scan;
• structured reporting of the exam results, management of non-nodule findings on the low radiation dose CT; and
• the development of data collection and reporting tools that are capable of assisting with quality improvement initiatives.

Throughout the recommendations and statements, we have tried to be sensitive to the variety of acceptable approaches to screening program organization, ranging from program structures that are entirely decentralized (test ordering, counseling, and management of the findings by the referring provider) to those that are entirely centralized (test ordering, counseling, and management of the findings by the screening program).

Though we have attempted to comprehensively evaluate the literature and balance available evidence with pragmatism and the needs of our patients, we recognize that well-intentioned and informed experts can have different opinions about aspects of our guidelines. This highlights the need for further research to guide the screening community. Most will agree that it is time to increase access to high- quality lung cancer screening programs across the country. We hope that the updated CHEST lung cancer screening guidelines can help catalyze this.

Coinciding with the publication of the guideline, CHEST has developed new e-learning modules on the benefits and harms of CT screening for lung cancer. The modules are based on the CHEST 2018 educational session on the Screening for Lung Cancer Guidelines. The modules are available at chestnet.org/lungcancerscreening.

An update to CHEST’s lung cancer screening guideline, Screening for Lung Cancer: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report, has just been published online in the journal CHEST®. This update was made possible by the hard work of my co-authors and the amazing support of the CHEST staff.

Our goal was to update the evidence base for the benefit, harms, and implementation of low-radiation dose chest CT screening, then use this evidence base to produce meaningful and usable recommendations. The process for developing the guideline followed the rigorous methodological standards of CHEST in which the evidence was gathered from a systematic literature review, and the overall quality of the body of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. Recommendations were developed and graded based on this assessment.

There are a few aspects of the new guidelines to highlight. First, we have updated some of the core recommendations; second, we have developed new recommendations related to the implementation of high-quality screening; and third, the CHEST approach to guideline development has evolved to allow us to provide recommendations in which the evidence allows and statements based on experience and expert consensus in which it does not. Through this process, we developed six graded recommendations and nine ungraded consensus-based statements.

In this update, a few changes to the core recommendations about who should be screened are worthy to note:

• We have recommended an increase to the upper age of the screen-eligible cohort from 74 to 77, in line with CMS coverage and reflecting the oldest age of participants in the National Lung Screening Trial at the end of the screening period.
• We have directly addressed the cohort of individuals who are at high risk for having/developing lung cancer based on clinical risk prediction calculators but do not meet the current eligibility criteria. We recommended that this cohort should not be routinely screened given the greater potential for this cohort to have comorbid conditions that would influence morbidity from the evaluation and treatment of screen-detected findings and death from any cause. We did, however, state that there will be individuals within the cohort deemed to be at high risk for lung cancer from a clinical risk prediction calculator who are healthy enough to benefit from lung cancer screening and that low-radiation dose CT screening could be considered in these individuals.
• We recommended against low-radiation dose CT screening in cohorts at low risk of developing lung cancer and in individuals with comorbidities that adversely influence their ability to tolerate the evaluation of screen-detected findings, tolerate treatment of an early stage screen-detected lung cancer, or that substantially limit their life expectancy.
• We also highlighted that screening is reserved for patients without symptoms that could be caused by the presence of lung cancer, stressing that all symptomatic patients should receive an appropriate diagnostic evaluation.

Our remaining recommendation and statements are focused on aspects of screening implementation that influence the balance of benefit and harms of screening and lend to an approach to screening that respects patient values. An extensive literature review, followed by a recommendation or statement, is provided to guide programs in the following areas:

• the choice of nodule size to define what constitutes a positive test;
• maximizing compliance with annual screening exams;
• developing a comprehensive approach to lung nodule management;
• minimizing overtreatment of potentially indolent lung cancers;
• the provision of evidence-based tobacco cessation treatment;
• providing effective counseling and shared decision-making visits prior to the low-radiation dose CT scan;
• how to perform the low-radiation dose CT scan;
• structured reporting of the exam results, management of non-nodule findings on the low radiation dose CT; and
• the development of data collection and reporting tools that are capable of assisting with quality improvement initiatives.

Throughout the recommendations and statements, we have tried to be sensitive to the variety of acceptable approaches to screening program organization, ranging from program structures that are entirely decentralized (test ordering, counseling, and management of the findings by the referring provider) to those that are entirely centralized (test ordering, counseling, and management of the findings by the screening program).

