Stephanie M. Levine, MD, FCCP

Dear Colleagues,

We are now near 6 months into living with COVID-19. In Texas, we are experiencing the surge that much of the Northeast saw in March and April. The COVID-19 Task Force led by Dr. Steve Simpson (CHEST President-Elect) and with representation from the Critical Care, Chest Infections, and Disaster Response and Global Health NetWorks continues to meet regularly to keep our members updated on the latest research and rapidly changing clinical management of COVID-19 illness and the sequelae. COVID-19 has put our medical profession and our subspecialty under considerable stress, and CHEST has launched a new longitudinal Wellness Center led by Dr. Alex Niven, from Mayo Clinic, Rochester. These new resources will feature a wellness webinar series focused on mental health and wellness for clinicians during COVID-19 and beyond. CHEST received overwhelming positive feedback from members and attendees to the Women & Pulmonary Virtual Happy Hour that focused on sharing stories and building community. Many leaders have suggested other such topics and efforts that may be useful to the CHEST community. The CHEST Wellness Center will launch on July 15.

In addition to COVID-19 activities, our nation and the world have compelled a new powerful look at race relations, disparities, and diversity. I represented CHEST at a “White Coats for Black Lives” event in San Antonio. Following our nation’s call for racial equality, CHEST released a Statement of Equity that received overwhelmingly positive feedback and response from members via email and on social media. This statement clearly resonated with the CHEST community. We are asking our leadership and members to consider ways in which CHEST might continue to raise awareness and continue with efforts related to diversity and equity. CHEST also hosted an excellent webinar moderated by Dr. Demondes Haynes and Dr. Nneka Sederstrom in late June that offered a direct and meaningful dialogue on issues facing clinicians and patients of color, and the responsibility of those in leadership positions. CHEST leadership stand firm that racism and inequality are public health issues and are working to define how we further our efforts in this arena.

On June 17, CHEST held a 1-day Virtual CHEST Congress in conjunction with our the CHEST Italian Delegation, as COVID-19 prevented us from safely holding the live Congress in Bologna. We had 3,250 registered attendees. I was so impressed at what a virtual platform can deliver, complete with great educational sessions, including much on COVID-19, as well as capturing the CHEST experience with games, bocce, jeopardy etc! This gave CHEST an opportunity to explore further virtual-based education to reach our wider global audience. CHEST will still be holding an in-person Congress in Bologna, June 24-26, 2021.

CHEST will host three entirely virtual Board Review Courses this August in the areas of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine. These courses will include a combination of pre-recorded lectures and live, interactive sessions. Audience response systems and SEEK questions will still be utilized. There’s still time to register, so don’t miss it! With time being a major commodity at present, all attendees will receive year-long access to all material!

I know you have been wondering about CHEST 2020, and as you have heard by now, CHEST 2020 in Chicago will be a virtual meeting. I am sure that this announcement came as no big surprise, but is certainly disappointing. As you can imagine this was a difficult decision, but one that was necessary based upon our new reality. It was compounded by limitations on the convention center venue under the Illinois reopening plan, and the fact that a large number of our faculty, as well as our attendees, are under a travel ban for the remainder of 2020 that will not allow them to travel to Chicago. The abstract and case report deadline closed June 1, and despite these circumstances, we saw our highest number of submissions to date! Late abstracts were due on July 17. We will be presenting standalone and complementary online offerings to ensure seamless delivery of critical education in formats that cater easily to our newly formed habits.

Thanks to our dedicated Scientific Program Committee Chair, Dr. Victor Test, and staff, we had already begun preparing for virtual CHEST Annual Meeting 2020. Here’s what you can expect:

• A memorable experience

• A highly interactive education program that includes audience Q&A, discussion threads, and audience response systems

• Opportunities for one-on-one discussions, networking, and access to faculty

• Industry-sponsored programs and a virtual exhibit hall

• Access to hundreds of narrated poster presentations, case reports, and research abstracts

• Competitive educational gaming where attendees can participate, win, or watch

• Dedicated COVID-19 update sessions

• CME and MOC credits

If you have already registered for CHEST 2020, you will have the option to transfer your registration to this new model. Our main focus is delivering the virtual program with the highest level of service that you have come to expect from CHEST and respect for our member’s time and current situation. I know Dr. Victor Test and the program committee will deliver a superb educational experience in a virtual meeting setting. Thank you for your support and understanding as we continue to evolve our events to meet the needs of our members while adapting to the best delivery methods.

Since so many fellows were unable to hold their live graduation events, and celebrations, we decided to send them off with a virtual event! On June 30 we held a Joint CHEST/ATS Respiratory Community Graduation Ceremony–for graduating fellows, and to welcome new fellows to our profession. The ceremony consisted of a combination of live and recorded messages from key leaders from both organizations. In addition, there was a keynote address from Dr. Rana Awdish, a critical care physician at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, who authored the bestselling book “In Shock: My Journey from Death to Recovery and the Redemptive Power of Hope.” I encourage you to watch the video on the Early Career Professionals page on our Chestnet.org website.

The National Association for Medical Direction of Respiratory Care (NAMDRC) merger with CHEST was finalized at the end of May. Look for more advocacy-related actions coming from CHEST. The newly formed Health Policy and Advocacy Committee is helping to set CHEST’s advocacy agendas in the legislative and regulatory arenas, engaging with policymakers and educating CHEST members on governmental affairs relevant to CHEST’s mission. Did you see the inaugural CHEST published, on-line issue of Washington Watchline, a newsletter that aims to keep CHEST members informed about governmental activities that affect physicians who provide clinical care in respiratory, critical care, and sleep medicine? Follow Washington Watchline to learn more about CHEST’s advocacy around regulatory, legislative, and payment issues that relate to the delivery of health care in support of CHEST’s mission. One of the features was Telemedicine, which many of us are now using and is likely to be a part of many of our practices going forward.

With new COVID-19 surges throughout many parts of the United States, CHEST has continued our volunteer matching program for areas of need, including to the Navaho Nations, where CHEST matched 20 volunteers and has had more than a half-dozen inquiries from our members. In addition, in conjunction with the Foundation, CHEST has partnered with American Mask Rally and started a campaign to distribute masks to frontline essential workers in underserved communities. CHEST received a generous donation from AstraZeneca and Glaxo Smith Kline to help in the global fight against COVID-19 to provide current and accurate information and education to frontline clinicians to allow them to provide the best patient outcomes. CHEST also partnered with the American Thoracic Society to launch a joint PSA/ media campaign entitled For My Lung Health Campaign, to provide credible resources for underserved Black and Latino communities, as these communities are disproportionally affected by COVID-19. At the time of this writing, over a million people have seen the related video, featuring tips for taking control of one’s health in these difficult and uncertain times.

So, in closing, thank you all for what you do in these challenging times. 2020 will certainly be a year to remember! Stay safe and stay well!

Stephanie




 

Dear Colleagues,

We are now near 6 months into living with COVID-19. In Texas, we are experiencing the surge that much of the Northeast saw in March and April. The COVID-19 Task Force led by Dr. Steve Simpson (CHEST President-Elect) and with representation from the Critical Care, Chest Infections, and Disaster Response and Global Health NetWorks continues to meet regularly to keep our members updated on the latest research and rapidly changing clinical management of COVID-19 illness and the sequelae. COVID-19 has put our medical profession and our subspecialty under considerable stress, and CHEST has launched a new longitudinal Wellness Center led by Dr. Alex Niven, from Mayo Clinic, Rochester. These new resources will feature a wellness webinar series focused on mental health and wellness for clinicians during COVID-19 and beyond. CHEST received overwhelming positive feedback from members and attendees to the Women & Pulmonary Virtual Happy Hour that focused on sharing stories and building community. Many leaders have suggested other such topics and efforts that may be useful to the CHEST community. The CHEST Wellness Center will launch on July 15.

