We are in the final cycle of our 2007 to 2010 strategic roadmap. We anticipate continuing with many of the great benefits and offerings of current Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) programs and services in our next plan. The following overview provides an update on related activities in our key strategic areas of Membership, Health Policy/Advocacy and Knowledge Translation.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Call for CCS award nominations for 2010!
The CCS recognizes Canadian excellence in cardiovascular research, teaching, exemplary care, prevention of cardiovascular diseases and overall career contribution in eight award categories. We invite you to nominate a colleague or an organization for one of these prestigious awards. Nominations may be submitted between March 1 and May 3, 2010.
Visit www.ccs.ca for award criteria and nomination submission information.
Congratulations to the 2009 CCS award recipients!
The 2009 CCS Awards ceremony was held in Edmonton, Alberta, during the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress (CCC). It was a stellar evening held in honour of some remarkable individuals who, in their day-to-day work, are making an impact in cardiovascular education, science and patient outcomes.
Learn more about these outstanding individuals and their achievements at www.ccs.ca.
Annual Achievement Award: Dr Neil McKenzie
Research Achievement Award: Dr Duncan Stewart
Distinguished Teacher Award: Dr Israel Belenkie
Dr Harold N Segall Award of Merit: Mr John Stanton & The Running Room
Young Investigator Award, Basic Science:
Recipient: Dr Gavin Oudit
Runner-up: Dr Darryl Davis
Young Investigator Award, Clinical Science:
Recipient: Dr Douglas Lee
Runner-up: Dr Lisa Mielniczuk
Trainee Excellence in Education Award: Dr Joel Price
Student Presentation Award, Basic Science:
Recipient: Ali Nsair
First runner-up: Christian Rueda-Clausen
Second runner-up: Danny Guo
Student Presentation Award, Clinical Science:
Recipient: Marie-Annick Clavel
First runner-up: Robert Doonan
Second runner-up: Isabelle Nault
Dr Robert E Beamish Award: Dr John Mancini
2010 CCS Academy/CCS Trainee Review Program registration and information
Program information and registration are available online at www.ccs.ca.
Cardiac Surgery Trainee Review Program
April 9 and 10, 2010, in Montreal, Quebec (Program Chair: Yoan Lamarche).
Pediatric Cardiology Trainee Review Program
May 7 to 9, 2010, in Toronto, Ontario (Program Chair: Kenny Wong).
Adult Cardiology Trainee Review Program
May 14 to 16, 2010, in Toronto (Program Chair: Simon Jackson).
The Trainee Review Programs (TRPs) provide trainees with realistic exposure to the examination process and an opportunity to receive direct feedback from faculty. TRPs put the knowledge and examination writing skills of participants to the test, and provide them with an overview of all aspects of the examination. An additional benefit of this annual program is the opportunity to meet and network with cardiovascular program faculty and fellow trainees from across Canada.
TRP faculty members are dedicated educators who volunteer their time and expertise to our future cardiovascular specialists. We are extremely grateful to them for providing content and leadership in developing and executing these programs.
The TRPs are supported by the CCS Academy.
HEALTH POLICY/ADVOCACY UPDATE
CCS involvement in the implementation of Canadian Heart Health Strategy recommendations
With approved funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Data Definitions Steering Committee – led by Dr Chris Buller and comprising representation from the five major cardiovascular registries, along with expert input from Dr Ross Davies – has begun to define the work plan for achieving national consensus on pan-Canadian data definitions for cardiovascular patient registries.
As well, an environmental scan on quality indicators has been initiated by the Quality Indicators Steering Committee under the guidance of Dr Dave Johnstone and with the input of several key stakeholders including the Canadian Cardiovascular Outcomes Research Team (CCORT) and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Safer Healthcare Now!, and others. The initial groundwork for these important priorities will continue to the end of March 2010, with the submission of final reports and recommendations to the Public Health Agency of Canada. The CCS hopes to receive continued federal government support to further these initiatives.
A CCS Strategic Planning and Oversight Committee has been created to oversee this task, and to provide project oversight along with the necessary strategic perspective to promote continuity and the sustainability of these important initiatives beyond March 2010. Drs Charlie Kerr, Blair O’Neill, Chris Buller and Dave Johnstone are members, with input from CCS staff Anne Ferguson (CEO) and Louise Marcus (Director, Health Policy/Advocacy).
