From the President’s Desk
02 November 2026
(Last updated: 2 Nov 2026 14:32)
1st November 2026
It has been a while since I last wrote from the President’s Desk. This is not because we have been quiet. Quite the opposite! We have been super busy across the Society, and much has been happening.
This has been communicated through our newsletters and at the Board of Representatives, Executive and Trustees meetings. However, I am conscious that these updates may not reach all our members or the wider cardiothoracic community, so I wanted to share some highlights.
Nominations for President
We are seeking nominations for our next President Elect, who will succeed Enoch Akowuah as President of SCTS. This is an important opportunity to help shape the future of the Society, and we encourage colleagues to consider applying.
Nominations close at 17:00 on Friday 13 November 2026!
Interested colleagues should complete both the Nomination Form and Consent to Act Form and email them to nadia@scts.org.
Application documents:
- President Role Description
- Nomination Form
- Consent to Act Form
- Charity Commission Trustee Guidance
Please feel free to contact me, Enoch Akowuah (President Elect) or Doug West (Honorary Secretary) for an informal discussion.
Chief Operating Officer
An important development has been the appointment of Justine Lesforis as our interim Chief Operating Officer. Justine is making a very positive contribution, bringing experience and further organisation to the Society. She has been warmly welcomed by our Secretariat. An important part of her role is to strengthen our administration and ensure continuity through future presidential transitions.
Clinical committees
There has also been considerable activity across our cardiac, thoracic, congenital and transplant committees, with a focus on service improvement and transformation. Our transplant and congenital committees have completed important national consensus work aimed at improving services and standards of care. Both reports have been submitted for publication, and we hope to share them soon. We are so grateful to everyone involved.
Celebrating our colleagues
We were delighted to see Professor Asif Hasan receive the Pride of Britain Lifetime Achievement Award. This is wonderful recognition of his contribution to children's cardiac surgery, transplantation and the training of future generations. It is also exactly the sort of positive media attention that our specialty deserves. Congratulations, Asif!
Research, education and our Annual Meeting
Led by Carol Tan, our Meetings Secretary, preparations are well underway for our 2027 Annual Meeting in Birmingham, 20 to 23 March. The abstract submission deadline is 5 November 2026, so there is still a little time to submit your work. Registration opens on 1 December.
Our National Research Meeting on 4 December provides another opportunity for surgeons, trainees, nurses, allied health professionals and medical students to present their work. Abstract submissions close on 15 November.
We have a great deal of talent across our specialties, and I would encourage everyone to participate. These events are about meeting people, exchanging ideas and developing professional relationships as well as presenting research.
Friends of SCTS
Our Friends of SCTS initiative continues to develop, helping us build constructive relationships with industry and other organisations that share our ambitions.
We are holding two short Friends of SCTS webinars on Tuesday 10 November 2026, at different times to make it easier for colleagues to attend. I hope many of you will join us to hear about the initiative, our plans and opportunities to work together. Please register for whichever session suits you through www.scts.org.
A personal reflection from Peru
On a personal note, I have recently returned from Peru, where my wife and I completed the four day Inca Trail hike through the Andes to Machu Picchu.
Peru is an extraordinary country with a fascinating history, culture, cuisine and wonderful people. The highlight was undoubtedly the trek itself, 42 km over four days, reaching an altitude of 4,300 metres.
It was a real test. While I love mountains I live almost at sea level, and at altitude, the reduced oxygen availability makes everything harder. But the rewards were enormous. The sense of achievement, spectacular scenery, wonderful night skies with the Milky Way so clear and finally arriving at the Sun Gate as the morning sun lit Machu Picchu.
I was also struck by how much better I felt, physically and mentally. Fitter, refreshed and very much alive! I have come back hoping to improve my fitnes,.... ready for the next bike ride, and whatever comes next.
It made me reflect again on how we live and work. Our jobs are demanding, and it is very easy for work to occupy almost every available hour. I would encourage everyone to find their own equivalent of the Inca Trail. It doesn't need to involve travelling halfway around the world or climbing mountains.
Staying connected
Please do visit www.scts.org regularly for the latest news, events, vacancies and opportunities. There is much more happening than I can cover here.
All of us in SCTS are working 'to make heart, chest & lung surgery better'. We are keen that members feel able to contribute, raise concerns and get involved.
As always, thank you to everyone who gives their time and energy to the Society.
Aman S Coonar
President
Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain & Ireland
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