Judy Hung, MD, FASE
What a changed world we live in now. Who would have imagined a year ago during the 2019 ASE Scientific Sessions that we would now live in a world of social distancing, face masks everywhere, and no toilet paper on the shelves?
In this uncertain time, it is a special honor and privilege to assume the presidency of the ASE. The main success of this organization is due to its phenomenal members and staff. The ASE membership and staff have shown tremendous resilience, dedication, and innovation in the face of the pandemic. Through their actions they have demonstrated the core mission of ASE: To advance cardiovascular ultrasound and improve lives through excellence in education, research, innovation, advocacy, and service to the profession and the public.
I am confident that together we will not only get through this crisis, but indeed emerge better than before. Why do I say this? Even before COVID-19 there were many forces and challenges facing healthcare and echocardiography. For us to retain our excellence, we need to constantly adapt and innovate to navigate these challenges. Innovation often means embracing a diverse culture and exploring new ways of doing things. For this reason, Diversity and Innovation will be primary themes of my presidency. Often innovation means exploring new territories or perspectives, and to me this will include vigorously embracing and supporting specialty interest groups within ASE and rising star members, as they are a valuable source of new perspectives and ideas and enrich the diversity of our membership as well as promoting research initiatives exploring novel echocardiographic technologies. I am pleased to announce approval of two new specialty interest groups within ASE: Critical Care Echocardiography (CCE) and Neonatal Hemodynamics TnECHO (NHTS).
The disruption caused by COVID-19 has provided myriad opportunities to adapt and innovate, and shown us some new ways of doing things. An example of this is the upcoming Scientific Sessions August 8-10, which will now be fully virtual. Kudos to the Scientific Sessions Program Committee chaired by Ted Abraham and Sue Phillip, and ASE staff Christina Lafuria and Jaclyn Levine, for a masterful pivot in a short time, transforming the traditional in-person meeting to a web-based conference. This virtual ASE Scientific Sessions will present live, interactive, and prerecorded presentations filled with educational and research content with opportunity to interact with the faculty during the question and answer sessions. Additionally, there will be exhibitor participation to virtually catch up on the newest ultrasound technology and machines. One important advantage of this approach is the ability to offer more CME credits, as all the sessions can be accessed by each attendee. Although in-person sessions have some definite advantages for personal connections, not to mention dressing up for the gala, we anticipate that as familiarity with the technology grows, most of the interpersonal functions of these meetings will continue to be served. And in addition to dressing up, you can work on your imaginative video backdrops as well! I hope to see you all there virtually!
I look forward to leading this incredible organization, and seeing the ASE evolve into an even better organization as a result of the turmoil of today.
Judy Hung, MD, FASE, is Director of Echocardiography and Trial Innovation Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. She has been a member of ASE since 2001 and is serving as ASE's President.