Michael J. Mack, M.D.
President, TSFRE

The pages of this report containthe names of hundreds of surgeons, corporate supporters, patients and friends who have invested in the future of cardiothoracic surgery by supporting the Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education. On behalf of those surgeons who have benefited from the Foundation’s research and educational programs and the multitude of patients who will ultimately benefit from the programs, I would like to say thank you for your generous support.

TSFRE was established in 1992 by the four leading American thoracic surgical associations, AATS, STS,WTSA and STSA, to respond to the decrease in research funding from the federal government and institutions for education and research in thoracic surgery—seventeen years later, these challenges continue.

The Foundation has become a pivotal force for the growth and vitality of our specialty and its role is increasing, particularly in the areas of research, academic career development and postgraduate education. Perhaps most importantly, the Foundation has chosen to play a leading role in changing the current training paradigm for thoracic surgeons by becoming a founding organization of the Joint Council on Thoracic Surgery Education (JCTSE). Along with the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), the American Board of Thoracic Surgery(ABTS) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), TSFRE has committed its resources to support and empower the JCTSE to overhaul the current thoracic surgery training program and coordinate all thoracic surgery education in the United States.

The Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Educationis our foundation and the lifeblood of our specialty. It depends on us to be informed, to fund the research to support our fellow surgeons and our ability to embrace new technology and learn its application. The efforts of our supporters—through donations or networking—will impact the future of cardiothoracic surgery and the welfare of our patients.

I hope that you continue your support of today’s research so we can serve our patients with even better techniques and technology tomorrow. I urge each of you who have not given to the Foundation in the past to do so now, and if you have given generously in the past I ask that you consider another gift at this time. Such generosity will help us insure a bright future for young surgical scientists and excellent care for our patients.

Thank you.