In addition to COVID-19 activities, our nation and the world have compelled a new powerful look at race relations, disparities, and diversity. I represented CHEST at a “White Coats for Black Lives” event in San Antonio. Following our nation’s call for racial equality, CHEST released a Statement of Equity that received overwhelmingly positive feedback and response from members via email and on social media. This statement clearly resonated with the CHEST community. We are asking our leadership and members to consider ways in which CHEST might continue to raise awareness and continue with efforts related to diversity and equity. CHEST also hosted an excellent webinar moderated by Dr. Demondes Haynes and Dr. Nneka Sederstrom in late June that offered a direct and meaningful dialogue on issues facing clinicians and patients of color, and the responsibility of those in leadership positions. CHEST leadership stand firm that racism and inequality are public health issues and are working to define how we further our efforts in this arena.

On June 17, CHEST held a 1-day Virtual CHEST Congress in conjunction with our the CHEST Italian Delegation, as COVID-19 prevented us from safely holding the live Congress in Bologna. We had 3,250 registered attendees. I was so impressed at what a virtual platform can deliver, complete with great educational sessions, including much on COVID-19, as well as capturing the CHEST experience with games, bocce, jeopardy etc! This gave CHEST an opportunity to explore further virtual-based education to reach our wider global audience. CHEST will still be holding an in-person Congress in Bologna, June 24-26, 2021.

CHEST will host three entirely virtual Board Review Courses this August in the areas of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine. These courses will include a combination of pre-recorded lectures and live, interactive sessions. Audience response systems and SEEK questions will still be utilized. There’s still time to register, so don’t miss it! With time being a major commodity at present, all attendees will receive year-long access to all material!

I know you have been wondering about CHEST 2020, and as you have heard by now, CHEST 2020 in Chicago will be a virtual meeting. I am sure that this announcement came as no big surprise, but is certainly disappointing. As you can imagine this was a difficult decision, but one that was necessary based upon our new reality. It was compounded by limitations on the convention center venue under the Illinois reopening plan, and the fact that a large number of our faculty, as well as our attendees, are under a travel ban for the remainder of 2020 that will not allow them to travel to Chicago. The abstract and case report deadline closed June 1, and despite these circumstances, we saw our highest number of submissions to date! Late abstracts were due on July 17. We will be presenting standalone and complementary online offerings to ensure seamless delivery of critical education in formats that cater easily to our newly formed habits.

Thanks to our dedicated Scientific Program Committee Chair, Dr. Victor Test, and staff, we had already begun preparing for virtual CHEST Annual Meeting 2020. Here’s what you can expect:

• A memorable experience

• A highly interactive education program that includes audience Q&A, discussion threads, and audience response systems

• Opportunities for one-on-one discussions, networking, and access to faculty

• Industry-sponsored programs and a virtual exhibit hall

• Access to hundreds of narrated poster presentations, case reports, and research abstracts

• Competitive educational gaming where attendees can participate, win, or watch

• Dedicated COVID-19 update sessions

• CME and MOC credits

If you have already registered for CHEST 2020, you will have the option to transfer your registration to this new model. Our main focus is delivering the virtual program with the highest level of service that you have come to expect from CHEST and respect for our member’s time and current situation. I know Dr. Victor Test and the program committee will deliver a superb educational experience in a virtual meeting setting. Thank you for your support and understanding as we continue to evolve our events to meet the needs of our members while adapting to the best delivery methods.

Since so many fellows were unable to hold their live graduation events, and celebrations, we decided to send them off with a virtual event! On June 30 we held a Joint CHEST/ATS Respiratory Community Graduation Ceremony–for graduating fellows, and to welcome new fellows to our profession. The ceremony consisted of a combination of live and recorded messages from key leaders from both organizations. In addition, there was a keynote address from Dr. Rana Awdish, a critical care physician at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, who authored the bestselling book “In Shock: My Journey from Death to Recovery and the Redemptive Power of Hope.” I encourage you to watch the video on the Early Career Professionals page on our Chestnet.org website.

The National Association for Medical Direction of Respiratory Care (NAMDRC) merger with CHEST was finalized at the end of May. Look for more advocacy-related actions coming from CHEST. The newly formed Health Policy and Advocacy Committee is helping to set CHEST’s advocacy agendas in the legislative and regulatory arenas, engaging with policymakers and educating CHEST members on governmental affairs relevant to CHEST’s mission. Did you see the inaugural CHEST published, on-line issue of Washington Watchline, a newsletter that aims to keep CHEST members informed about governmental activities that affect physicians who provide clinical care in respiratory, critical care, and sleep medicine? Follow Washington Watchline to learn more about CHEST’s advocacy around regulatory, legislative, and payment issues that relate to the delivery of health care in support of CHEST’s mission. One of the features was Telemedicine, which many of us are now using and is likely to be a part of many of our practices going forward.

With new COVID-19 surges throughout many parts of the United States, CHEST has continued our volunteer matching program for areas of need, including to the Navaho Nations, where CHEST matched 20 volunteers and has had more than a half-dozen inquiries from our members. In addition, in conjunction with the Foundation, CHEST has partnered with American Mask Rally and started a campaign to distribute masks to frontline essential workers in underserved communities. CHEST received a generous donation from AstraZeneca and Glaxo Smith Kline to help in the global fight against COVID-19 to provide current and accurate information and education to frontline clinicians to allow them to provide the best patient outcomes. CHEST also partnered with the American Thoracic Society to launch a joint PSA/ media campaign entitled For My Lung Health Campaign, to provide credible resources for underserved Black and Latino communities, as these communities are disproportionally affected by COVID-19. At the time of this writing, over a million people have seen the related video, featuring tips for taking control of one’s health in these difficult and uncertain times.

So, in closing, thank you all for what you do in these challenging times. 2020 will certainly be a year to remember! Stay safe and stay well!

Stephanie




 

Dear Colleagues,

We are now near 6 months into living with COVID-19. In Texas, we are experiencing the surge that much of the Northeast saw in March and April. The COVID-19 Task Force led by Dr. Steve Simpson (CHEST President-Elect) and with representation from the Critical Care, Chest Infections, and Disaster Response and Global Health NetWorks continues to meet regularly to keep our members updated on the latest research and rapidly changing clinical management of COVID-19 illness and the sequelae. COVID-19 has put our medical profession and our subspecialty under considerable stress, and CHEST has launched a new longitudinal Wellness Center led by Dr. Alex Niven, from Mayo Clinic, Rochester. These new resources will feature a wellness webinar series focused on mental health and wellness for clinicians during COVID-19 and beyond. CHEST received overwhelming positive feedback from members and attendees to the Women & Pulmonary Virtual Happy Hour that focused on sharing stories and building community. Many leaders have suggested other such topics and efforts that may be useful to the CHEST community. The CHEST Wellness Center will launch on July 15.