Though we have attempted to comprehensively evaluate the literature and balance available evidence with pragmatism and the needs of our patients, we recognize that well-intentioned and informed experts can have different opinions about aspects of our guidelines. This highlights the need for further research to guide the screening community. Most will agree that it is time to increase access to high- quality lung cancer screening programs across the country. We hope that the updated CHEST lung cancer screening guidelines can help catalyze this.

Coinciding with the publication of the guideline, CHEST has developed new e-learning modules on the benefits and harms of CT screening for lung cancer. The modules are based on the CHEST 2018 educational session on the Screening for Lung Cancer Guidelines. The modules are available at chestnet.org/lungcancerscreening.

An update to CHEST’s lung cancer screening guideline, Screening for Lung Cancer: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report, has just been published online in the journal CHEST®. This update was made possible by the hard work of my co-authors and the amazing support of the CHEST staff.

Our goal was to update the evidence base for the benefit, harms, and implementation of low-radiation dose chest CT screening, then use this evidence base to produce meaningful and usable recommendations. The process for developing the guideline followed the rigorous methodological standards of CHEST in which the evidence was gathered from a systematic literature review, and the overall quality of the body of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. Recommendations were developed and graded based on this assessment.

There are a few aspects of the new guidelines to highlight. First, we have updated some of the core recommendations; second, we have developed new recommendations related to the implementation of high-quality screening; and third, the CHEST approach to guideline development has evolved to allow us to provide recommendations in which the evidence allows and statements based on experience and expert consensus in which it does not. Through this process, we developed six graded recommendations and nine ungraded consensus-based statements.

In this update, a few changes to the core recommendations about who should be screened are worthy to note:

• We have recommended an increase to the upper age of the screen-eligible cohort from 74 to 77, in line with CMS coverage and reflecting the oldest age of participants in the National Lung Screening Trial at the end of the screening period.
• We have directly addressed the cohort of individuals who are at high risk for having/developing lung cancer based on clinical risk prediction calculators but do not meet the current eligibility criteria. We recommended that this cohort should not be routinely screened given the greater potential for this cohort to have comorbid conditions that would influence morbidity from the evaluation and treatment of screen-detected findings and death from any cause. We did, however, state that there will be individuals within the cohort deemed to be at high risk for lung cancer from a clinical risk prediction calculator who are healthy enough to benefit from lung cancer screening and that low-radiation dose CT screening could be considered in these individuals.
• We recommended against low-radiation dose CT screening in cohorts at low risk of developing lung cancer and in individuals with comorbidities that adversely influence their ability to tolerate the evaluation of screen-detected findings, tolerate treatment of an early stage screen-detected lung cancer, or that substantially limit their life expectancy.
• We also highlighted that screening is reserved for patients without symptoms that could be caused by the presence of lung cancer, stressing that all symptomatic patients should receive an appropriate diagnostic evaluation.

Our remaining recommendation and statements are focused on aspects of screening implementation that influence the balance of benefit and harms of screening and lend to an approach to screening that respects patient values. An extensive literature review, followed by a recommendation or statement, is provided to guide programs in the following areas:

• the choice of nodule size to define what constitutes a positive test;
• maximizing compliance with annual screening exams;
• developing a comprehensive approach to lung nodule management;
• minimizing overtreatment of potentially indolent lung cancers;
• the provision of evidence-based tobacco cessation treatment;
• providing effective counseling and shared decision-making visits prior to the low-radiation dose CT scan;
• how to perform the low-radiation dose CT scan;
• structured reporting of the exam results, management of non-nodule findings on the low radiation dose CT; and
• the development of data collection and reporting tools that are capable of assisting with quality improvement initiatives.

Throughout the recommendations and statements, we have tried to be sensitive to the variety of acceptable approaches to screening program organization, ranging from program structures that are entirely decentralized (test ordering, counseling, and management of the findings by the referring provider) to those that are entirely centralized (test ordering, counseling, and management of the findings by the screening program).

Though we have attempted to comprehensively evaluate the literature and balance available evidence with pragmatism and the needs of our patients, we recognize that well-intentioned and informed experts can have different opinions about aspects of our guidelines. This highlights the need for further research to guide the screening community. Most will agree that it is time to increase access to high- quality lung cancer screening programs across the country. We hope that the updated CHEST lung cancer screening guidelines can help catalyze this.

Coinciding with the publication of the guideline, CHEST has developed new e-learning modules on the benefits and harms of CT screening for lung cancer. The modules are based on the CHEST 2018 educational session on the Screening for Lung Cancer Guidelines. The modules are available at chestnet.org/lungcancerscreening.

