A Year in Review with CHEST President, John Studdard, MD, FCCP

From Dr. John Studdard

September 30, 2018

Wow, what an incredible year this has been! Serving as CHEST President from the end of CHEST 2017 until the CHEST Annual Meeting in San Antonio—in early October 2018—means I’ve served one of the shortest presidencies in CHEST history. I must say, however, that it has been a phenomenal year for me personally, highlighted not only by the accomplishments outlined below, but by the opportunity to meet so many new people and to grow existing relationships both for myself and for CHEST. I am so proud and excited by the meaningful work being done by our volunteers, staff and leadership. Thank you for the incredibly humbling opportunity to work with you and to serve CHEST this year.

Since joining CHEST in 1982, I’ve had the opportunity to observe and learn from so many great leaders, each with different strengths and styles of leadership. I also have learned so much from members of our staff at all levels, as well as members of our leadership who serve as committee chairs, NetWork leaders, faculty representatives, and more, all giving so unselfishly of their time and talent to this organization. In addition, I was blessed this year to work with a special Board of Regents—experienced, engaged, professional in their approach, supportive, strategic, representing diversity of thought, and passionate about this organization.

Throughout the 2017-2018 fiscal year, CHEST’s Board of Regents worked tirelessly to refine CHEST’s mission and vision, and to develop goals, strategies, and key performance indicators to develop a new, five-year strategic plan. Our organizational goals going forward are focused on several broad areas of achievement. To achieve these goals, we need to continue investing in and expanding our efforts in key areas like Membership, Education, and Publishing. We need to focus our attention on key groups like clinician educators, young leaders and young members, and embracing diversity of thought and meaningful inclusion, paying attention to gaps, barriers, and opportunities.

As I look to our updated CHEST mission—“To champion the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chest diseases through education, communication, and research”—as I look at the areas of achievement over the past year, and as I look to the strategic plan and what lies ahead, in my opinion there is no finish line and there will always be more work to do. 

Thank you to the CHEST volunteers, staff, leadership and partners for your unwavering support of CHEST and our mission. We could not be successful without you.