Just the FACTs, 2020 Volume 5
Hello colleagues—as COVID becomes a marathon with no real end in sight, and Zoom and Skype are as personal as we get (and our conference rooms are all being used for social distancing), we all look for the pace and combination of communication techniques that allow us to remain in touch with one another beyond our purely professional relationships. The silver lining has been a tendency to try harder to communicate and talk to those we have always meant to call, and I urge each one of you to choose one of your friends this week to call, FaceTime, Zoom, or any way to be in touch and reduce the isolation they might feel and in so doing reduce your own.
We mourn the passing of one of the pioneers of our discipline, Roger Herzig, who was attending on his transplant service. Dr. Herzig was loved by his patients, his program colleagues, as well as colleagues around the world. We all send condolences to his wife and family.
We invite you to a virtual workshop for inspection and accreditation, and the Education Committee is working hard optimizing the virtual experience for you. And don’t forget to look at the 8th Standards and send in your comments by the end of August.
Our community has continued to provide transplant services to patients needing them, and volumes of transplants are remaining remarkably high with all the competing demands on hospital resources—tell each other how much you appreciate the creativity and dedication continuing such complex care, I know our patients feel the same.
I’m grateful to see so many colleagues working so hard in these times, but try to give yourselves a break and a little time to reflect on what you are grateful for.
Sincerely,
Dennis Gastineau, MD
FACT President