- Email: [email protected]
Oh, what a tangled web?
Oh, What a Tangled Web? Donald A. Turney The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Chicago, Illinois
f communication is the foundation of a medical specialty society, then the Internet will be the core of that foundation. C o m m u n i c a t i o n s to thoracic surgeons on scientific and organizational topics, as well as direct s u r g e o n - t o - s u r g e o n c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , can be significantly facilitated t h r o u g h the Internet. The entire world, including the international cardiothoracic community, is experiencing an explosion of growth in interest a n d participation in the Internet. The h o m e page of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) is being d e v e l o p e d to create a tool to harness the vast possibilities of the Internet for the benefit of all thoracic surgeons. The Society's h o m e page is being d e s i g n e d to act as the clearing house for cardiothoracic surgical information. W h e n c o m p l e t e d it will house w i d e - r a n g i n g data a n d other information d e v e l o p e d on a continuing basis, which will s u p p o r t the professional activities of individual thoracic surgeons a n d s u p p o r t the a d v a n c e m e n t of the entire specialty. Direct information exchange bet w e e n surgeons, the collection of survey feedback on topical issues of importance to the specialty, r a p i d dissemination of relevant information to all thoracic surgeons, and providing direct access to continuing education e l e m e n t s are all a m o n g the m a n y elements that the STS h o m e page will provide. W h e n you enter the STS W e b site on the Internet (located at http://www.sts.org) you will be greeted by The Society's logo s u r r o u n d e d by a n u m b e r of links, each one identifying an area of content. A single click of your m o u s e on your desired link will take you to the page of your choice. Each area will contain one or m o r e "pages" of information. Ultimately a complex organization of resources can be created to effectively c o m m u n i c a t e the d e s i r e d information. T h r o u g h o u t the STS W e b site you will e n c o u n t e r blue text (also called hyperlinks) descriptive of other pages within the W e b site or entirely different W e b sites that you can visit by clicking your m o u s e on the text. You can reverse y o u r steps by using your "back" button or retrace t h e m by using your "forw a r d " button. Navigation through the W e b is amazingly simple and very " u s e r friendly." Although the STS h o m e page has b e e n in existence only a few short months, it already provides a significant array of information to m e m b e r s of The Society a n d to other visitors. Its news page posts various news items and c o m m u n i c a t i o n s of interest. It includes an entire section dealing with lung volume reduction surgery, which contains the c o m p l e t e N a t i o n a l Institutes of
I
Address reprint requests to Mr Turney, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, 401 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611. (e-mail: [email protected]). © 1996 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Published by Elsevier Science lnc
Health request for p r o p o s a l for the clinical study on lung volume reduction surgery. The r e q u e s t for p r o p o s a l was p o s t e d the same day it was released. This action leveraged the p o w e r of the Internet to p r o v i d e d e s i r e d inform a t i o n immediately to those interested in accessing it. A complete p r e p u b l i c a t i o n m a n u s c r i p t from The Annals of Thoracic Surgery with full b i b l i o g r a p h y is available for review a n d discussion on the W e b site. The manuscript, which will be cycled on a regular basis, is selected for its educational a n d surgical interest. The Annals page also contains information for authors on submitting a m a n u script, the m e m b e r s of the Editorial Board, a form for on-line review of manuscripts, a n d the ability to search all material p u b l i s h e d in The Annals. A n e w feature, the prepublication of the m o n t h l y index for each issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, will soon be available. A h y p e r l i n k to The Annals' publisher, Elsevier Science Inc, and to the Editor's office can be found on the Annals page to provide users with easy access to both. The Society's m e m b e r s h i p d a t a b a s e is on line with available features to facilitate communications. If one is interested in locating information r e g a r d i n g a m e m b e r of The Society, such information can be accessed directly by searching for the m e m b e r ' s n a m e or reviewing a list of those residing in the geographic area of interest. A full m e m b e r s h i p d a t a b a s e search capability assists in the location of an individual with only partial information. Those m e m b e r s with e-mail capability can be contacted directly t h r o u g h the STS W e b site's e-mail feature. M e m b e r s h i p information can be r e v i e w e d a n d modified directly by each m e m b e r without having to contact The Society's h e a d q u a r t e r s . N o n m e m b e r s or c o l l e a g u e s wishing to join or p r o m o t e Society m e m b e r s h i p can print all necessary details on the application process a n d an official application form. On-line discussions on topics of interest to surgeons; links to a wide n u m b e r of relevant Internet sites; listings of surgical meetings and conferences; complete abstract search capability for three leading journals in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery; and periodic organizational updates, information, a n d other material of concern to the specialty are all available on the STS h o m e page. A d d i t i o n a l features are being p l a n n e d to i m p r o v e the value of the W e b site to all users. The global nature of the Internet will b e c o m e increasingly i m p o r t a n t in strengthening the links b e t w e e n thoracic surgeons from every nation. Doctor Robert Replogle, The Society's President, has been tireless in creating organizational relationships that will help to establish the W e b as the w o r l d w i d e communication tool for all thoracic surgeons. S p a n n i n g the Seven Continents, Ann Thorac Surg 1996;62:1563-4 * 0003-4975/96/$15.00 PlI S0003-4975(96)00799-0
1564
STS O N THE WEB TURNEY OH, W H A T A TANGLED WEB?