CCS response to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada’s proposed Diploma Program
The CCS Working Group on Guidelines for Training and Maintenance of Competency, chaired by Dr Catherine Kells, is working to develop an official response on behalf of the CCS and the cardiovascular community, with input from CCS Affiliates. At the time of writing the present update, plans were for the CCS Executive to consider and approve an official position at its February 1, 2010, meeting. The intent of the diploma program is to formally credential subspecialty areas of added competency that fall outside of the currently defined Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) primary specialty and subspecialty criteria. If approved by the RCPSC, the timing for the piloting of the Diploma Program would coincide with CCS plans, already under way over the past year, for updated joint guidelines with the Canadian Heart Rhythm Society, the Canadian Society of Echocardiography and the Canadian Association of Interventional Cardiology. For more information on the RCPSC diploma proposal, visit the RCPSC Web site at www.rcpsc.medical.org.
CCS input on the RCPSC’s Foundations in Internal Medicine
The RCPSC has developed a proposal that aims to increase the number of General Internal Medicine specialists through a restructuring of postgraduate subspecialty training. This includes the introduction of a three-year core Internal Medicine Program that would lead to attestation, not certification. Subsequent to this, residents could be matched through the Canadian Resident Matching Service to subspecialty training and certification, including Cardiology or General Internal Medicine. An official CCS response to the College is planned based on feedback from a CCS working group chaired by Dr Catherine Kells, with representation from the CCS Executive and Members-in-Training (Dr Gilbert Tang).
The CCS has also engaged in dialogue with other subspecialty groups on the implications of this proposal and has led discussions on the issue at the Canadian Medical Association’s Specialty Forum meeting in February; Dr Blair O’Neill addressed the issue at that time. An update on the CCS’ official response to the RCPSC on its Diploma and Foundations proposals will be posted at www.ccs.ca. You may also contact Louise Marcus at marcus@ccs.ca to provide your input or obtain additional details. For more information on the RCPSC Internal Medicine proposal, visit the RCPSC Web site at www.rcpsc.medical.org.
KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION UPDATE
Have your abstract or workshop proposal considered for the 2010 CCC scientific program!
Online submission of abstract and workshop proposals is now available at www.cardiocongress.org.
Discover new research, new colleagues and Old Montreal!
The 2010 CCC will be held in Montreal, Quebec, from October 23 to 27, 2010. Join the prominent list of CCC speakers, update your clinical knowledge and network with colleagues.
Abstract submissions and workshop proposals may be related to any of the following CanMEDS roles:
Medical Expert
Communicator
Collaborator
Manager
Health Advocate
Scholar
Professional.
Use this checklist when submitting your abstract:
Is your investigation based on an original concept?
Does your abstract provide new and innovative techniques?
Will your abstract benefit your colleagues?
How does your abstract affect patient outcomes?
Would you like to be considered for an award?
Use this checklist when submitting your workshop proposal:
Does your workshop proposal include a planning committee representative of CCS membership?
Does your workshop proposal provide relevant content?
Is your workshop proposal objective?
Does your workshop proposal provide the opportunity for participant interaction?
CCS ‘Heart Failure Boot Camp’ Webinar series – a great success!
The CCS launched, with great success, its first interactive, case-based Webinar series, which is based on the CCS heart failure guidelines. Within 24 h of being posted, this program had more than 100 registrants. The accredited four-module series ran biweekly in January and February 2010. The interactive, synchronous Webinars allowed participants to engage in discussions with Canada’s heart failure experts. Audio and video recordings of each Webinar in the series are posted in the ‘Heart Failure Virtual Classroom’ on the CCS Heart Failure Web site (www.hfcc.ca). Take time to visit!
We extend congratulations and thanks to the Program Director, Dr Justin Ezekowitz, and faculty members, Drs Robert S McKelvie and Jonathan G Howlett, for trialing a new and innovative program using today’s technology to disseminate clinical practice guidelines and support evidence-based practice change.
Heart Failure Workshop at the Annual Cardiovascular Conference at Lake Louise (Alberta)
We will continue to host national heart failure workshops in 2010. The first workshop for 2010 will be held at the Annual Cardiovascular Conference at Lake Louise later this month. The topics addressed in the 2010 CCS heart failure guidelines update include heart failure in ethnic minority populations, heart failure and pregnancy, heart failure disease management, and quality improvement/assurance programs.
Note that the organizers of the Annual Cardiovascular Conference at Lake Louise are offering CCS members a discount of $200 off the regular registration rates. Visit www.acclakelouise.com for details.
Stay current with CCS news, programs and services by visiting www.ccs.ca.