How it all started

The study abroad project was truly a goal and vision that came about after returning to Guyana after approximately 46 years. I was born in Guyana but left as a child and returned later and joined a mission group. In 2015, I began a personal journey of missionary service with the team of Bridge Global Medical Missions (BGMM) in Georgetown, Guyana. I was the first respiratory therapist to join the team.

I remember during the first few days in the hospitals I was told that there was “a lot of wheezing” in the EDs. Treating patients consisted of just administrating short-acting nebulizer treatments, but I remember being very impressed with the ICU at the main public hospital, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), because they had the ventilators I could use. However, physicians only managed the patients while the nurses were left to monitor the ventilators and equipment, which they did not understand.

Study abroad and respiratory care

Then the vision of my project began, because I needed to show him the scope of the practice of a respiratory therapist. I asked Dr. Heyliger-Thomas of BGMM if she could assist me in promoting a study abroad program in Guyana with the Ministry of Health. It was very important for me to bring my students to Guyana for many reasons, the most important being the profession was needed there, and our students would be excellent representatives.

In 2015, the study “Introduction of spirometry into clinical practice in Georgetown, Guyana: quality and diagnostic outcomes” highlighted increased physician referral to the country’s only COPD/asthma clinic. I wanted to promote the importance of study abroad and international mission work, especially when promoting the care of asthma and the pulmonary patient, which I believe we did. The main project during study abroad was to test the school-aged children in Linden, thereby showing that there was undiagnosed asthma.

The effect of the CHEST Foundation grant

Applying for the CHEST Foundation community service grant was the largest grant I had ever attempted. Having a support system behind you is the most important piece of advice I can give to future grant applicants. I could not have completed my grant without our grant team at Texas State University. They truly had my back; and close to the deadline when it seemed insurmountable, they helped push me through it. The other piece of advice is to have a true vision and stick to that vision. The most difficult part of my project was the budget, prioritizing the things or people that I needed. Honestly, I needed help here, because for me, I needed everything. I had to make choices and leave some things out. I focused on what the actual need was for the many.

My ultimate goal for Guyana is to promote and show the need for respiratory care professionals to have that education offered at the University of Guyana as part of its allied health program and assist those in the application to the International Fellowship Program of the American Association of Respiratory Care—there has never been a fellow from Guyana. I believe that Guyana will have the resources, and with assistance, could achieve the goal. My vision and goal started in 2016, and I want to achieve it in the next 10 years.

How it all started

The study abroad project was truly a goal and vision that came about after returning to Guyana after approximately 46 years. I was born in Guyana but left as a child and returned later and joined a mission group. In 2015, I began a personal journey of missionary service with the team of Bridge Global Medical Missions (BGMM) in Georgetown, Guyana. I was the first respiratory therapist to join the team.

I remember during the first few days in the hospitals I was told that there was “a lot of wheezing” in the EDs. Treating patients consisted of just administrating short-acting nebulizer treatments, but I remember being very impressed with the ICU at the main public hospital, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), because they had the ventilators I could use. However, physicians only managed the patients while the nurses were left to monitor the ventilators and equipment, which they did not understand.

Study abroad and respiratory care

Then the vision of my project began, because I needed to show him the scope of the practice of a respiratory therapist. I asked Dr. Heyliger-Thomas of BGMM if she could assist me in promoting a study abroad program in Guyana with the Ministry of Health. It was very important for me to bring my students to Guyana for many reasons, the most important being the profession was needed there, and our students would be excellent representatives.

In 2015, the study “Introduction of spirometry into clinical practice in Georgetown, Guyana: quality and diagnostic outcomes” highlighted increased physician referral to the country’s only COPD/asthma clinic. I wanted to promote the importance of study abroad and international mission work, especially when promoting the care of asthma and the pulmonary patient, which I believe we did. The main project during study abroad was to test the school-aged children in Linden, thereby showing that there was undiagnosed asthma.

The effect of the CHEST Foundation grant

Applying for the CHEST Foundation community service grant was the largest grant I had ever attempted. Having a support system behind you is the most important piece of advice I can give to future grant applicants. I could not have completed my grant without our grant team at Texas State University. They truly had my back; and close to the deadline when it seemed insurmountable, they helped push me through it. The other piece of advice is to have a true vision and stick to that vision. The most difficult part of my project was the budget, prioritizing the things or people that I needed. Honestly, I needed help here, because for me, I needed everything. I had to make choices and leave some things out. I focused on what the actual need was for the many.

