Reflections of the Incoming President of CAG

203 It is with both great anticipation and some trepidation that I take on the duties and responsibilities as the 39th president of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG). The past few years have been highlighted by the development of a Canadian Digestive Disease Week (CDDW), the creation of a fully staffed National Office headed by a superb executive director, Paul Sinclair, and the formation of a sister funding organization, the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation. My immediate predecessors, Richard Fedorak and John Wallace, deserve our thanks for leading the implementation of these initiatives. I look forward to continuing to work with the past presidents of the CAG in planning for the future. During these times of change and challenge, we cannot, however, rest on our laurels. We will update a strategic plan developed some 10 years ago in order to set an agenda for how the CAG will work to fulfill your needs over the next decade. Our organization serves a diverse constituency, and we must continue to work to serve the goals and aspirations of all of our members. It is my intention to take advantage of the immense talent and great energy of our members as a lobbying force. We must be proactive in our interactions with federal and provincial governments, disease-related agencies and partners in industry to acquire the additional resources that are desperately needed if we are to optimize the digestive health of Canadians. Listed below are the current members of the CAG Executive, along with telephone numbers and e-mail addresses. Please do not hesitate to contact any one of us with comments, concerns and feedback. President Phil Sherman Telephone: 416-813-7734 E-mail: President@cag-acg.org