Editor-In-Chief’s Message February 2021

After the unprecedented year that 2020 was, most of us approached the new year with hope that 2021 will see a transition back to some normalcy by the end of the year. Looking back on 2020, the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society (PCICS) made several adjustments to accommodate for the coronavirus pandemic. The society ended 2020 with a successful annual meeting which was held virtually in December. This meeting was well-attended and well-received. The live sessions were interactive and stimulating, and because sessions were virtual, there were opportunities to review content after the completion of the meeting. My personal opinion is that education was enhanced by the virtual format, the ability to review content afterwards was phenomenal, and professional networking was not compromised. We appreciate everyone who contributed to the success of this meeting, including organizers, faculty and attendees.

In this newsletter, we have invited perspectives from participants at this past annual meeting. Dr. Maryam Naim writes the guest editorial, while Dr. Marcos Mills shares his perspective in the early career editorial. There are lessons to be learned from the virtual format, some of which will for sure be carried into future meetings.

This year, PCICS leadership has been handed over to a new president, Melissa Jones, MSN, CPNP-AC. We would all like to thank the outgoing president Dr. John Costello for his outstanding leadership.

The PCICS Newsletter subcommittee plans to bring its readership changes in format and content of the PCICS newsletter this year. I look forward to the new role as editor-in-chief, and welcome new ideas. Please do not hesitate to contact me with comments or questions about past or future newsletters (ivie.esangbedo@utsouthwestern.edu). Follow @PCICS2 on Twitter for updates.