Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology Committee
FORMATION of a SECTION
January 10, 2005
Dear Colleagues:
I am writing all medical and surgical congenital heart specialists,
pediatric cardiologists and their non-physician associates to let you
know about an exciting opportunity for the congenital heart disease community.
The ACC Board of Trustees has invited the Congenital Heart Disease and
Pediatric Cardiology Committee and the Women in Cardiology Committee
to participate in a two-year pilot program to model the establishment
of member Sections for the organization.
A member Section will provide a framework for us to work together to
achieve objectives of high interest to our community but which may not
be a priority for the ACC membership as a whole. We will have the opportunity,
through the collection of modest Section dues, to fund small projects
of our own choosing. The ACC Women in Cardiology Committee has launched
their pilot and have 500 members.
The CHDPC Committee met in a special session on November 9, 2004 in
New Orleans in order to explore the creation of a Section. A number of
distinguished leaders were invited to join our discussion. All
present unanimously agreed that the ACC Trustee’s invitation provides
our specialty with a unique and groundbreaking opportunity. Section
objectives include fulfilling training needs for those working with children
and adults with congenital heart disease, advocating for access to care
for adult patients, and ensuring that our members have a voice at all
levels of the ACC governance structure.
This letter is an invitation to all ACC members with an interest in
congenital heart disease to attend the inaugural meeting of the Section
on Sunday, March 6, 2005, Noon – 2:00 p.m., in Room 224B, Orange
County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida. Your ideas for determining
goals and planning projects are welcome. A brown bag lunch will be available.
We also invite you to join the Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric
Cardiology Section by completing the attached enrollment
form and returning it with your check for annual dues in the envelope
provided. Annual dues have been set at $35 ($25 for fellows and Cardiac
Care Associate members) to enable the Section to fund projects outside
of the ACC budget.
I am both grateful to the Leadership of the ACC and thrilled that we
have been given this opportunity to strengthen and empower the voice
of the Congenital Heart Disease Community and to develop a Section of
Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology. Please join with us
to celebrate this opportunity and work with us to make sure our Section
has major input on CHD issues and to make it an ongoing dynamic entity
in cardiology.
Sincerely,
Chair, Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology Committee
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