From the President’s Desk (in Japan)
17 April 2025
From the President’s Desk (in Japan)
We’re currently on holiday touring Japan. It’s cherry blossom season – Sakura. A springtime celebration and time of renewal, it coincides with the start of both the academic and financial year. It reminds me of Easter at home – family, rest, reflection, new beginnings, and, often, the tax year!
Even while away, I’ve kept close to SCTS activity. With a bit of compartmentalising – mostly off-duty, with short, planned bursts of desk time – I’ve been able to pick up ongoing work, reflect on what’s ahead and think.
Delivering modern cardiothoracic care means not only great surgery but also great pathways. There’s still variation in enhanced recovery, with thoracic surgery somewhat ahead of cardiac. I’ve been following the work of ERAS® – Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery Society and others with interest.
To help turn ideas into everyday practice, Enoch Akowuah (President Elect), Debbie Harrington (Joint Education Secretary), Ranjit Deshpande (BISMICS), and I will soon be visiting centres of excellence to see how they deliver. We’re grateful to Edwards Lifesciences for supporting this initiative, and we look forward to growing our collaboration with BISMICS.
We’re also making good progress with Friends of SCTS, our proposed patient and supporter group. A kick-start donation has just been pledged, and we’re now working on the first terms of reference.
Travelling in Japan, I’m reminded how much is shared with GB and Ireland – sunshine, showers, green hills, and easy laughter – as well as the deep contrasts that offer valuable perspective. We visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and park, where the legacy of the A-bomb on 6 August 1945 is portrayed with harrowing clarity. It’s a powerful reminder of how fragile peace is – and our capacity to recover and rebuild.
Later, in the countryside, we heard the story of Nobuko Sakuramoto – Mrs Cherry Parker – a Hiroshima survivor, whose marriage to an Australian soldier helped change Australian immigration law. They were both teenagers when they met, fell in love, married and had children. The campaign to allow her into Australia meant she was the first Japanese war-bride to go there. Their granddaughter tells the story in At the Foot of the Cherry Tree – now on my reading list.
With Australia close in time zone, I’ve also connected with colleagues in the region to build on SCTS links developed by Narain Moorjani. Ashtosh Haridkar, President of ANZSCTS, will soon visit the UK to observe the UK and Ireland JCIE Exams and we have further collaborations planned on various strands of mutual benefit.
Even while travelling, I’ve found short bites of CTSNet an easy way to stay up to date – especially The Beat podcasts, perfect for journeys (and soon, the commute).
Warm thanks as ever to the SCTS team.
Wishing you and your families a rejuvenating Easter.
Aman S Coonar
SCTS President
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