Message from the President 2019 ISSUE TWO Elliott R. Haut, MD, PhD, FACS In This Issue Strategic Goals E A S T E R N A S S O C I A T I O N F O R T H E S U R G E R Y O F T R A U M A news LEADERSHIP  Prepare young surgeons to become leaders DEVELOPMENT Promote unique programs for the career development of young surgical leaders SCHOLARSHIP  Provide education and training across the con- tinuum of acute surgical care FELLOWSHIP  Encourage a sense of community for personal professional growth COLLABORATION  Work with our stakehold- ers to advance patient care and trauma systems • Upcoming deadlines •  Pay It Forward Recap • Mentoring Program • Milestone Donors A D V A N C I N G S C I E N C E • FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS • B U I L D I N G C A R E E R S Get Involved One of the most common questions I am asked as the President of EAST is “How did you get where you are in the organization?” This comes in a few flavors the most common of which is from a resident, fellow, or junior faculty member who wants to get involved but has no idea how to start. Over the years I have developed a somewhat standardized response. I usually start with a question: “So, which committee are you on?” to which the most common reply is “none.” I then start on my spiel that the way to get involved is to actively volunteer. Step one is to volunteer. Every member of an EAST committee or ad hoc task force answered the yearly call for volunteers (which comes out over the summer). EAST doesn’t magically know you want to be involved; you need to tell us. The President-Elect, with Board approval, has the responsibility of appointing all who answer the call for volunteers to the myriad of EAST committees and ad hoc task forces whose common goal is to advance the exempt purpose of EAST. In 2018, more than 150 EAST members (including everyone who responded to the call) joined an official committee or ad hoc task force role in our organization. Step two is to do a great job— make the conference calls, reply to the emails, chime in, make your voice heard. When an idea comes up, offer to help. Pitch your own idea to the chair and run with it. Bottom line, don’t just get your name on a list; be an active participant volunteer. There are many other ways to get involved with the EAST. Practice Management Guideline (PMG) leaders are often looking for members to help. You do not need to be a member of the Guidelines Committee to co-author a PMG. We have had residents, fellows, and junior faculty be part of PMG Work Groups. The EAST Multicenter Trials Committee has well over a dozen ongoing studies. Check out the website and be part of one that appeals to you. Take the necessary steps to prospectively enroll your patients or collect their data retrospectively. Senior EAST members ask me how to remain active and give back. They hear a set of parallel answers. I remind them that all EAST members can complete the Call for Volunteers application and join a committee or ad hoc task force. I suggest that they participate in EAST’s Mentoring Program, coordinated by the EAST Mentoring Committee chaired by Dr. Jamie (continues on page 2)