b'2 EAST news | 2021 Issue 1EAST Mission StatementMessage from the President (continued from page 1)EAST is a scientificNominating Committee Members-at-Large organization providing lead-ership and development for Shannon M. Foster,DAndrea Joseph, young surgeons active in the MD, FACS MD, FACS care of the injured patient 1 year term (2021-2022)1 year term (2021-2022)through interdisciplinary collaboration, scholarship, and fellowship.I also had the daunting but important task of assigning EAST members to committees and ad hoc task forces and appointing leadership of many positions. I would like to congratulate the new committee chairs below: EAST Development Committee Division of Research Vision StatementJeffry Nahmias, John Cull, MD, MHPE, FACS MD, FACSEAST seeks to improveMulticenter Trialscare of the injured by provid-Committee ing a forum for the exchange of knowledge in the prac-Division of Member Services tice of trauma surgery; to Bellal Joseph, MD, FACS Esther Tseng, MD, FACS promote trauma prevention, Co-Chair Co-Chair research, and improvedEquity, Quality andEquity, Quality andtrauma systems design;Inclusion in TraumaInclusion in Trauma Surgery PracticeSurgery Practiceto encourage investigationCommittee Committee and teaching of the methods of preventing and treating Division of Professional Development trauma; and to stimulateSalina Wydo,Molly Flannagan,future generations of sur-MD, FACSMD, FACSgeons to meet the challenge.Career DevelopmentMentoring CommitteeCommitteeDivision of Patient Care and ResourcesGeorge Kasotakis, Lisa Kodadek, Kyle Cunningham,MD, MPH, FACSMD, FACSMD, FACSChair Vice-Chair Quality, Safety, and Guidelines Committee Guidelines Committee Outcomes CommitteeI would like to welcome our 343 new members to the organization. We look forward to getting to know you and encourage you to get involved. As I look over the upcoming leadership and new members, I know that the organization is continuing in amazing directions and is getting better every year. Our organization is approaching 3,000 members and it such an honor to serve as President of EAST.As we move forward this year I would like to focus on a couple of things throughout the year. 1. Think what you can do to make our communities and patient outcomes better every day. 2. When things get rough and you are struggling, take a deep breath and always try to be your BEST SELF. In closing, I would like to leave you with a quote from one of my favorite authors, Bill Watterson. Were so busy watching out for whats just ahead of us that we dont take time to enjoy where we are.Calvin & HobbesJeffrey A. Claridge, MD, MS, FACS EAST President'