In addition to COVID-19 activities, our nation and the world have compelled a new powerful look at race relations, disparities, and diversity. I represented CHEST at a “White Coats for Black Lives” event in San Antonio. Following our nation’s call for racial equality, CHEST released a Statement of Equity that received overwhelmingly positive feedback and response from members via email and on social media. This statement clearly resonated with the CHEST community. We are asking our leadership and members to consider ways in which CHEST might continue to raise awareness and continue with efforts related to diversity and equity. CHEST also hosted an excellent webinar moderated by Dr. Demondes Haynes and Dr. Nneka Sederstrom in late June that offered a direct and meaningful dialogue on issues facing clinicians and patients of color, and the responsibility of those in leadership positions. CHEST leadership stand firm that racism and inequality are public health issues and are working to define how we further our efforts in this arena.

On June 17, CHEST held a 1-day Virtual CHEST Congress in conjunction with our the CHEST Italian Delegation, as COVID-19 prevented us from safely holding the live Congress in Bologna. We had 3,250 registered attendees. I was so impressed at what a virtual platform can deliver, complete with great educational sessions, including much on COVID-19, as well as capturing the CHEST experience with games, bocce, jeopardy etc! This gave CHEST an opportunity to explore further virtual-based education to reach our wider global audience. CHEST will still be holding an in-person Congress in Bologna, June 24-26, 2021.

CHEST will host three entirely virtual Board Review Courses this August in the areas of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine. These courses will include a combination of pre-recorded lectures and live, interactive sessions. Audience response systems and SEEK questions will still be utilized. There’s still time to register, so don’t miss it! With time being a major commodity at present, all attendees will receive year-long access to all material!

I know you have been wondering about CHEST 2020, and as you have heard by now, CHEST 2020 in Chicago will be a virtual meeting. I am sure that this announcement came as no big surprise, but is certainly disappointing. As you can imagine this was a difficult decision, but one that was necessary based upon our new reality. It was compounded by limitations on the convention center venue under the Illinois reopening plan, and the fact that a large number of our faculty, as well as our attendees, are under a travel ban for the remainder of 2020 that will not allow them to travel to Chicago. The abstract and case report deadline closed June 1, and despite these circumstances, we saw our highest number of submissions to date! Late abstracts were due on July 17. We will be presenting standalone and complementary online offerings to ensure seamless delivery of critical education in formats that cater easily to our newly formed habits.

Thanks to our dedicated Scientific Program Committee Chair, Dr. Victor Test, and staff, we had already begun preparing for virtual CHEST Annual Meeting 2020. Here’s what you can expect:

• A memorable experience

• A highly interactive education program that includes audience Q&A, discussion threads, and audience response systems

• Opportunities for one-on-one discussions, networking, and access to faculty

• Industry-sponsored programs and a virtual exhibit hall

• Access to hundreds of narrated poster presentations, case reports, and research abstracts

• Competitive educational gaming where attendees can participate, win, or watch

• Dedicated COVID-19 update sessions

• CME and MOC credits

If you have already registered for CHEST 2020, you will have the option to transfer your registration to this new model. Our main focus is delivering the virtual program with the highest level of service that you have come to expect from CHEST and respect for our member’s time and current situation. I know Dr. Victor Test and the program committee will deliver a superb educational experience in a virtual meeting setting. Thank you for your support and understanding as we continue to evolve our events to meet the needs of our members while adapting to the best delivery methods.

Since so many fellows were unable to hold their live graduation events, and celebrations, we decided to send them off with a virtual event! On June 30 we held a Joint CHEST/ATS Respiratory Community Graduation Ceremony–for graduating fellows, and to welcome new fellows to our profession. The ceremony consisted of a combination of live and recorded messages from key leaders from both organizations. In addition, there was a keynote address from Dr. Rana Awdish, a critical care physician at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, who authored the bestselling book “In Shock: My Journey from Death to Recovery and the Redemptive Power of Hope.” I encourage you to watch the video on the Early Career Professionals page on our Chestnet.org website.

The National Association for Medical Direction of Respiratory Care (NAMDRC) merger with CHEST was finalized at the end of May. Look for more advocacy-related actions coming from CHEST. The newly formed Health Policy and Advocacy Committee is helping to set CHEST’s advocacy agendas in the legislative and regulatory arenas, engaging with policymakers and educating CHEST members on governmental affairs relevant to CHEST’s mission. Did you see the inaugural CHEST published, on-line issue of Washington Watchline, a newsletter that aims to keep CHEST members informed about governmental activities that affect physicians who provide clinical care in respiratory, critical care, and sleep medicine? Follow Washington Watchline to learn more about CHEST’s advocacy around regulatory, legislative, and payment issues that relate to the delivery of health care in support of CHEST’s mission. One of the features was Telemedicine, which many of us are now using and is likely to be a part of many of our practices going forward.

With new COVID-19 surges throughout many parts of the United States, CHEST has continued our volunteer matching program for areas of need, including to the Navaho Nations, where CHEST matched 20 volunteers and has had more than a half-dozen inquiries from our members. In addition, in conjunction with the Foundation, CHEST has partnered with American Mask Rally and started a campaign to distribute masks to frontline essential workers in underserved communities. CHEST received a generous donation from AstraZeneca and Glaxo Smith Kline to help in the global fight against COVID-19 to provide current and accurate information and education to frontline clinicians to allow them to provide the best patient outcomes. CHEST also partnered with the American Thoracic Society to launch a joint PSA/ media campaign entitled For My Lung Health Campaign, to provide credible resources for underserved Black and Latino communities, as these communities are disproportionally affected by COVID-19. At the time of this writing, over a million people have seen the related video, featuring tips for taking control of one’s health in these difficult and uncertain times.

So, in closing, thank you all for what you do in these challenging times. 2020 will certainly be a year to remember! Stay safe and stay well!

Stephanie




 

As I write, I must admit this message is different than the one I’d envisioned sharing with you weeks ago. I anticipated updating you on meetings and collaborations with sister societies, new educational offerings, and how the Bologna World Congress and Annual Meeting plans were progressing, but activities at CHEST – and our sense of priority – have evolved along with those of our global community.

Pulmonary and critical care providers are now at the forefront of health care. Our patients, and now the greater public, are relying on our efforts and those of our teams. Amid this crisis, there is a renewed appreciation for the work all of you do; and with it, an opportunity for CHEST to lead and help ensure that the profession and our systems emerge stronger.

Back in February, we held the program committee meeting for the Annual Meeting with over 1000 submissions. It is astounding how the program came together over just a few days thanks to the preemptive work done by Chair, Dr. Victor Test, and, Co-Chair, Dr. Christopher Carroll, and all of the curricular groups, program committee members, and staff putting in so much work prior to the face-to-face meeting. Also during February, CHEST leadership held the Forum of International Respiratory Societies’ (FIRS) strategic planning meeting. The main outcome is a plan to engage a lobbyist to represent the worldwide respiratory societies in the WHO in Geneva on universal topics such as air pollution and now, unfortunately, COVID-19. CHEST was represented at the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Congress where we heard late-breaking information as the pandemic was beginning to unfold. We met with the Critical Care Societies Collaborative (CCSC), which is composed of representatives from CHEST, SCCM, the American Thoracic Society (ATS), and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). We had an opportunity to meet with the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) and initiate discussions toward future collaboration.