plans are underway to include all major thoracic surgical organizations in this important effort. The finished product will provide the specialty with the type of resource necessary to take development of the profession to the next level. The success of this entire endeavor is dependent on each thoracic surgeon taking the first step and joining the "Internet revolution." Everyone should spend a few
A n n Thorac S u r g 1996;62:1563-4
m o m e n t s visiting our Web site and imagining the potential for themselves and their colleagues. Doctors David B. Campbell and Peter S. Greene have previously published guidelines to getting started on the "Net." Those not now on the Net should make every effort to follow their advice and get on the bandwagon. Internet access will become increasingly important in the future to each one of us. The time is now to be a part of it!
Notice From the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association The Forty-third Annual Meeting of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association will be held at the Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Hotel, Cancun, Mexico, Nov e m b e r 7-9, 1996. The Postgraduate Course will be held the m o r n i n g of Thursday, N o v e m b e r 7, 1996, and will provide in-depth coverage of thoracic surgical topics selected primarily as a means to e n h a n c e and
b r o a d e n the knowledge of practicing thoracic and cardiac surgeons. D. Glenn Pennington, MD Secretary-Treasurer Southern Thoracic Surgical Association 401 North Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60611-4267
f communication is the foundation of a medical specialty society, then the Internet will be the core of that foundation. C o m m u n i c a t i o n s to thoracic surgeons on scientific and organizational topics, as well as direct s u r g e o n - t o - s u r g e o n c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , can be significantly facilitated t h r o u g h the Internet. The entire world, including the international cardiothoracic community, is experiencing an explosion of growth in interest a n d participation in the Internet. The h o m e page of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) is being d e v e l o p e d to create a tool to harness the vast possibilities of the Internet for the benefit of all thoracic surgeons. The Society's h o m e page is being d e s i g n e d to act as the clearing house for cardiothoracic surgical information. W h e n c o m p l e t e d it will house w i d e - r a n g i n g data a n d other information d e v e l o p e d on a continuing basis, which will s u p p o r t the professional activities of individual thoracic surgeons a n d s u p p o r t the a d v a n c e m e n t of the entire specialty. Direct information exchange bet w e e n surgeons, the collection of survey feedback on topical issues of importance to the specialty, r a p i d dissemination of relevant information to all thoracic surgeons, and providing direct access to continuing education e l e m e n t s are all a m o n g the m a n y elements that the STS h o m e page will provide. W h e n you enter the STS W e b site on the Internet (located at http://www.sts.org) you will be greeted by The Society's logo s u r r o u n d e d by a n u m b e r of links, each one identifying an area of content. A single click of your m o u s e on your desired link will take you to the page of your choice. Each area will contain one or m o r e "pages" of information. Ultimately a complex organization of resources can be created to effectively c o m m u n i c a t e the d e s i r e d information. T h r o u g h o u t the STS W e b site you will e n c o u n t e r blue text (also called hyperlinks) descriptive of other pages within the W e b site or entirely different W e b sites that you can visit by clicking your m o u s e on the text. You can reverse y o u r steps by using your "back" button or retrace t h e m by using your "forw a r d " button. Navigation through the W e b is amazingly simple and very " u s e r friendly." Although the STS h o m e page has b e e n in existence only a few short months, it already provides a significant array of information to m e m b e r s of The Society a n d to other visitors. Its news page posts various news items and c o m m u n i c a t i o n s of interest. It includes an entire section dealing with lung volume reduction surgery, which contains the c o m p l e t e N a t i o n a l Institutes of
I
Address reprint requests to Mr Turney, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, 401 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611. (e-mail: [email protected]). © 1996 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Published by Elsevier Science lnc
