The Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery continues to thrive but in new ways. The public, press and media have generally and accurately portrayed the best efforts of our group in cardiac assist devices, and there has been both even-handed and generous reporting regarding the long-term survival of patients with seriously terminal heart disease. Behind this program is a remarkable development in basic laboratory research that has transformed our program.

The clinical excellence on the adult side has now been complemented by the effective laboratory work at the bench. The two components of the program are working cohesively and will presumably in the near future be housed in the new Cardiac Innovation Institute adjoining the endeavors of the School of Medicine, the Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and Jewish Hospital.

The federally competitive funding at every level in this unit has been outstanding and has set new standards, not only for the Division but the Department as a whole.

It also has been gratifying to find that Kosair Children's Hospital is supportive of the long need to enhance the depth and breadth of coverage in avant-garde pediatric cardiac surgery.

Publications by the group continue at a very high level and national recognition through societies, boards and media and have been received in a most positive light. This entire program has benefited enormously from its affiliation and association with Jewish Hospital in recent years and part of this is certainly a tribute to an expression for the institutions farsighted support for academic cardiac surgery in the best sense.