In early March, as COVID-19 began to interfere with in-person meetings, we participated virtually in the NAMDRC meeting, and finalized our commitment to formally joining forces under the umbrella of CHEST to better serve our members in the area of advocacy. To this end, a new standing CHEST committee was founded, consisting of members from the former NAMRDC Board and members from the CHEST Board of Regents and Board of Trustees and chaired by Dr. Neil Freedman and Dr. Jim Lamberti. We look forward to hosting advocacy sessions during our October meeting, and going forward, our Spring Leadership Meeting will be combined with the former NAMDRC meeting to allow our leaders to participate in advocacy efforts. We will continue to publish the Washington Watchline, bringing important news on efforts to enhance access to care and our ability to deliver it effectively. Our spring leadership meetings, board meetings, and committee meetings in early April were held virtually in light of the pandemic.

Since March, CHEST has been heavily immersed in COVID-19 preparation with new plans for alternate methods of educational delivery, new business models, and curtailment of travel on both our home fronts and on the CHEST front. Zoom and like platforms are now my best friend! Our daily vocabulary now includes an abundance of caution, surge, sheltering in place, quarantine, social distancing, flattening the curve, tele-medicine, and don and doff, and we close e-mails, texts, and phone calls with Stay Safe! I established a COVID task force led by Dr. Steve Simpson (CHEST President-Elect) and with representation from the Critical Care, Chest Infections, and Disaster Response and Global Health NetWorks. They have been meeting weekly with the goals of disseminating and distilling COVID-related materials for the busy practitioner with links to the specific article or statement along with the BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front). I’m sure you were able to see and hear some of the reports by Dr. Mangala Narasimhan and others on the front lines in New York, on the CHEST website, 60 Minutes, and CNN. CHEST held a two-part webinar with our Chinese colleagues who shared their COVID experiences with us. These relationships were in part built from the PCCM Fellowship Training program we conducted with Chinese physicians, led by Dr. Darcy Marciniuk and Dr. Chen Wang under the guidance of Dr. Renli Qiao, and with the help of the late Dr. Mark Rosen, Dr. Jack Buckley, and myself. CHEST has posted a webinar on point of care ultrasound testing in the setting of COVID since many units are now using more POCUS instead of standard imaging for the critically ill. We have also posted some of our board review lectures on demand for those who want to brush up on their critical care skills and knowledge.

CHEST, unfortunately, had to reschedule the Bologna meeting due to the tragic situation in Italy and plans to reconvene the meeting June 24-26 of 2021. As of now, CHEST 2020 in Chicago is a go, but, of course, we will monitor that situation carefully. We have extended the deadline for abstracts and case reports to June 1, 2020, given the ongoing crisis. The team is busy planning for standalone and complementary online offerings to ensure seamless delivery of critical education in formats that cater easily to our newly formed habits.

CHEST staff have been working from home due to the Illinois shelter in place order but continue to work tremendously hard. They are implementing new areas to the website in an effort to improve the user experience by making information easier to find and more timely. In the publishing space, Dr. Peter Mazzone and the journal team have been receiving hundreds of COVID-related publications, which they have been reviewing and expediting for publication where appropriate. There will also be additional podcasts coming from our journal. The guidelines group has been working on shorter expert panel statements in the setting of rapidly changing evidence. And, to keep us all well, there are opportunities to share our personal feelings and experiences with treating those with COVID in video format on the website and across CHEST social media channels. The CHEST and the CHEST Foundation have initiated a new microgrants program and have reached out to over 150 ILD and COPD support groups across the country to offer them the opportunity to apply for a max $2,500 grant. So far, 7seven groups have requested support. These grants go directly to patients and caregivers and provide needed relief through provision of:

1. Groceries

2. Gift cards

3. Medical supplies (including PPE for patients)

4. Technology needed to communicate with their community and HCPs

5. Household supplies, cleaning supplies

In an attempt to assist our colleagues in New York City, a call went out for volunteers at the end of March and has resulted in over 200 volunteers and more than 400 inquiries from our members. Bravo!!! We want to thank our sister societies for joining our efforts during this time to help all of our respective members and, ultimately, those patients stricken with this terrible illness. As I don and doff my COVID gear, I hope you are all safe and well in this time of unprecedented change in our lives. I look forward to my next report in a few months, hopefully on a happier note.

Stay safe!

Stephanie

As I write, I must admit this message is different than the one I’d envisioned sharing with you weeks ago. I anticipated updating you on meetings and collaborations with sister societies, new educational offerings, and how the Bologna World Congress and Annual Meeting plans were progressing, but activities at CHEST – and our sense of priority – have evolved along with those of our global community.

Pulmonary and critical care providers are now at the forefront of health care. Our patients, and now the greater public, are relying on our efforts and those of our teams. Amid this crisis, there is a renewed appreciation for the work all of you do; and with it, an opportunity for CHEST to lead and help ensure that the profession and our systems emerge stronger.

Back in February, we held the program committee meeting for the Annual Meeting with over 1000 submissions. It is astounding how the program came together over just a few days thanks to the preemptive work done by Chair, Dr. Victor Test, and, Co-Chair, Dr. Christopher Carroll, and all of the curricular groups, program committee members, and staff putting in so much work prior to the face-to-face meeting. Also during February, CHEST leadership held the Forum of International Respiratory Societies’ (FIRS) strategic planning meeting. The main outcome is a plan to engage a lobbyist to represent the worldwide respiratory societies in the WHO in Geneva on universal topics such as air pollution and now, unfortunately, COVID-19. CHEST was represented at the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Congress where we heard late-breaking information as the pandemic was beginning to unfold. We met with the Critical Care Societies Collaborative (CCSC), which is composed of representatives from CHEST, SCCM, the American Thoracic Society (ATS), and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). We had an opportunity to meet with the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) and initiate discussions toward future collaboration.

In early March, as COVID-19 began to interfere with in-person meetings, we participated virtually in the NAMDRC meeting, and finalized our commitment to formally joining forces under the umbrella of CHEST to better serve our members in the area of advocacy. To this end, a new standing CHEST committee was founded, consisting of members from the former NAMRDC Board and members from the CHEST Board of Regents and Board of Trustees and chaired by Dr. Neil Freedman and Dr. Jim Lamberti. We look forward to hosting advocacy sessions during our October meeting, and going forward, our Spring Leadership Meeting will be combined with the former NAMDRC meeting to allow our leaders to participate in advocacy efforts. We will continue to publish the Washington Watchline, bringing important news on efforts to enhance access to care and our ability to deliver it effectively. Our spring leadership meetings, board meetings, and committee meetings in early April were held virtually in light of the pandemic.

Since March, CHEST has been heavily immersed in COVID-19 preparation with new plans for alternate methods of educational delivery, new business models, and curtailment of travel on both our home fronts and on the CHEST front. Zoom and like platforms are now my best friend! Our daily vocabulary now includes an abundance of caution, surge, sheltering in place, quarantine, social distancing, flattening the curve, tele-medicine, and don and doff, and we close e-mails, texts, and phone calls with Stay Safe! I established a COVID task force led by Dr. Steve Simpson (CHEST President-Elect) and with representation from the Critical Care, Chest Infections, and Disaster Response and Global Health NetWorks. They have been meeting weekly with the goals of disseminating and distilling COVID-related materials for the busy practitioner with links to the specific article or statement along with the BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front). I’m sure you were able to see and hear some of the reports by Dr. Mangala Narasimhan and others on the front lines in New York, on the CHEST website, 60 Minutes, and CNN. CHEST held a two-part webinar with our Chinese colleagues who shared their COVID experiences with us. These relationships were in part built from the PCCM Fellowship Training program we conducted with Chinese physicians, led by Dr. Darcy Marciniuk and Dr. Chen Wang under the guidance of Dr. Renli Qiao, and with the help of the late Dr. Mark Rosen, Dr. Jack Buckley, and myself. CHEST has posted a webinar on point of care ultrasound testing in the setting of COVID since many units are now using more POCUS instead of standard imaging for the critically ill. We have also posted some of our board review lectures on demand for those who want to brush up on their critical care skills and knowledge.

