From the President's Desk
08 September 2025
Welcome back after the summer. I hope you have had time to rest and recharge.
For me, two weeks in Devon with family offered a much-needed pause. I made a conscious effort to step away from the hospital and virtual office. A (partial) digital detox and to spend time in the countryside, on the beach and getting fitter. Cycling on Dartmoor past wild ponies, swimming in the Atlantic swell, letting the waves do their rough-and-tumble work, and drifting with the tide in and out of the River Avon, in a place made special by my wife’s childhood memories, reminded us of the what’s important and the comfort of familiarity. This was the first summer in some years without dogs. Their passing left a gap, but it meant more time together on the best surf beaches. The children, no longer little have now mostly moved away, so coming together for a family holiday is an important shared experience and adventure.
The start of the season was overshadowed by the sudden, tragic loss of a valued colleague. Their death has been deeply felt by family, friends and colleagues. Having also lost close ones recently, these thoughts were very much on my mind while I was away. It is a sharp reminder of the importance of looking after one another in our demanding professional journeys and protecting the personal time that sustains us.
We have often spoken of how SCTS also needs financial sustainability. In that regard we have a new focus on pro-active fundraising. What began as an idea in June, and was launched in July, has already grown into Team SCTS with over 30 riders. On 14 September 2025 we will take part in our first London to Brighton cycle ride. As our visibility has grown, I am delighted to share that CMR Surgical has joined the event as a corporate sponsor. Their innovative and dynamic approach, and their success in taking new UK technology and innovation to a global market, is something to admire. We are also partnering with three charities: You Okay, Doc? (supporting doctors’ mental health), Heart Valve Voice and the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. Riders from each will join us, raising awareness of heart, chest and lung conditions and highlighting the vital role of surgery in delivering excellent care.
This fundraising effort is inspired by the ideas of Sir Clive Woodward, whose concepts of “teamship” and world-beating culture resonate strongly with our specialty. We invited him to speak at our Annual Meeting in March 2025, and his message was clear. High-performing teams succeed when every member knows their role, works for the collective, and believes in achieving something greater than themselves. That is the spirit we take in this challenge.
If you have not already done so, please visit our newly launched SCTS x London - Brighton Cycle Ride 2025 - JustGiving site.
A donation would be warmly welcomed, but just as valuable is sharing it with friends and colleagues so that more people can learn about our work and support SCTS.
Looking ahead, the Unit Representatives Meeting will take place on 26 September 2025 at the King’s Fund in London, with in-person and online options (please contact emma@scts.org for more information). At this meeting we will launch our new cardiac transformation programme, presented by our President Elect, Enoch Akowuah. This multi-stakeholder initiative, being developed with wide consultation, will focus on expanding minimally invasive surgery and enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery across our community.
The new NICOR/NACSA data have also been released. Audit systems, developed with care over many years, play a central role in identifying both variation and excellence. They allow us to support those who may be challenged, while learning from those who achieve outstanding results. In the coming days we will be engaging with teams to ensure that feedback is constructive, and that support is available where needed. I’m grateful to Uday Trivedi, consultant cardiac surgeon and SCTS cardiac audit lead for this support.
We can also take pride on the international stage. Today, at the World Conference on Lung Cancer, the Presidential Plenary will feature new work supported by SCTS. Eric Lim’s team will present on whether VATS lobectomy impacts survival after lung cancer surgery. Speaking will be Jacie Jiaqi Law, a UK trainee and SCTS–AstraZeneca fellow, who undertook this work during her MSc in Medical Statistics. We are proud of this achievement and of their contribution in placing SCTS on the world stage in platforms beyond surgery.
At SCTS we continue to evolve as an organisation. We welcome Sophie Khan to our secretariat to strengthen financial management and wider roles. We will shortly be advertising for several key leadership positions including a new Treasurer and committee chairs and are considering the appointment of a Charity Secretary/Chief Operating Officer to further strengthen governance and ensure stability and growth.
So, as autumn begins, there is much to look forward to, new ideas and plenty of work ahead. Thank you as always for your support, energy and ideas.
Together we are making heart, chest and lung surgery better.
Dates to save
Aman S Coonar
President SCTS
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