b'2 EAST news | 2019 Issue 4EAST Mission StatementMessage from the President (continued from page 1)EAST is a scientificlarge-scale community event aligned with our Annual Scientific Assembly.organization providing lead-The Injury Control and Violence Prevention Committee has proposed to doership and development for more frequent, local interventions year-round. Unfortunately, costs remainyoung surgeons active in the prohibitive and we simply dont have the resources for this novel idea to getcare of the injured patient off the ground.through interdisciplinary collaboration, scholarship, Maybe your personal drive is to improve trauma research? Consideringand fellowship.the current inappropriately low budget for trauma research funding, not commensurate with the burden of the disease, private philanthropy is one of the best alternate options, at least until the government changes its approach. We have a single, yearly research scholarship that theEAST EAST Board of Directors would love to fund at a higher level or add aVision Statementsecond scholarship. But, the only way for that to happen is with additional donations. Due to the current limitations of governmental spending onEAST seeks to improvefirearm injury research, EAST is are partnering with the Coalition forcare of the injured by provid-National Trauma Research and AFFIRM to fund the new American Collegeing a forum for the exchange of Surgeons Committee on Trauma Firearm Injury Prevention Clinicalof knowledge in the prac-Scholar in Residence Program to improve research on gun violence andtice of trauma surgery; to gun safety.promote trauma prevention, EAST has a recognition program for our milestone donors. We celebrate andresearch, and improvedappreciate these donors who have given so much to enhance our missiontrauma systems design;and vision. See the full list on the EAST Website. I challenge you to checkto encourage investigationyour own personal donation history on your EAST membership profileand teaching of the methods page and see how close you are to the next level. I used the opportunity ofof preventing and treating #GivingTuesday to level up. I put my money where my mouth is because Itrauma; and to stimulatetruly believe in the mission of EAST.future generations of sur-geons to meet the challenge.Thank you all for your generous donations to EAST. The Board will continue to use these funds wisely for a wide range of important projects and endeavors. Please contact me any time via email (ehaut1@jhmi.edu) or Twitter(@elliotthaut) about EAST-related matters. Happy HolidaysThank you to our members, leaders, and volunteers for a successful 2019. Not only are we closing out on Elliott R. Haut, MD, PhD, FACSa wonderful year here at EAST, but EAST President embarking on a new decade. Your commitment to EAST in all ways- attending meetings, volunteering your time, participating in our vibrant online discussions all make this organization continue to thrive. We wish you a joyous holiday season and a very happy New Year.Our EAST office will be closed in observance of the holidays on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day.'