CHEST, unfortunately, had to reschedule the Bologna meeting due to the tragic situation in Italy and plans to reconvene the meeting June 24-26 of 2021. As of now, CHEST 2020 in Chicago is a go, but, of course, we will monitor that situation carefully. We have extended the deadline for abstracts and case reports to June 1, 2020, given the ongoing crisis. The team is busy planning for standalone and complementary online offerings to ensure seamless delivery of critical education in formats that cater easily to our newly formed habits.

CHEST staff have been working from home due to the Illinois shelter in place order but continue to work tremendously hard. They are implementing new areas to the website in an effort to improve the user experience by making information easier to find and more timely. In the publishing space, Dr. Peter Mazzone and the journal team have been receiving hundreds of COVID-related publications, which they have been reviewing and expediting for publication where appropriate. There will also be additional podcasts coming from our journal. The guidelines group has been working on shorter expert panel statements in the setting of rapidly changing evidence. And, to keep us all well, there are opportunities to share our personal feelings and experiences with treating those with COVID in video format on the website and across CHEST social media channels. The CHEST and the CHEST Foundation have initiated a new microgrants program and have reached out to over 150 ILD and COPD support groups across the country to offer them the opportunity to apply for a max $2,500 grant. So far, 7seven groups have requested support. These grants go directly to patients and caregivers and provide needed relief through provision of:

1. Groceries

2. Gift cards

3. Medical supplies (including PPE for patients)

4. Technology needed to communicate with their community and HCPs

5. Household supplies, cleaning supplies

In an attempt to assist our colleagues in New York City, a call went out for volunteers at the end of March and has resulted in over 200 volunteers and more than 400 inquiries from our members. Bravo!!! We want to thank our sister societies for joining our efforts during this time to help all of our respective members and, ultimately, those patients stricken with this terrible illness. As I don and doff my COVID gear, I hope you are all safe and well in this time of unprecedented change in our lives. I look forward to my next report in a few months, hopefully on a happier note.

Stay safe!

Stephanie

As I write, I must admit this message is different than the one I’d envisioned sharing with you weeks ago. I anticipated updating you on meetings and collaborations with sister societies, new educational offerings, and how the Bologna World Congress and Annual Meeting plans were progressing, but activities at CHEST – and our sense of priority – have evolved along with those of our global community.

Pulmonary and critical care providers are now at the forefront of health care. Our patients, and now the greater public, are relying on our efforts and those of our teams. Amid this crisis, there is a renewed appreciation for the work all of you do; and with it, an opportunity for CHEST to lead and help ensure that the profession and our systems emerge stronger.

Back in February, we held the program committee meeting for the Annual Meeting with over 1000 submissions. It is astounding how the program came together over just a few days thanks to the preemptive work done by Chair, Dr. Victor Test, and, Co-Chair, Dr. Christopher Carroll, and all of the curricular groups, program committee members, and staff putting in so much work prior to the face-to-face meeting. Also during February, CHEST leadership held the Forum of International Respiratory Societies’ (FIRS) strategic planning meeting. The main outcome is a plan to engage a lobbyist to represent the worldwide respiratory societies in the WHO in Geneva on universal topics such as air pollution and now, unfortunately, COVID-19. CHEST was represented at the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Congress where we heard late-breaking information as the pandemic was beginning to unfold. We met with the Critical Care Societies Collaborative (CCSC), which is composed of representatives from CHEST, SCCM, the American Thoracic Society (ATS), and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). We had an opportunity to meet with the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) and initiate discussions toward future collaboration.

In early March, as COVID-19 began to interfere with in-person meetings, we participated virtually in the NAMDRC meeting, and finalized our commitment to formally joining forces under the umbrella of CHEST to better serve our members in the area of advocacy. To this end, a new standing CHEST committee was founded, consisting of members from the former NAMRDC Board and members from the CHEST Board of Regents and Board of Trustees and chaired by Dr. Neil Freedman and Dr. Jim Lamberti. We look forward to hosting advocacy sessions during our October meeting, and going forward, our Spring Leadership Meeting will be combined with the former NAMDRC meeting to allow our leaders to participate in advocacy efforts. We will continue to publish the Washington Watchline, bringing important news on efforts to enhance access to care and our ability to deliver it effectively. Our spring leadership meetings, board meetings, and committee meetings in early April were held virtually in light of the pandemic.

Since March, CHEST has been heavily immersed in COVID-19 preparation with new plans for alternate methods of educational delivery, new business models, and curtailment of travel on both our home fronts and on the CHEST front. Zoom and like platforms are now my best friend! Our daily vocabulary now includes an abundance of caution, surge, sheltering in place, quarantine, social distancing, flattening the curve, tele-medicine, and don and doff, and we close e-mails, texts, and phone calls with Stay Safe! I established a COVID task force led by Dr. Steve Simpson (CHEST President-Elect) and with representation from the Critical Care, Chest Infections, and Disaster Response and Global Health NetWorks. They have been meeting weekly with the goals of disseminating and distilling COVID-related materials for the busy practitioner with links to the specific article or statement along with the BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front). I’m sure you were able to see and hear some of the reports by Dr. Mangala Narasimhan and others on the front lines in New York, on the CHEST website, 60 Minutes, and CNN. CHEST held a two-part webinar with our Chinese colleagues who shared their COVID experiences with us. These relationships were in part built from the PCCM Fellowship Training program we conducted with Chinese physicians, led by Dr. Darcy Marciniuk and Dr. Chen Wang under the guidance of Dr. Renli Qiao, and with the help of the late Dr. Mark Rosen, Dr. Jack Buckley, and myself. CHEST has posted a webinar on point of care ultrasound testing in the setting of COVID since many units are now using more POCUS instead of standard imaging for the critically ill. We have also posted some of our board review lectures on demand for those who want to brush up on their critical care skills and knowledge.

CHEST, unfortunately, had to reschedule the Bologna meeting due to the tragic situation in Italy and plans to reconvene the meeting June 24-26 of 2021. As of now, CHEST 2020 in Chicago is a go, but, of course, we will monitor that situation carefully. We have extended the deadline for abstracts and case reports to June 1, 2020, given the ongoing crisis. The team is busy planning for standalone and complementary online offerings to ensure seamless delivery of critical education in formats that cater easily to our newly formed habits.

CHEST staff have been working from home due to the Illinois shelter in place order but continue to work tremendously hard. They are implementing new areas to the website in an effort to improve the user experience by making information easier to find and more timely. In the publishing space, Dr. Peter Mazzone and the journal team have been receiving hundreds of COVID-related publications, which they have been reviewing and expediting for publication where appropriate. There will also be additional podcasts coming from our journal. The guidelines group has been working on shorter expert panel statements in the setting of rapidly changing evidence. And, to keep us all well, there are opportunities to share our personal feelings and experiences with treating those with COVID in video format on the website and across CHEST social media channels. The CHEST and the CHEST Foundation have initiated a new microgrants program and have reached out to over 150 ILD and COPD support groups across the country to offer them the opportunity to apply for a max $2,500 grant. So far, 7seven groups have requested support. These grants go directly to patients and caregivers and provide needed relief through provision of:

1. Groceries

2. Gift cards

3. Medical supplies (including PPE for patients)

4. Technology needed to communicate with their community and HCPs

5. Household supplies, cleaning supplies

In an attempt to assist our colleagues in New York City, a call went out for volunteers at the end of March and has resulted in over 200 volunteers and more than 400 inquiries from our members. Bravo!!! We want to thank our sister societies for joining our efforts during this time to help all of our respective members and, ultimately, those patients stricken with this terrible illness. As I don and doff my COVID gear, I hope you are all safe and well in this time of unprecedented change in our lives. I look forward to my next report in a few months, hopefully on a happier note.

