b'2022 ISSUE ONEMessage from the PresidentDeborah M. Stein, MD, MPH, FACS, FCCMGrateful and proudWhen people ask me how it feels to be President of EAST, those news are the first words that come to mind.A SD RV EA EN R Gratefulto be a part of an organization that is ACC so welcoming and warm. Grateful to be among ING S N this group of individuals who are so dedicated G 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 and generous of spirit. As many of you are aware, N U I wasnt able to attend the Annual Scientific C EB SAssembly this year. I had recently started a FO IPSTERINGNSH new position and COVID was hitting really hard, and I realized that I just TIORELAcouldnt leave Baltimore and go to Austin despite how much I wanted to go and how much I felt, as the President-Elect, I should go. I was really worried about how the rest of the organizations leadership would react In This Issue when I told them I couldnt go. The response could not have been more Annual Scientific gracious or understanding. I am also so grateful to everyone who stepped Assembly Recap up and volunteered without even being asked to make the Annual Scientific Award Recipients Assembly such an amazing success. I will not call out any names for fear of leaving someone out, but I am so grateful for you all who assured our New Member List members and guests were safe and that the science was presented.Membership Renewal Proudto be part of an organization that is committed to best serving ourmembers and providing opportunities to all. One recent example are the recent changes to the Bylaws that were approved by the membership. EAST Strategic Goals is an organization that was founded to support the development of the LEADERSHIP young trauma surgeon. The intent of the organization was to support those early in their careers and to provide opportunities that didnt exist in other contemporary organizations. Now, the straight through training paradigm Prepare early career and mid-career surgeonsis less common and often our members are choosing alternate paths prior in to become leaders their journey to join our profession. I am so proud that we chose to make the DEVELOPMENTcourageous step to modify the language to clarify the intent and better serve Promote unique all of the membership.programs for the careerIf the past 2 years have taught us anything, it is that life is too short to development of earlycareer and mid-career spend time and energy on things which do not bring us happiness. While surgical leaders being interviewed for the Presidential Traumacast, Lauren Dudas asked SCHOLARSHIP me what my goals were for the upcoming year. I realized that what I wanted Provide education andmost for EAST and its members is for everyone to be engaged in activities that bring them joy. It may sound trite, but it is true. To that end, I have asked training across theeach of our committee chairs to engage with their committee members and continuum of acutesurgical care strategize about what activities they, as the subject matter experts, wish FELLOWSHIP to engage in to assure that they are doing things that they feel are valuable and bring them enjoyment. Additionally, to assure value in our activities, I ncourage a sense of have asked them all to go back to their mission statement and think about Ecommunity for personal professional growthCOLLABORATION Work with our stakeholders to advance patient care and trauma systems(continues on page 2)'