Listening to Paul Schwartz’s inaugural address in New Orleans, I was inspired by his commitment to support innovation. “Our specialty – through research and in practice – must stay abreast of the innovative, state-of-the-art trends in simulation, robotics and artificial intelligence. The future holds so many opportunities for the specialty if we explore, develop and embrace innovative techniques, treatments and ideas.”
Yes. Exactly. Count me in. But exactly how does embracing research and innovation fit into our daily routines and clinical practice? Personally, I struggle to find time “stay abreast,” never mind “explore and develop.” Then I remember that, as Foundation donors, we ARE helping to realize our President’s vision. In fact, we are a driving force for innovation in our specialty.
Your donations are supporting the development and validation of a state-of-the-art anesthesia simulation training curriculum, and a concurrent project that is collecting data to prove its effectiveness. You are underwriting the integration of AI into our surgical decision-making processes via a program that will allow ready access to relevant data from cases similar to yours. You are helping to advance our understanding of cancer as well as how virtual surgical planning can deliver better outcomes for orthognathic procedures and free flap reconstruction.
You helped 10 residents attend the recent CSIOMS, the veritable epicenter of innovation in our specialty. In a note thanking the Foundation for his travel scholarship, Dr. Ramtin Dastgir wrote, “This was the most valuable and informative seminar I have ever attended. Never have I been so deeply immersed in a novel learning environment and gained so much new knowledge.” So, take a bow. You ARE making it happen – without having to reschedule a single patient.
If you’re an OMSFIRE donor, you get extra credit for helping to create a stable, predictable income stream that is supporting multiple $150,000 clinical research grants, plus multiple training/mentorship programs for promising OMS residency candidates. If you’re an OMSFIRE donor and a legacy donor, you’re in elite company. Brett Ferguson calls it the “some for now, some for later plan” for sustaining the Foundation’s mission, and insists that the hardest part is getting around to it.
If you’re not an OMSFIRE donor, or you haven’t gotten around to adding a gift to the Foundation in your will, I would like to respectfully ask “Why not?” and encourage you to reconsider your position before August. An OMSFIRE or Walker Society ribbon on your Annual Meeting badge comes with an invitation to our R.V. Walker Donor Recognition reception aboard the USS Midway. It’s a fun gathering of fine people, and you’ll fit right in.
Even better, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you’re helping to realize Dr. Schwartz’s vision to explore, develop and embrace innovation in the OMS specialty. I think I speak for us both when I say “Well done.”