Stay safe!

Stephanie

On Thursday, March 12, The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) and the National Association for Medical Direction of Respiratory Care (NAMDRC) announced publicly our official intent to come together as one association, integrating all NAMDRC activities and operations into CHEST.

This integration launch followed months of discussion between CHEST and NAMDRC leadership. Our respective Boards agreed that united efforts will amplify our individual involvement in patient advocacy and policy.

CHEST and NAMDRC have an intertwined purpose of delivering the highest standard of care for our patients. For this reason, our likeminded advocacy agendas can be even better fulfilled when we can leverage strengths from both associations.

CHEST and NAMDRC have shared an overlapping membership and collaborative history of empowering patients through the advancement of public policy and clinical education for decades. In additional to our individual efforts, our associations historically leveraged a combined advocacy presence in Washington D.C. to advance legislation against major tobacco corporations.

Coming together as a joint advocacy-focused organization, the initiation of CHEST’s Health Policy and Advocacy Committee, which will be comprised of an equal selection of CHEST and NAMDRC leadership, will drive CHEST’s advocacy agenda. The committee will work directly with policymakers, and target legislative and regulatory issues impacting pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine.

A committee of this kind, dedicated strictly to advocacy efforts, will be absolutely invaluable to our united organization. This group will be a true asset for membership to turn, to voice concerns within our practice, and to direct action on policies that matter to our patients.

Members of both organizations were notified of the integration by email on Wednesday, March 11. Along with email notification, NAMDRC members also received a voting ballot, as the dissolution of a nonprofit organization for Virginia-based organizations requires a vote of approval by membership within a 25-day waiting period.

NAMDRC’s long regarded monthly publication, Washington Watchline, will continue through CHEST, as will the NAMDRC Annual Meeting, slated for next March 18-20, 2021 in Sonoma, California, in conjunction with the CHEST Spring Leadership Meeting.

Concentrating our efforts under one organization allows us offer the best possible opportunities to our membership, patients, and far-reaching network. This is an exciting time for everyone involved, and we are looking forward to seeing all we can accomplish together.

On Thursday, March 12, The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) and the National Association for Medical Direction of Respiratory Care (NAMDRC) announced publicly our official intent to come together as one association, integrating all NAMDRC activities and operations into CHEST.

This integration launch followed months of discussion between CHEST and NAMDRC leadership. Our respective Boards agreed that united efforts will amplify our individual involvement in patient advocacy and policy.

CHEST and NAMDRC have an intertwined purpose of delivering the highest standard of care for our patients. For this reason, our likeminded advocacy agendas can be even better fulfilled when we can leverage strengths from both associations.

CHEST and NAMDRC have shared an overlapping membership and collaborative history of empowering patients through the advancement of public policy and clinical education for decades. In additional to our individual efforts, our associations historically leveraged a combined advocacy presence in Washington D.C. to advance legislation against major tobacco corporations.

Coming together as a joint advocacy-focused organization, the initiation of CHEST’s Health Policy and Advocacy Committee, which will be comprised of an equal selection of CHEST and NAMDRC leadership, will drive CHEST’s advocacy agenda. The committee will work directly with policymakers, and target legislative and regulatory issues impacting pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine.

A committee of this kind, dedicated strictly to advocacy efforts, will be absolutely invaluable to our united organization. This group will be a true asset for membership to turn, to voice concerns within our practice, and to direct action on policies that matter to our patients.

Members of both organizations were notified of the integration by email on Wednesday, March 11. Along with email notification, NAMDRC members also received a voting ballot, as the dissolution of a nonprofit organization for Virginia-based organizations requires a vote of approval by membership within a 25-day waiting period.

NAMDRC’s long regarded monthly publication, Washington Watchline, will continue through CHEST, as will the NAMDRC Annual Meeting, slated for next March 18-20, 2021 in Sonoma, California, in conjunction with the CHEST Spring Leadership Meeting.

Concentrating our efforts under one organization allows us offer the best possible opportunities to our membership, patients, and far-reaching network. This is an exciting time for everyone involved, and we are looking forward to seeing all we can accomplish together.

On Thursday, March 12, The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) and the National Association for Medical Direction of Respiratory Care (NAMDRC) announced publicly our official intent to come together as one association, integrating all NAMDRC activities and operations into CHEST.

This integration launch followed months of discussion between CHEST and NAMDRC leadership. Our respective Boards agreed that united efforts will amplify our individual involvement in patient advocacy and policy.

CHEST and NAMDRC have an intertwined purpose of delivering the highest standard of care for our patients. For this reason, our likeminded advocacy agendas can be even better fulfilled when we can leverage strengths from both associations.

CHEST and NAMDRC have shared an overlapping membership and collaborative history of empowering patients through the advancement of public policy and clinical education for decades. In additional to our individual efforts, our associations historically leveraged a combined advocacy presence in Washington D.C. to advance legislation against major tobacco corporations.

Coming together as a joint advocacy-focused organization, the initiation of CHEST’s Health Policy and Advocacy Committee, which will be comprised of an equal selection of CHEST and NAMDRC leadership, will drive CHEST’s advocacy agenda. The committee will work directly with policymakers, and target legislative and regulatory issues impacting pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine.

A committee of this kind, dedicated strictly to advocacy efforts, will be absolutely invaluable to our united organization. This group will be a true asset for membership to turn, to voice concerns within our practice, and to direct action on policies that matter to our patients.

Members of both organizations were notified of the integration by email on Wednesday, March 11. Along with email notification, NAMDRC members also received a voting ballot, as the dissolution of a nonprofit organization for Virginia-based organizations requires a vote of approval by membership within a 25-day waiting period.

NAMDRC’s long regarded monthly publication, Washington Watchline, will continue through CHEST, as will the NAMDRC Annual Meeting, slated for next March 18-20, 2021 in Sonoma, California, in conjunction with the CHEST Spring Leadership Meeting.

Concentrating our efforts under one organization allows us offer the best possible opportunities to our membership, patients, and far-reaching network. This is an exciting time for everyone involved, and we are looking forward to seeing all we can accomplish together.

After an outstanding annual meeting in New Orleans, with the greatest number of attendees and a number of other firsts, and with the holidays rapidly approaching, you might think there would be a lull in activity, but your CHEST leadership and staff have been busy. Let’s start with a CHEST 2019 recap.

This year’s meeting had a total of 5,960 medical professionals and 8,593 total attendees. All were the highest in CHEST history! In addition, there were more international attendees, and CHEST 2019 saw the largest number of fellows-in-training and the largest number of advanced practice providers attending.

