As the year comes to an end, we are drawn to the holidays through the overt imagery of color and the beauty of pomp exhibited at churches and synagogues throughout the world. Such displays are in celebration of events that took place centuries ago, yet transcend time and ring true today. Heck, even the most stodgy soften at this time of year and take in the splendor of the season. As perfusionists, we look to this time with both angst (checking to see if the call rotation schedule is tagged this year as ours) and anticipa­tion (of family, friends, and fellowship). However, along with the feelings of auld lang syne comes the hope for a better future. Although predicting it is a challenge beyond this writer’s skill or better sense, it does look a bit more promising than it did at the end of the previous year.

This past year has been somewhat tumultu­ous for AmSECT, yet at the same time, a number of initiatives have begun to redirect the Society in a positive fashion. The replacement of the manage­ment firm was difficult and the achievements of the Cate Corporation over the past several decades cannot go unrecognized. Their efforts to advance the profession and guide the membership were appreciated by all of us and we wish nothing but the best for our friends in that organization. Our new firm is Ruggles Service Corporation. Their vision for the betterment of the Society is invigorating.

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of the future of the profession is related to the diminution in cases we once saw as our main stay. The erosion that began several years ago seems to have abated and the numerous editorials in the collegial journals of cardiovascular surgery also have stated such. In fact, in our hospital system (Geisinger Health Systems of Northeastern Pennsylvania), we have seen an increase in case load for the first time in almost five years, with the number of cases requiring cardiopulmonary bypass exceeding those off-pump. The practice of blood man­agement continues to be the most significant growth area for perfusionists and has been embraced as such by AmSECT. The Blood Management community is awaiting an organization to take control and organize the diverse nature of this critical subject area. With that, AmSECT established the Perioperative Blood Management Committee which developed an aggressive agenda that includes a significant change in how perfusionists address this dis­cipline. The Scope of Practice Committee has identified which areas are most promising and resources are being created to address them. Within a short time AmSECT’s commitment will become evident, focusing on blood management education and assessment, with an eye on the need of practitioners to fill this niche.  The efforts of the Pediatric Committee cannot go unnoticed and the expansion of perfusion services in the areas of ECMO and long-term ventricular support are spearheaded by dynamic individuals who fo­cus on the development of a better understanding of these challenging patient populations.

The Government Relations Committee continues to support the perfusion community by providing advice and direction to state so­cieties on numerous aspects of organizational structure. The most obvious is the effort to con­tinue the support of licensure with several key states gaining exposure and prominence in their legislative bodies. The effort to identify clinical interventions that are efficacious as proven by an evidenced-based evaluation is driven by the International Consortium on Evidenced Based Perfusion, a global effort with involvement from numerous perfusion organizations. The scope of this group is great and one aspect is to provide perfusionists with the methodology to improve care through the emphasis of sound techniques and interventions of perfusion.

The publications that the Society produces continue to improve through the outstanding dedi­cation of dynamic editorial boards and progres­sively thinking leaders. Perhaps one of the most significant aspects of growth is the commitment from the AmSECT Board of Directors facing the many challenges of the profession. Character was once described as what you’re doing when no one is looking. So many individuals are working behind the scenes, not on the ‘point’, for societal issues that it would be impossible to identify them (one reason no names were listed in this end of the year muse).

The future of the profession is brighter than this pundit would have predicted at the start of 2006. Opportunities that once seemed to seek out perfusion are now being sought by perfusionists and we are beginning to succeed in realizing them. Organization of these efforts is a goal of highest priority that AmSECT will pursue this next year with vigor. If it is to succeed, it will be through the diligence and hard work of the membership, which is, after all, AmSECT.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!
Al Stammers, MSA, CCP