Dear Members,

There is no doubt that this year has been unprecedented on many fronts. As medical professionals on the front line every day even before the pandemic, we have seen the way we practice medicine shift considerably. I am so proud of how SCAI leadership and our incredible members were able to come together to develop several publications and white papers, guiding interventionalists across the globe in best practices for treating patients amid the pandemic. It is through these efforts that we recognize not only the need for us to be proactive in our response to emerging research and global health issues but also that we are more than capable of executing timely education and resources to our community. Now more than ever, we need each other, and we need our members to collaborate with us to live out our mission of saving and enhancing lives.

SCAI is the leading interventional cardiology society representing solely invasive and interventional cardiology with more than 4,000 members worldwide. We understand the environment that you practice in better than anyone else because it is our only focus. This year, we have brought in hundreds of new members and have had 600 of our previously lapsed members rejoin, making it clear that the interventional community is looking for a society to represent it and trusts SCAI to do it. We are strongest when aligned with our peers, sharing knowledge, amplifying our voice, and working together to improve patient outcomes and advocate for our profession.  

Beyond your membership, it is imperative that you get involved with the Society. In addition to numerous networking opportunities and events that are exclusive to our membership, you can make real change within our profession to improve interventional practice and directly impact patient care. Here are some of the ways you can get involved now:

Committees and Clinical Interest Councils

To advance your professional interests, you must get involved with our various committees and clinical interest councils.

Our committees and councils play an integral role in SCAI fulfilling its mission and implementing its strategic plan. SCAI has committees that cover education, publications, government relations, international activities, among others. The clinical councils are focused on specific areas of interest and provide members with a key benefit in the development of specialized content for various SCAI initiatives and provide networking opportunities.

Additionally, we also have several SCAI leadership opportunities for the upcoming year. We are currently accepting nominations and applications for the following positions: Secretary, Board of Trustees (3 At-large and 1 International), Treasurer, and Nominating Committee (1 At-large position). Please submit your nomination or application no later than January 11, 2021.

MySCAI

my.scai.org is our secure and private online community that gives members an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and share resources with their peers. It is a great way for you to connect with more than 4,000 interventional cardiology clinicians and get answers to your most pressing questions from other trusted professionals. We will soon be launching a program directors’ community on the platform and encourage you to start a conversation today in one of the existing groups and send us your suggestions for other subcommunities you feel would be beneficial.

International Activities

I am so proud of the incredible work SCAI is doing to bridge the gap in providing cohesive education and networking opportunities to our international members. Our membership spans across 74 countries, with ambassadors in six countries who work diligently to host several international events throughout the year. If you are interested in connecting with an ambassador or connecting with SCAI’s International Committee, please visit the international activities and also check out the SCAI website for a list of international events.

In closing, I hope you remember that no matter the distance or where you are in the world, SCAI is your home. For more information on joining or engaging with SCAI, contact [email protected]. Please become active, get involved, and let your voice be heard. You are the change we need, and we are better together.

Sincerely,

Cindy Grines, MD, MSCAI
SCAI 2020–21 President
[email protected]