b'2023 ISSUE ONEMessage from the PresidentJason W. Smith, MD, PhD, MBA, FACSTransparency and Integritynews Into whatever homes I go, I will enter A SD RV E them for the benefit of the sick, avoiding A EN R any voluntary act of impropriety or ACCIN corruptionG S NG E A S T E R N A S S O C IAT I O N DIC F O R T H E S U R G E RY IE O F T R AU M A IL First, let me lead off with a warm welcome to all the N UC EB new members and a heartfelt thank you to all whoS FO IP attended the 36th EAST Annual Scientific Assembly STERINGNSHTIO in Lake Buena Vista, Florida in January. I heard numerous comments across RELAthe meeting that the meeting felt normal and was a great experience.After all the turmoil over the last few years, felt normal is high praise and we are In This Issue glad to be back there. As this is my first message as President of EAST, I had planned for myPresidents Message entire message to be aimed at thanking the membership and discussing Annual Scientificwhat EAST meant to me both personally and professionally.The members Assembly Recap of this organization have become some of my best friends and confidantesMulticenter Trials across my career and I would be remiss if I didnt express my gratitude and appreciation for all of you. Scholarships I knew the topic of my inaugural message needed to change, however, after some recent events which occurred at another scientific meeting. These events centered around a question of integrity and transparency in scientific Strategic Goals meetings, specifically regarding industry-physician partnerships, conflict of LEADERSHIP interest disclosures, and the corporate support of academic meetings.Prepare early and Corporate funded research is a vitally important avenue for the advancementmid-career surgeonsof science. Companies depend upon physician feedback and our to become leaders partnership to deliver the best and safest products. Product evaluation in DEVELOPMENTlarge multicenter studies is often required to demonstrate both the safety Promote unique and the benefits of a new drug or medical device. While companies have programs for the careera vested interest in the outcome of these studies, it is paramount that the development of earlyresearchers remain impartial to look out for the best interests of the patientsand mid-careerthey have dedicated their lives to serving. Our patients rely and trust on this surgical leaders impartiality. SCHOLARSHIP The relationship between physicians and industry must never trump the relationship between physicians and our patients. As such, this relationship Provide education and training across therequires the highest degree of transparency. Transparency requires full continuum of acute disclosure of physicians relationships and financial interactions with our surgical care industry partners in the conducting of related research. This disclosure FELLOWSHIP is critical in the interpretation of the results and when acknowledged, is Encourage a sense ofnot an indicting factor in the research performed or its findings. However, the opposite of that statement is also true. When our relationships are not community for personal professional growth disclosed, it shades and tarnishes whatever results are produced. Without COLLABORATION full and complete disclosures, the results of proper scientific research are undermined and questioned and thus ignored and marginalized.Work with our stakeholders to advanceI also want to acknowledge the fact that partnerships with industry are patient care and trauma systems'