Greetings to Our Colleagues
It is difficult to believe we are gearing up for AACVPR's 24th Annual Meeting!! This organization has come so far and we are all very proud and excited to present the 2009 program to you.
When we developed the 24th Annual Meeting theme, "New Directions," we could not have known how much it would resonate with the events now taking place. This year has undoubtedly brought new directions for all of us-some difficult, some very positive. We have a new US president, and we are in the midst of the toughest economic times most of us can remember. On the other hand, we can take pride in, and celebrate seeing, the fruits of our efforts over the past several years with the passage of the Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Act in July 2008.
Difficult times make it necessary for us to be as creative and innovative as possible and to keep current with the latest trends in our field. There is no better way to do this than by attending the AACVPR 24th Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh this fall. The content is rich, the speakers are dynamic, and the networking is more crucial than ever.
We are taking strides in 2009 not only to be cautious of our budget but also to be environmentally conscious. AACVPR was fortunate enough to launch a brand new Web site in 2008, and we are taking full advantage of it. All session descriptions, speaker photos, and additional Annual Meeting details are available to you online at http://www.aacvpr.org. We also urge you to register online-it is fast, easy, and secure.
We hope this Advance Program stirs excitement within your facility for the 24th Annual Meeting. Don't forget that if you register 2 attendees from the same facility by the August 28 early-bird deadline, a third person from the same facility can attend free of charge.
We look forward to seeing you in Pittsburgh!!
Randal J. Thomas, MD, FAACVPR
2009 AACVPR President-Elect and Program Co-Chair (Thomas)
Anne M. Gavic, MPA, FAACVPR
Chair, Program Planning Committee and Program Co-Chair (Gavic)