“You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Charles Plumb, a fighter pilot in the United States Navy, was captured and spent six years in a Vietnamese prison after his plane was shot down. He had ejected and parachuted into enemy territory, and he survived. Many years later, at a restaurant, a man walked up to him and said: “You’re Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down! I packed your parachute. I guess it worked!” Plumb replied, “It sure did. If your chute hadn’t worked, I wouldn’t be here today.” Plumb realized that we often fail to recognize those who play an important part in providing us what we need to get through our day. Gratitude is often an underused social emotion. Read more here

To measure perceptions related to the value of imaging and intervention-based procedure accreditation from a wide range of stakeholders, across multiple specialties, Authentic Testing has been engaged by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) to develop a survey. This survey is applicable to those accredited by any accrediting organization and also facilities that are not currently accredited. All are encouraged to respond to the survey; the results will be used to improve the accreditation process and ensure that the needs of those involved in imaging and intervention-based procedures are being met.  Respondents will be kept anonymous.

This survey should only take 4-5 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for your time.

The ASE Foundation, the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine’s (AIUM) Endowment for Education and Research are pleased to announce the funding of three, highly innovative research proposals, totaling almost $600,000 in supported research. Additional funding support for these grants was provided by the National Board of Echocardiography, Inc., Bracco, Inc., and Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc. Read more here.

ASE is seeking the best and brightest members to move forward the mission and goals of the Society and the ASE Foundation. Now is your opportunity to become a leader in ASE/ASEF. If you are an active member and meet the criteria outlined on the Open Positions and Criteria page, ask a friend or colleague who is also a member to submit a nomination on your behalf. Positions are available on the ASE Board of Directors, ASE Foundation Board of Directors, and ASE Council Steering Committees. With ASE’s new governance structure the ASE Foundation Board is now a separate entity from the ASE Board of Directors.  All positions are open to any member regardless of specialty (sonographer, pediatrician, critical care, circulation and vascular ultrasound, anesthesiologist, etc.). ASE is looking for a diverse pool of nominees.

The process is easy. Candidates need to have one letter of nomination, up to three letters of support from active members that outline the candidate’s leadership abilities, a current CV, a one to two page personal vision statement, a completed brief online self-assessment survey, and a completed conflict of interest and disclosure statement. Guidelines for submitting nominations can be found on ASE’s nominations page.

The deadline for submission of nominations is November 29, 2019. Ask an active ASE member TODAY to submit your nomination. Please contact Nominations@ASEcho.org with any questions or to submit nominations.

Do you have a peer who deserves recognition for the high level of their cardiovascular research? The ASE Nominations Committee is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Feigenbaum Lecturer who will present during the 31st Annual Scientific Sessions in Denver, June 19-22, 2020. The deadline for nominations is November 29, 2019.

Nominated individuals should have these qualifications in order to receive this prestigious honor:

• Have provided a significant contribution to research in the field of echocardiography, with great potential to continue at a high level of achievement
• Are a young investigator (under the age of 51 at time of nomination)
• Are an innovator who has changed the field, has the capacity to present a research topic appropriate to headline a plenary symposium at the Society’s annual meeting

Click here for nomination guidelines. Please Nominations@ASEcho.org with any questions or to submit your nomination.

ASE is proud to be a funding partner of the pioneering alliance working toward solutions to stop work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD). Elaine Shea, ACS, RCS, RCCS, FASE, Jane Marshall, RDCS (AE/PE), FASE, and ASE President Madhav Swaminathan, MD, FASE, participated in the MSK Grand Challenge Design Summit on Wednesday, September 26, in Washington, D.C. They are making sure ASE’s voice is involved in helping solve two major components of WRMSD including preventing disorders from happening in the first place, and assisting those who have injuries today. We will keep our members informed of the outcomes of this alliance and how you all can get involved in this movement.

This Sunday is National Coffee Day. If drinking coffee is part of your morning ritual, you won’t want to pass up the opportunity to celebrate! Coffee shops around the country will be offering free coffee in honor of this national holiday. Here’s a link to a list of locations offering deals and freebies! Since you most likely won’t have to pay for your cup this weekend, we encourage you to take what you would normally spend on your morning caffeine and donate it to the ASE Foundation!

When you donate, share a picture with a post on social media and tag @ASE360 using #GaveACup. We want to see your pictures whether you’re sipping on a cup of coffee at home, at the echo lab, or with your favorite barista and a local shop! See ASE Vice President and ASEF Annual Appeal committee member Raymond Stainback, MD, FASE, with his local barista Monique! He and other committee members have made early pledges for National Coffee Day. Get in on the fun this weekend and ‘Donate A Cup’ to ASEF between September 28 – 30. We’ve set a goal to raise $2,500 and every ‘cup’ counts!

ASE’s 8th Annual Echo Florida course is a comprehensive review of cardiovascular ultrasound in clinical practice. The course takes place October 13-15, 2019 with a preconference Learning Lab available on October 12, at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts at Walt Disney World® in Orlando, FL.

Course Director, Gerard P. Aurigemma, MD, FASE, Co-Director, ASE Past President Linda D. Gillam, MD, FASE, and Learning Lab Director, Matt Umland, ACS, RDCS, FASE, have created a program with a heavy emphasis on case-based learning that includes fun opportunities for the participants to interact with the faculty.

This year’s Learning Lab covers two different topic areas.Left Ventricular Function and Strain: This learning lab will be interactive with a combination of live scanning, computer-based sessions, and case examples. Sessions will show attendees exactly how to make measurements to assess chamber quantification, systolic and diastolic function, and valvular function.

3D Workshop: The 3D workshop will be a combination of live scanning and computer-based sessions focusing on 3D acquisition techniques, as well as cropping and image display. After introductory lectures and live scanning, the session will break into a workshop with different 3D vendors. There will be limited numbers of laptops pre-loaded with 3D examples for hands-on learning. This workshop will cover 3D quantification of ventricular size and function, as well as valvular morphology and function.

Download the Final Program and register today because the on-site registration fee increases by $100.

We hope you value the benefits that you accrue by being part of our vibrant organization. You can save time by renewing online at ASEcho.org/Renew. Don’t miss access to JASE, CASE, free CME, programs designed to save you time and money, and all your other membership benefits. Renew by December 31 and receive a 2020 ASE Image Calendar. Questions? Contact ASE@ASEcho.org or call us at 919-861-5574 if you have questions about your renewal.

Are you a fellow just getting started in your training? ASE has specifically created a starter kit for fellows including products recommended by early career members as the best tools to have as you continue to learn about cardiovascular ultrasound. The kit includes three products offered at an additional 20% off member pricing:

• Essentials for Proficiency in Basic Cardiovascular Ultrasound
• Self-Study Program IV
• ASE’s Comprehensive Echocardiography Textbook

ASE members receive a discount on all products, so do not forget to log in to the member portal before purchasing. At checkout, please use Discount Code FELLOWKIT19 to receive the Fellow Starter Kit discount of 20% on these three important products.