My ultimate goal for Guyana is to promote and show the need for respiratory care professionals to have that education offered at the University of Guyana as part of its allied health program and assist those in the application to the International Fellowship Program of the American Association of Respiratory Care—there has never been a fellow from Guyana. I believe that Guyana will have the resources, and with assistance, could achieve the goal. My vision and goal started in 2016, and I want to achieve it in the next 10 years.

How it all started

The study abroad project was truly a goal and vision that came about after returning to Guyana after approximately 46 years. I was born in Guyana but left as a child and returned later and joined a mission group. In 2015, I began a personal journey of missionary service with the team of Bridge Global Medical Missions (BGMM) in Georgetown, Guyana. I was the first respiratory therapist to join the team.

I remember during the first few days in the hospitals I was told that there was “a lot of wheezing” in the EDs. Treating patients consisted of just administrating short-acting nebulizer treatments, but I remember being very impressed with the ICU at the main public hospital, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), because they had the ventilators I could use. However, physicians only managed the patients while the nurses were left to monitor the ventilators and equipment, which they did not understand.

Study abroad and respiratory care

Then the vision of my project began, because I needed to show him the scope of the practice of a respiratory therapist. I asked Dr. Heyliger-Thomas of BGMM if she could assist me in promoting a study abroad program in Guyana with the Ministry of Health. It was very important for me to bring my students to Guyana for many reasons, the most important being the profession was needed there, and our students would be excellent representatives.

In 2015, the study “Introduction of spirometry into clinical practice in Georgetown, Guyana: quality and diagnostic outcomes” highlighted increased physician referral to the country’s only COPD/asthma clinic. I wanted to promote the importance of study abroad and international mission work, especially when promoting the care of asthma and the pulmonary patient, which I believe we did. The main project during study abroad was to test the school-aged children in Linden, thereby showing that there was undiagnosed asthma.

The effect of the CHEST Foundation grant

Applying for the CHEST Foundation community service grant was the largest grant I had ever attempted. Having a support system behind you is the most important piece of advice I can give to future grant applicants. I could not have completed my grant without our grant team at Texas State University. They truly had my back; and close to the deadline when it seemed insurmountable, they helped push me through it. The other piece of advice is to have a true vision and stick to that vision. The most difficult part of my project was the budget, prioritizing the things or people that I needed. Honestly, I needed help here, because for me, I needed everything. I had to make choices and leave some things out. I focused on what the actual need was for the many.

My ultimate goal for Guyana is to promote and show the need for respiratory care professionals to have that education offered at the University of Guyana as part of its allied health program and assist those in the application to the International Fellowship Program of the American Association of Respiratory Care—there has never been a fellow from Guyana. I believe that Guyana will have the resources, and with assistance, could achieve the goal. My vision and goal started in 2016, and I want to achieve it in the next 10 years.

You are invited to attend this open meeting on April 16, held at the FDA White Oak Campus in Silver Spring, Md. (https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/NewsEvents/WorkshopsConferences/ucm596147.htm). The FDA is soliciting ideas or opinions about criteria or processes for FDA review of medical devices to diagnose or treat sleep apnea. CHEST is represented by Dr. Neil Freedman ([email protected]) and Dr. Barbara Phillips ([email protected]) who also welcome your input by email prior to the meeting. Home testing, “apps,” and the criteria to diagnose sleep apnea and/or its resolution are among the topics to be discussed.

You are invited to attend this open meeting on April 16, held at the FDA White Oak Campus in Silver Spring, Md. (https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/NewsEvents/WorkshopsConferences/ucm596147.htm). The FDA is soliciting ideas or opinions about criteria or processes for FDA review of medical devices to diagnose or treat sleep apnea. CHEST is represented by Dr. Neil Freedman ([email protected]) and Dr. Barbara Phillips ([email protected]) who also welcome your input by email prior to the meeting. Home testing, “apps,” and the criteria to diagnose sleep apnea and/or its resolution are among the topics to be discussed.

You are invited to attend this open meeting on April 16, held at the FDA White Oak Campus in Silver Spring, Md. (https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/NewsEvents/WorkshopsConferences/ucm596147.htm). The FDA is soliciting ideas or opinions about criteria or processes for FDA review of medical devices to diagnose or treat sleep apnea. CHEST is represented by Dr. Neil Freedman ([email protected]) and Dr. Barbara Phillips ([email protected]) who also welcome your input by email prior to the meeting. Home testing, “apps,” and the criteria to diagnose sleep apnea and/or its resolution are among the topics to be discussed.