ASE, at its heart, is not bound by location, but by collaboration and a fellowship united by a shared purpose. ASE was built by the efforts of our global community in every aspect: research, innovation, guidelines, etc. Recent changes in international and national policies have raised concerns among some of our members, so we wanted to reach out to assure our members that ASE remains committed to being a global Society, representing cardiovascular ultrasound professionals located anywhere in the world.
With 20% of our members located outside the United States, representing 120 countries, this important and vibrant constituency has representation on our Board of Directors, key committees, writing groups, and course faculty. ASE, at its core, works to build bridges in the international community. Members help us to maintain a strong relationship with 39 other echo-related organizations across the globe through our International Alliance Partners program—including our neighboring societies in Canada and Mexico. In addition, our members have been actively engaged in the global community. Through 20 past events, the ASE Foundation has supported patient outreach and training initiatives worldwide, and we have two upcoming programs planned this year in India and Senegal.
ASE advocates for sustained support of medical research and healthcare funding that directly impact our members and the patients they serve. The effects of evolving funding landscapes may be especially significant for those working in federal institutions, research consortiums, and resource-limited settings. We believe that research should continue to focus on wide-ranging populations and foster greater understanding through heterogenous and representative data.
Our leadership will continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of policy changes that may affect the Society, its members, the cardiovascular ultrasound community, and patient care. Regardless of such changes, ASE remains committed to its mission to advance patient care worldwide. Our voices are proud to carry the perspective of a global organization, and reflect the breadth and depth of a truly global society.
We urge you to stay engaged with ASE and continue supporting our community as we strive to promote innovation, drive breakthrough research, and advocate for all of our members and the field of cardiovascular ultrasound.
If you want to share your concerns, suggestions, or insights directly with someone from our leadership, please contact us at ASEGlobal@ASEcho.org. Help us shape future directions that truly reflect your voice!
Sincerely,
Ted Abraham, MD, FASE – President
Federico Asch, MD, FASE – International Relations Chair
Tony Forshaw, M Cardiac US, B Ex Sci, AMS(C), FASE – International Board Member, International Relations Co-Chair