Health request for p r o p o s a l for the clinical study on lung volume reduction surgery. The r e q u e s t for p r o p o s a l was p o s t e d the same day it was released. This action leveraged the p o w e r of the Internet to p r o v i d e d e s i r e d inform a t i o n immediately to those interested in accessing it. A complete p r e p u b l i c a t i o n m a n u s c r i p t from The Annals of Thoracic Surgery with full b i b l i o g r a p h y is available for review a n d discussion on the W e b site. The manuscript, which will be cycled on a regular basis, is selected for its educational a n d surgical interest. The Annals page also contains information for authors on submitting a m a n u script, the m e m b e r s of the Editorial Board, a form for on-line review of manuscripts, a n d the ability to search all material p u b l i s h e d in The Annals. A n e w feature, the prepublication of the m o n t h l y index for each issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, will soon be available. A h y p e r l i n k to The Annals' publisher, Elsevier Science Inc, and to the Editor's office can be found on the Annals page to provide users with easy access to both. The Society's m e m b e r s h i p d a t a b a s e is on line with available features to facilitate communications. If one is interested in locating information r e g a r d i n g a m e m b e r of The Society, such information can be accessed directly by searching for the m e m b e r ' s n a m e or reviewing a list of those residing in the geographic area of interest. A full m e m b e r s h i p d a t a b a s e search capability assists in the location of an individual with only partial information. Those m e m b e r s with e-mail capability can be contacted directly t h r o u g h the STS W e b site's e-mail feature. M e m b e r s h i p information can be r e v i e w e d a n d modified directly by each m e m b e r without having to contact The Society's h e a d q u a r t e r s . N o n m e m b e r s or c o l l e a g u e s wishing to join or p r o m o t e Society m e m b e r s h i p can print all necessary details on the application process a n d an official application form. On-line discussions on topics of interest to surgeons; links to a wide n u m b e r of relevant Internet sites; listings of surgical meetings and conferences; complete abstract search capability for three leading journals in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery; and periodic organizational updates, information, a n d other material of concern to the specialty are all available on the STS h o m e page. A d d i t i o n a l features are being p l a n n e d to i m p r o v e the value of the W e b site to all users. The global nature of the Internet will b e c o m e increasingly i m p o r t a n t in strengthening the links b e t w e e n thoracic surgeons from every nation. Doctor Robert Replogle, The Society's President, has been tireless in creating organizational relationships that will help to establish the W e b as the w o r l d w i d e communication tool for all thoracic surgeons. S p a n n i n g the Seven Continents, Ann Thorac Surg 1996;62:1563-4 * 0003-4975/96/$15.00 PlI S0003-4975(96)00799-0
1564
STS O N THE WEB TURNEY OH, W H A T A TANGLED WEB?
plans are underway to include all major thoracic surgical organizations in this important effort. The finished product will provide the specialty with the type of resource necessary to take development of the profession to the next level. The success of this entire endeavor is dependent on each thoracic surgeon taking the first step and joining the "Internet revolution." Everyone should spend a few
A n n Thorac S u r g 1996;62:1563-4
m o m e n t s visiting our Web site and imagining the potential for themselves and their colleagues. Doctors David B. Campbell and Peter S. Greene have previously published guidelines to getting started on the "Net." Those not now on the Net should make every effort to follow their advice and get on the bandwagon. Internet access will become increasingly important in the future to each one of us. The time is now to be a part of it!
Notice From the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association The Forty-third Annual Meeting of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association will be held at the Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Hotel, Cancun, Mexico, Nov e m b e r 7-9, 1996. The Postgraduate Course will be held the m o r n i n g of Thursday, N o v e m b e r 7, 1996, and will provide in-depth coverage of thoracic surgical topics selected primarily as a means to e n h a n c e and
b r o a d e n the knowledge of practicing thoracic and cardiac surgeons. D. Glenn Pennington, MD Secretary-Treasurer Southern Thoracic Surgical Association 401 North Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60611-4267