Here we are, 1 month into the new year, and it already feels like my time as President of the American College of Chest Physicians will pass too quickly. One of my goals is to share some thoughts on issues important to our profession by contributing quarterly to CHEST Physician. CHEST has always been like an extended family to me, and I look forward to having this regular touchpoint with all of you.
For my first written contribution, I want to focus on the future of medicine through medical education and involvement in professional associations because I am, at heart, a medical educator.
Dr. Doreen J. Addrizzo-Harris
During my address at the CHEST Annual Meeting 2022, I spoke on how CHEST provided me with networking, mentoring, and volunteer opportunities that were critical in advancing my career. Those same opportunities should be extended to everyone in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine – whether a current member or prospective member.
Lighting a fire
Attending my first CHEST Annual Meeting was possible due to my nomination for a leadership development course. The connections I made during the meeting really lit a fire within me. We need to engage with early career clinicians and provide them the same exposure and encouragement that I received.
To instill this fire in the next generation, I encourage each of our established members, years (or decades) into their careers, to pass along their expertise to someone who is just starting out, whether it be a trainee or a junior faculty member. If this applies to you: encourage a new attending who has never been to a CHEST event to attend with you; invite a fellow or resident to submit an abstract or case report to the journal CHEST® with your oversight; or simply volunteer to speak at your medical school or residency program about why you chose PCCM and the career it has given you.
Think back to when you were embarking on your journey toward where you are now – what would it have meant to be able to get career advice or even just a friendly conversation started with someone at your current level?
CHEST offerings and accreditations
Beyond bringing someone to a CHEST Annual Meeting – which you should definitely do – work with your learners at medical schools and residency programs to expose them to CHEST much earlier in their careers. The Trainings and Transitions Committee is an excellent resource to guide newer clinicians and can provide a vital source of encouragement and support. If your institution doesn’t have a simulation learning center or if it has limited offerings, the hands-on learning opportunities offered at CHEST headquarters may be a fit. Accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), CHEST currently offers 24 courses with four new courses planned for 2023 in a wide variety of areas, including courses on ultrasound and bronchoscopy.
There are so many ways to introduce early career clinicians to CHEST, and it can begin with one personal outreach. If you are working on a project for CHEST right now, consider inviting an early career clinician to join you on it – this may be the opportunity that will change their career. It did for me.
As medical professionals, each of us plays an important role in the future of medicine, and the CHEST organization can bring us together to strengthen our impact.
If you are interested in brainstorming ideas for how to engage your medical students, residents, or fellows, please feel free to contact me or anyone at CHEST to help create a plan.
I look forward to the next time we connect.
Doreen J. Addrizzo-Harris, MD, FCCP
CHEST President