The Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) is a busy hub of activity throughout the year, but in the summer, we like to take a break (or at least we try!). I know that respiratory disease never rests, and neither do physicians nor the CTS committee members, but in keeping with the spirit of summer, I will nevertheless try to keep this President’s page rather light. Whereas my previous President’s pages delved deeply into research issues, the present edition will provide an overview of a number of other activities in which the CTS is engaged.
In the current President’s page, I invite you to take stock with me of what is on the horizon at the CTS:
The CTS is active in pulmonary function standards once again. Our new Pulmonary Function Standards Committee has already held its first meeting to clarify the breadth of its activities and has developed a work plan. While a great deal of work in pulmonary function is already being performed in Canada and abroad, there is a need for a centralized source of reliable guidelines that reflect the Canadian context. We have a wonderful team working on this committee: Allan Coates (Chair), Brian Graham, Colm McParland, Dilshad Moosa, Steeve Provencher, Jeremy Roads, and ex officio members, Louis-Philippe Boulet and Rob McFadden. Many thanks to all!
The CTS is resuming its active involvement in the field of tuberculosis (TB)! We are currently establishing a TB Advisory Group under the leadership of Dick Menzies to support Canadian Lung Association (CLA) efforts in TB and continue CTS involvement on the national and international scene. We look forward to announcing the members of this new advisory group and thank Stephen Field for serving as interim liaison with the Canadian Tuberculosis Committee.
We have launched a strategy to strengthen the Canadian Respiratory Journal (CRJ) by creating the CRJ Advisory Committee. The committee, which held its first meeting in early July, aims to work with the Editor-in-Chief to enhance the CRJ by stimulating additional high-quality submissions; increasing the involvement and contributions of young investigators, clinicians and other constituent groups within the CTS; promoting the CRJ among potential subscribers, contributors and sponsors; and enhancing the identity of the CTS among current and prospective members. The CTS Executive worked closely with CRJ Editor-in-Chief Nick R Anthonisen on this new initiative and is most grateful for his support. We also thank committee members Drs Louis-Philippe Boulet, Andrew Halayko, Robin McFadden, Denis O’Donnell (ex officio), Peter Paré, Michel Rouleau and Neil Skjodt, and Ms Ann Leblanc from Pulsus Group Inc (ex officio). The launching of this committee fortuitously coincided with the establishment of the first CRJ impact factor at 1.0. We are delighted with this initial result and look forward to further development of the Journal, which will, inevitably, further increase the impact factor.
In June 2010, the CLA Board of Directors announced $242,000 of additional funding to cover two new fellowships and one new studentship in 2010/2011. This decision was in direct response to the CTS Research Committee having identified the gap in current training opportunities. We have a long way to go to raise the necessary funds for the implementation of a comprehensive respiratory research agenda, but this is a grand beginning! We thank our partners at the CLA and look forward to working closely with them to leverage additional respiratory research funding. We need to continue our efforts to ensure that there is a balance between funding allocated to respiratory research and the burden of respiratory disease.
Our clinical committees are busy as usual, keeping the guidelines production cycle going, and ensuring that there is a continual supply of updated clinical practice guidelines and related implementation tools. Between now and Christmas, the CRJ will feature position papers on the use of portable monitoring for obstructive sleep apnea, as well new guidelines on chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, home mechanical ventilation, optimizing pulmonary rehabilitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and reducing dyspnea in COPD patients. Alpha-1-antitrypsin guidelines, and an update to the asthma and sleep apnea guidelines will follow in 2011, while standards for spirometry and pulmonary function laboratories are also in the works!
The CTS has a wonderful partnership with the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP). Robert Levy, a past CTS president, is cochairing the 2010 CHEST Conference that will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, from October 30 to November 4. In addition to the outstanding CHEST program, CHEST 2010 will include the CTS Scientific Program, which will feature a roster of Canadian experts addressing themes in pulmonary radiology, sarcoidosis, pulmonary diagnostics, surgery, interventional respirology, asthma and nodules in the lung. I am particularly proud of our honorary lectures: the Christie Memorial Lecture, and the Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health Distinguished Lecture in Respiratory Sciences will be delivered, respectively, by Drs Jerome Dempsey and James Hogg. Dr Dempsey will explore ‘New ideas about chemoreceptors and their importance in health and disease’, and Dr Hogg will discuss ‘The nature and rapid decline in lung function in COPD’. I look forward to seeing many CTS members at these outstanding lectures. Thank you to Pearce Wilcox for chairing the 2010 CTS Scientific Program and many thanks as well to the ACCP for holding CHEST in Canada once again! Please remember that CTS members can register for CHEST at the ACCP member rate. For details on this benefit, on CHEST and the CTS Scientific Program, visit www.lung.ca/cts or send an e-mail to ctsinfo@lung.ca.
Several important CTS meetings will be held in conjunction with CHEST 2010. The Canadian Respiratory Clinical Research Consortium will host its annual meeting on Saturday, October 30, from 13:30 to 20:00. The CTS Annual General Meeting will also be held in Vancouver on Monday, November 1. Do not miss this opportunity to receive the Board’s report to the membership and to elect new members to the Executive and Board of Directors! Last, but not least, the CTS will hold its annual Christie Memorial Reception on Monday, November 1, following the annual general meeting.
Mark your calendars for the 2011 Canadian Respiratory Conference! Our fourth edition (already!) of the partnership conference will take place in Niagara Falls, Ontario, from April 28 to 30, 2011. The Scientific Committee, chaired by Robin McFadden, will work diligently at developing a diverse program to respond to your needs and those of the broader conference constituency. The needs assessment process is already underway, with CTS committee chairs being engaged to provide their input to the program development process. The conference organizing committee, co-chaired by George Fox and Dina Brooks, has also continued its work over the summer to ensure the 2011 edition of ‘A Breath of Fresh Air’ is a success. We can all look forward to hearing more about the 2011 program soon. Details regarding the program will be made available on the Canadian Respiratory Conference website (www.lung.ca/crc) as soon as possible, and will also be disseminated through the CTS e-bulletin. Many thanks to members of the scientific program and organizing committees for their dedication to what is becoming the premiere interdisciplinary educational and scientific meeting of the respiratory community in Canada!
The American Thoracic Society (ATS) has offered to showcase Canadian research at the 2011 ATS Conference from May 13 to 18, 2011, in Denver, Colorado (USA). The conference will feature a special poster session featuring Canadian respiratory research. I certainly hope many of you will submit abstracts for this conference. Visit www.thoracic.org for details on submission. Many thanks to our partners at ATS for this exciting opportunity to profile excellence!
This concludes my summer round-up of CTS activities. Autumn is just around the corner, CTS committee activities will take on a more active pace, and many of you will be convened to CTS teleconferences and meetings. I thank you for your dedication and wish you well in your committee work, in your research and in your respective practices.
While I know that respiratory disease always beckons, I hope that you have all found time to rest and renew over the summer months. I send summer greetings to you and your families, and look forward to seeing many of you in Vancouver for CHEST 2010, the CTS Scientific Program and CTS’ Christie Memorial Reception.
Respectfully submitted,