CHSS President's Message: David M. Overman, MD

David Overman
David M. Overman, MD
CHSS President

Hello to all my fellow CHSS members,

This is a long overdue bulletin to you about societal news, plans, and directions. I can't believe 2024 is halfway over! A gray, chilly and bare-treed spring has rapidly given way to a leafy, warm, and thunderstorm-marked early summer here in Minneapolis. Hopefully, you can make some time for restoration, family and friends, and lots of Vitamin D in the weeks ahead. Summer is preciously short here in the north. But wherever you are, let’s try to make the most of it!

I will keep this communique economical and focused on CHSS affairs so as to keep you abreast of current and future initiatives. As always, I welcome your questions, comments, and advice regarding any of the topics below as well as any others you might have.

  1. Recommendations for Centers Performing Pediatric Heart Surgery in the U.S., the CHSS-led initiative, has garnered much attention at national meetings, in the press, and across multiple disciplines in the congenital heart disease sphere. The document is a major accomplishment for our field and for the CHSS. We should take great pride in proactively establishing the leading role in the national conversation about how best to deliver care for children with congenital heart disease. It represents an important milestone in fulfilling our mission to “be the most trusted source of leadership in the practice and science of congenital heart disease.” Credit again to Drs. Carl Backer and Sara Pasquali for their outstanding leadership.

  2. The CHSS Quality and Outcomes Committee exploration of attributes of smaller volume programs (annual volumes of 75 - 200 index cases) associated with better-than-expected outcomes is making excellent progress. Surveys and interviews of these programs is the next step in the project. If you are the lead surgeon at such a program, you will receive a letter from the Committee inviting you to participate. Please make every effort to support this very important quality project. We hope to gain important insights into keys to quality in the lower volume setting, something that very clearly is being achieved by more than a few programs. Thanks to Dr. Chris Caldarone an d the many active members of the Committee for this important work.

  3. The STS-CHSS quality collaboration on long-term outcomes after benchmark operations is also making progress toward realization. A Memorandum of Understanding between the two societies is in the final draft stage and will be signed in short order. Thanks to STS President and CHSS Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Jenna Romano for successfully navigating the path to completion of this historic collaborative project.

  4. At the end of this month, the Executive Council and all Past-Presidents will gather in Chicago for a Strategic Retreat. The last retreat was five years ago, and a cadence of every five years to gauge progress on stated goals and establish new ones is a healthy and responsible organizational behavior. A major focus of the retreat will be on the financial attributes of the CHSS: a thorough analysis of our current state and capabilities, what we need to fulfill our societal goals, and strategies to get financially sound. Stay tuned for more after the retreat!

  5. The CHSS CRQ achieved an important milestone in path toward realizing the two campus reality of the CRQ recently. An approach to data access across campuses was agreed upon and established, and an MOU signed by CCF, HSC, and CHSS. This paves the way for investigators on both campuses, as well as both KA fellows, to work together across campuses on projects - a major step forward! The CRQ held a highly successful Work Weekend in Toronto the day prior to the AATS Annual Meeting. Discussion included, among other things, new cohorts for Ebstein Anomaly and CCTGA led by Drs Joe Dearani and David Kalfa, respectively, and a new analysis of existing PA/IVS data proposed Dr. Yves d’Udekem. Much work remains to be done to roll these out, but they are very promising and exciting ideas. The CHSS CRQ is full of talent and energy, and the crown jewel of our Society. I again encourage every member to make it a point to go to a Work Weekend to participate in a most stimulating experience.

  6. Finally, the 1st World Summit for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery kicks off June 5-8 in Bologna, Italy. The first joint meeting of ECHSA, the CHSS, and the World Society for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery, it promises to be a wonderful and broadening convocation. I hope to see many of you there, bringing a strong CHSS presence to our colleagues from around the world.

Once again, I welcome any questions, comments, or advice you may have on any of these topics. The CHSS is YOU! Your opinions, insights, and voices are critical to creating a society wherein everyone feels represented.

Thank you for all you do for our discipline, and for the patients and families we all serve.

Arrivederci!!

DO

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