Since CHEST 2019, we have held five live learning sessions at headquarters in Glenview, with a total of 281 attendees, including: Extracorporeal Support for Respiratory and Cardiac Failure in Adults; Critical Care Ultrasound: Integration Into Clinical Practice; Comprehensive Pleural Procedures; Ultrasonography: Essentials in Critical Care; and the Advanced Critical Care Echocardiography Board Review Exam Course. In case you missed those opportunities, in the near future, CHEST will be holding the following 2020 courses: Comprehensive Bronchoscopy With Endobronchial Ultrasound February 20 – 22, Mechanical Ventilation: Advanced Critical Care Management February 27 - 29, Ultrasonography: Essentials in Critical Care March 5 - 7, Bronchoscopy and Chest Tubes in the ICU March 20 - 21, Advanced Clinical Training in Pulmonary Function Testing March 27 - 28, Critical Skills for Critical Care: A State-of-the-Art Update, and Procedures for ICU Providers April 30 - May 2. For additional information, check out the events at chestnet.org.

Internationally, the program for the Italian CHEST Congress, to be held with the Italian CHEST Chapter in Bologna in June (June 25-27), is finished. This meeting will be designed on a smaller scale of that of the annual CHEST meeting, with plenty of educational opportunities in the areas of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, and will also feature faculty from around the world. Come experience all the education, as well as the beauty of Italy in June! CHEST has continued other international activities with leadership attendance and lectures at the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR), where we engaged with multiple societies as CHEST continues to grow our international strategy to educate those who request further education in our fields. CHEST also sent selected young investigators to the APSR meeting.

Plans are well under way to hold another successful annual meeting in Chicago - CHEST 2020. The call for topics has ended, and proposal grading is ongoing. The call for abstracts has gone out and will close March 31. We encourage all, including our learners in training, to submit high quality abstracts and case reports, and we will offer suggestions for those needing editorial assistance. This is one of the many ways to get CHEST-involved. In addition to the innovations and experiences we offered last year, there will be continued social media presence and new exciting offerings at this year’s annual meeting. Save the dates - October 17-21, in our home town of Chicago!

One of my goals for this year is to evaluate ways to increase engagement and leadership opportunities within the organization, with our CHEST NetWorks being one example. The work of the NetWorks task force is ongoing. Expect to see pilots of twitter handles, infographics, and e-bytes coming from some NetWorks in the near future.

The editorial board for the next volume of SEEK Critical Care has been selected, and work is under way for delivery of the next print edition and library update at the summer Board Review Courses in August in Washington DC. Your CHEST Journal Editorial Board has also been busy. The redesigned issue with the new content structure has hit mailboxes, and you can expect to see updated guidelines for “Managing Chronic Cough as a Symptom in Children and Management Algorithms: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report” and “Chronic Cough Due to Stable Chronic Bronchitis: CHEST Expert Panel Report” out soon. Also, look for publications that CHEST has endorsed to include the College of American Pathologists’ supplement “Collection and Handling of Thoracic Small Biopsy and Cytology Specimens for Ancillary Studies” and the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s algorithm and bundle for the “Surviving Sepsis Campaign International Guidelines for the Management of Septic Shock and Sepsis-Associated Organ Dysfunction in Children.” CHEST had representatives to both of these writing groups. In addition, more podcasts will soon be on the horizon.

The CHEST Foundation gala, The Golden Era of EP (Erin Popovich) was held in early December at the AT & T center in San Antonio, with over 500 people in attendance, including many from the San Antonio community, current and former Spurs players and coaches, in addition to our leadership and staff. The Erin Popovich (EP) endowment is dedicated to empowerment and access for patients with interstitial lung disease, as well as research in this area. Over 3 million dollars have been raised to date to directly support this endowment. One of the early products from this endowment is the soon to be available Oxygen Access Toolkit, developed for use by provider offices, clinicians, DME suppliers, patients, and caregivers to answer some of the basic facts about access to oxygen that so many of our patients with ILD and other lung diseases need. Other resources will include the ILD Tree, Get a Second Opinion, You’re Not Alone Patient Journey, Mnemonic for ILD Patients, the Patients’ Bill of Rights, and a co-morbidities one–page information sheet.

After the next quarterly Board Meeting in January, I will update you on decisions regarding future strategy that emerge from that meeting. The agenda will include many of the topics mentioned above, in addition to a strategic discussion regarding CHEST’s increased role in advocacy, which has been requested by many members.

Of course, all these events and activities could not be accomplished without the incredible effort by your CHEST staff and volunteer leadership. I look forward to many updates in my next report. As always, please reach out to me with any comments, questions, or suggestions, and if I am unable to respond, I will address it with the appropriate staff person. Thank you all for being the most important reason that CHEST exists. Have a great 2020!

After an outstanding annual meeting in New Orleans, with the greatest number of attendees and a number of other firsts, and with the holidays rapidly approaching, you might think there would be a lull in activity, but your CHEST leadership and staff have been busy. Let’s start with a CHEST 2019 recap.

This year’s meeting had a total of 5,960 medical professionals and 8,593 total attendees. All were the highest in CHEST history! In addition, there were more international attendees, and CHEST 2019 saw the largest number of fellows-in-training and the largest number of advanced practice providers attending.

Since CHEST 2019, we have held five live learning sessions at headquarters in Glenview, with a total of 281 attendees, including: Extracorporeal Support for Respiratory and Cardiac Failure in Adults; Critical Care Ultrasound: Integration Into Clinical Practice; Comprehensive Pleural Procedures; Ultrasonography: Essentials in Critical Care; and the Advanced Critical Care Echocardiography Board Review Exam Course. In case you missed those opportunities, in the near future, CHEST will be holding the following 2020 courses: Comprehensive Bronchoscopy With Endobronchial Ultrasound February 20 – 22, Mechanical Ventilation: Advanced Critical Care Management February 27 - 29, Ultrasonography: Essentials in Critical Care March 5 - 7, Bronchoscopy and Chest Tubes in the ICU March 20 - 21, Advanced Clinical Training in Pulmonary Function Testing March 27 - 28, Critical Skills for Critical Care: A State-of-the-Art Update, and Procedures for ICU Providers April 30 - May 2. For additional information, check out the events at chestnet.org.

Internationally, the program for the Italian CHEST Congress, to be held with the Italian CHEST Chapter in Bologna in June (June 25-27), is finished. This meeting will be designed on a smaller scale of that of the annual CHEST meeting, with plenty of educational opportunities in the areas of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, and will also feature faculty from around the world. Come experience all the education, as well as the beauty of Italy in June! CHEST has continued other international activities with leadership attendance and lectures at the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR), where we engaged with multiple societies as CHEST continues to grow our international strategy to educate those who request further education in our fields. CHEST also sent selected young investigators to the APSR meeting.

Plans are well under way to hold another successful annual meeting in Chicago - CHEST 2020. The call for topics has ended, and proposal grading is ongoing. The call for abstracts has gone out and will close March 31. We encourage all, including our learners in training, to submit high quality abstracts and case reports, and we will offer suggestions for those needing editorial assistance. This is one of the many ways to get CHEST-involved. In addition to the innovations and experiences we offered last year, there will be continued social media presence and new exciting offerings at this year’s annual meeting. Save the dates - October 17-21, in our home town of Chicago!

One of my goals for this year is to evaluate ways to increase engagement and leadership opportunities within the organization, with our CHEST NetWorks being one example. The work of the NetWorks task force is ongoing. Expect to see pilots of twitter handles, infographics, and e-bytes coming from some NetWorks in the near future.

