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Where are they now? What have they been up to? CHEST’s Past Presidents each forged the way for the many successes of the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), leading to enhanced patient care around the globe. Their outstanding leadership and vision are evidenced today in many of CHEST’s current initiatives, and now it is time to check in with these past leaders to give us a look at what’s new.
Alex G. Little, MD, FCCP
President 1990-1991
Being President of the American College of Chest Physicians was a remarkable and exhilarating experience beginning with my inauguration in San Francisco in 1990. Although I had been active with the College for several years, the responsibility of the presidency entailed a much closer relationship with the organization, the excellent staff, the physician leaders, the greater membership, and notably, Dr. Al Soffer. As the Executive Director, Al was my go to advisor and guide for questions and advice. He and his wife Izzy became good personal friends and that relationship is one of the major benefits of my presidency (although it never resulted in him showing any mercy on the tennis courts).
For me, as a surgeon, one of the appealing aspects of the College, and, in particular, its annual meeting, was its interdisciplinary nature with pulmonologists, surgeons, and cardiologists interacting in a way that more narrowly focused specialty societies rarely provide. Learning alternative perspectives and hearing from other disciplines is always interesting and occasionally critically important for progress toward maximal patient care.
During my tenure, there were several noteworthy events. The College continued to exhibit robust growth in membership, strengthening its role in supporting chest physicians. We opened the new (amazingly, now the old) headquarters building in Northbrook, signaling a commitment to remain state of the art and joined the challenge of providing continuing medical education for our members.
I retired from clinical practice and as Chair of Surgery at Wright State in 2010 when my wife Louise and I settled in Tucson. I am involved with teaching and mentoring general and cardiothoracic residents at the University of Arizona and also keep active with ongoing clinical research projects. With my leisure time, I play tennis, read books I should have gotten to in earlier years, look for a publisher for a book I have written on the evolution of thoracic surgery (for the general reader), and admire my wife’s expertise in making glass beads and jewelry.
Where are they now? What have they been up to? CHEST’s Past Presidents each forged the way for the many successes of the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), leading to enhanced patient care around the globe. Their outstanding leadership and vision are evidenced today in many of CHEST’s current initiatives, and now it is time to check in with these past leaders to give us a look at what’s new.
Alex G. Little, MD, FCCP
President 1990-1991
Being President of the American College of Chest Physicians was a remarkable and exhilarating experience beginning with my inauguration in San Francisco in 1990. Although I had been active with the College for several years, the responsibility of the presidency entailed a much closer relationship with the organization, the excellent staff, the physician leaders, the greater membership, and notably, Dr. Al Soffer. As the Executive Director, Al was my go to advisor and guide for questions and advice. He and his wife Izzy became good personal friends and that relationship is one of the major benefits of my presidency (although it never resulted in him showing any mercy on the tennis courts).
For me, as a surgeon, one of the appealing aspects of the College, and, in particular, its annual meeting, was its interdisciplinary nature with pulmonologists, surgeons, and cardiologists interacting in a way that more narrowly focused specialty societies rarely provide. Learning alternative perspectives and hearing from other disciplines is always interesting and occasionally critically important for progress toward maximal patient care.
During my tenure, there were several noteworthy events. The College continued to exhibit robust growth in membership, strengthening its role in supporting chest physicians. We opened the new (amazingly, now the old) headquarters building in Northbrook, signaling a commitment to remain state of the art and joined the challenge of providing continuing medical education for our members.
I retired from clinical practice and as Chair of Surgery at Wright State in 2010 when my wife Louise and I settled in Tucson. I am involved with teaching and mentoring general and cardiothoracic residents at the University of Arizona and also keep active with ongoing clinical research projects. With my leisure time, I play tennis, read books I should have gotten to in earlier years, look for a publisher for a book I have written on the evolution of thoracic surgery (for the general reader), and admire my wife’s expertise in making glass beads and jewelry.
Where are they now? What have they been up to? CHEST’s Past Presidents each forged the way for the many successes of the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), leading to enhanced patient care around the globe. Their outstanding leadership and vision are evidenced today in many of CHEST’s current initiatives, and now it is time to check in with these past leaders to give us a look at what’s new.
Alex G. Little, MD, FCCP
President 1990-1991
Being President of the American College of Chest Physicians was a remarkable and exhilarating experience beginning with my inauguration in San Francisco in 1990. Although I had been active with the College for several years, the responsibility of the presidency entailed a much closer relationship with the organization, the excellent staff, the physician leaders, the greater membership, and notably, Dr. Al Soffer. As the Executive Director, Al was my go to advisor and guide for questions and advice. He and his wife Izzy became good personal friends and that relationship is one of the major benefits of my presidency (although it never resulted in him showing any mercy on the tennis courts).
For me, as a surgeon, one of the appealing aspects of the College, and, in particular, its annual meeting, was its interdisciplinary nature with pulmonologists, surgeons, and cardiologists interacting in a way that more narrowly focused specialty societies rarely provide. Learning alternative perspectives and hearing from other disciplines is always interesting and occasionally critically important for progress toward maximal patient care.
During my tenure, there were several noteworthy events. The College continued to exhibit robust growth in membership, strengthening its role in supporting chest physicians. We opened the new (amazingly, now the old) headquarters building in Northbrook, signaling a commitment to remain state of the art and joined the challenge of providing continuing medical education for our members.
I retired from clinical practice and as Chair of Surgery at Wright State in 2010 when my wife Louise and I settled in Tucson. I am involved with teaching and mentoring general and cardiothoracic residents at the University of Arizona and also keep active with ongoing clinical research projects. With my leisure time, I play tennis, read books I should have gotten to in earlier years, look for a publisher for a book I have written on the evolution of thoracic surgery (for the general reader), and admire my wife’s expertise in making glass beads and jewelry.