The editorial board for the next volume of SEEK Critical Care has been selected, and work is under way for delivery of the next print edition and library update at the summer Board Review Courses in August in Washington DC. Your CHEST Journal Editorial Board has also been busy. The redesigned issue with the new content structure has hit mailboxes, and you can expect to see updated guidelines for “Managing Chronic Cough as a Symptom in Children and Management Algorithms: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report” and “Chronic Cough Due to Stable Chronic Bronchitis: CHEST Expert Panel Report” out soon. Also, look for publications that CHEST has endorsed to include the College of American Pathologists’ supplement “Collection and Handling of Thoracic Small Biopsy and Cytology Specimens for Ancillary Studies” and the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s algorithm and bundle for the “Surviving Sepsis Campaign International Guidelines for the Management of Septic Shock and Sepsis-Associated Organ Dysfunction in Children.” CHEST had representatives to both of these writing groups. In addition, more podcasts will soon be on the horizon.

The CHEST Foundation gala, The Golden Era of EP (Erin Popovich) was held in early December at the AT & T center in San Antonio, with over 500 people in attendance, including many from the San Antonio community, current and former Spurs players and coaches, in addition to our leadership and staff. The Erin Popovich (EP) endowment is dedicated to empowerment and access for patients with interstitial lung disease, as well as research in this area. Over 3 million dollars have been raised to date to directly support this endowment. One of the early products from this endowment is the soon to be available Oxygen Access Toolkit, developed for use by provider offices, clinicians, DME suppliers, patients, and caregivers to answer some of the basic facts about access to oxygen that so many of our patients with ILD and other lung diseases need. Other resources will include the ILD Tree, Get a Second Opinion, You’re Not Alone Patient Journey, Mnemonic for ILD Patients, the Patients’ Bill of Rights, and a co-morbidities one–page information sheet.

After the next quarterly Board Meeting in January, I will update you on decisions regarding future strategy that emerge from that meeting. The agenda will include many of the topics mentioned above, in addition to a strategic discussion regarding CHEST’s increased role in advocacy, which has been requested by many members.

Of course, all these events and activities could not be accomplished without the incredible effort by your CHEST staff and volunteer leadership. I look forward to many updates in my next report. As always, please reach out to me with any comments, questions, or suggestions, and if I am unable to respond, I will address it with the appropriate staff person. Thank you all for being the most important reason that CHEST exists. Have a great 2020!

After an outstanding annual meeting in New Orleans, with the greatest number of attendees and a number of other firsts, and with the holidays rapidly approaching, you might think there would be a lull in activity, but your CHEST leadership and staff have been busy. Let’s start with a CHEST 2019 recap.

This year’s meeting had a total of 5,960 medical professionals and 8,593 total attendees. All were the highest in CHEST history! In addition, there were more international attendees, and CHEST 2019 saw the largest number of fellows-in-training and the largest number of advanced practice providers attending.

Since CHEST 2019, we have held five live learning sessions at headquarters in Glenview, with a total of 281 attendees, including: Extracorporeal Support for Respiratory and Cardiac Failure in Adults; Critical Care Ultrasound: Integration Into Clinical Practice; Comprehensive Pleural Procedures; Ultrasonography: Essentials in Critical Care; and the Advanced Critical Care Echocardiography Board Review Exam Course. In case you missed those opportunities, in the near future, CHEST will be holding the following 2020 courses: Comprehensive Bronchoscopy With Endobronchial Ultrasound February 20 – 22, Mechanical Ventilation: Advanced Critical Care Management February 27 - 29, Ultrasonography: Essentials in Critical Care March 5 - 7, Bronchoscopy and Chest Tubes in the ICU March 20 - 21, Advanced Clinical Training in Pulmonary Function Testing March 27 - 28, Critical Skills for Critical Care: A State-of-the-Art Update, and Procedures for ICU Providers April 30 - May 2. For additional information, check out the events at chestnet.org.

Internationally, the program for the Italian CHEST Congress, to be held with the Italian CHEST Chapter in Bologna in June (June 25-27), is finished. This meeting will be designed on a smaller scale of that of the annual CHEST meeting, with plenty of educational opportunities in the areas of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, and will also feature faculty from around the world. Come experience all the education, as well as the beauty of Italy in June! CHEST has continued other international activities with leadership attendance and lectures at the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR), where we engaged with multiple societies as CHEST continues to grow our international strategy to educate those who request further education in our fields. CHEST also sent selected young investigators to the APSR meeting.

Plans are well under way to hold another successful annual meeting in Chicago - CHEST 2020. The call for topics has ended, and proposal grading is ongoing. The call for abstracts has gone out and will close March 31. We encourage all, including our learners in training, to submit high quality abstracts and case reports, and we will offer suggestions for those needing editorial assistance. This is one of the many ways to get CHEST-involved. In addition to the innovations and experiences we offered last year, there will be continued social media presence and new exciting offerings at this year’s annual meeting. Save the dates - October 17-21, in our home town of Chicago!

One of my goals for this year is to evaluate ways to increase engagement and leadership opportunities within the organization, with our CHEST NetWorks being one example. The work of the NetWorks task force is ongoing. Expect to see pilots of twitter handles, infographics, and e-bytes coming from some NetWorks in the near future.

The editorial board for the next volume of SEEK Critical Care has been selected, and work is under way for delivery of the next print edition and library update at the summer Board Review Courses in August in Washington DC. Your CHEST Journal Editorial Board has also been busy. The redesigned issue with the new content structure has hit mailboxes, and you can expect to see updated guidelines for “Managing Chronic Cough as a Symptom in Children and Management Algorithms: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report” and “Chronic Cough Due to Stable Chronic Bronchitis: CHEST Expert Panel Report” out soon. Also, look for publications that CHEST has endorsed to include the College of American Pathologists’ supplement “Collection and Handling of Thoracic Small Biopsy and Cytology Specimens for Ancillary Studies” and the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s algorithm and bundle for the “Surviving Sepsis Campaign International Guidelines for the Management of Septic Shock and Sepsis-Associated Organ Dysfunction in Children.” CHEST had representatives to both of these writing groups. In addition, more podcasts will soon be on the horizon.

The CHEST Foundation gala, The Golden Era of EP (Erin Popovich) was held in early December at the AT & T center in San Antonio, with over 500 people in attendance, including many from the San Antonio community, current and former Spurs players and coaches, in addition to our leadership and staff. The Erin Popovich (EP) endowment is dedicated to empowerment and access for patients with interstitial lung disease, as well as research in this area. Over 3 million dollars have been raised to date to directly support this endowment. One of the early products from this endowment is the soon to be available Oxygen Access Toolkit, developed for use by provider offices, clinicians, DME suppliers, patients, and caregivers to answer some of the basic facts about access to oxygen that so many of our patients with ILD and other lung diseases need. Other resources will include the ILD Tree, Get a Second Opinion, You’re Not Alone Patient Journey, Mnemonic for ILD Patients, the Patients’ Bill of Rights, and a co-morbidities one–page information sheet.

After the next quarterly Board Meeting in January, I will update you on decisions regarding future strategy that emerge from that meeting. The agenda will include many of the topics mentioned above, in addition to a strategic discussion regarding CHEST’s increased role in advocacy, which has been requested by many members.

Of course, all these events and activities could not be accomplished without the incredible effort by your CHEST staff and volunteer leadership. I look forward to many updates in my next report. As always, please reach out to me with any comments, questions, or suggestions, and if I am unable to respond, I will address it with the appropriate staff person. Thank you all for being the most important reason that CHEST exists. Have a great 2020!