During the last several months, our community has experienced unprecedented changes not only in the way we conduct clinical practice, but also in the fashion with which we live our daily lives. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of our existence, with over one million individuals having succumbed to the virus worldwide. However, we will endure these historic events and become better, as a global community, than ever before. The leadership of the World Database for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery wishes to express our deepest thoughts and prayers to all our colleagues who have experienced personal and professional tragedies as a result of this pandemic. Through the hardship and suffering, a renewed sense of comradery and collaboration has emerged. Societies across the globe, particularly those dedicated to the care of congenital heart disease, have shared experiences, provided tangible support, and cared for each other during these challenging times. We need to continue to pull together as a community; it is the only way we will be successful in defeating this insult to humanity.

Sincerely,
James K. Kirklin, Database Chair
James D. St. Louis, Database Vice Chair/Secretary
Erle Austen, Chair, CHSS Quality Committee
Robert Dabal, WDPCHS Quality Committee
Marcelo B. Jatene, WSPCHS President
Christo I. Tchervenkov, WSPCHS Executive Director

World Journal for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery
Volume 11 Issue 6, November 2020 Published

If you are a paid-up member you can access full-text of these articles through https://www.wspchs.org.

I am honored and privileged to have been elected as your President. I cannot be but very proud of what this thriving society has achieved in such a short time. We have had many excellent scientific meetings around the globe covering a wide range of topics. Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the World University was established and already held a very successful first webinar. The World Database is growing. The Global Council on Education for Congenital Heart Surgery has conducted multiple town hall meetings and is preparing a very important manuscript. The World Journal, the only journal dedicated to Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery, under the leadership of Marshall Jacobs, has taken significant strides establishing itself as one of the leading journals in our specialty. With the World Society’s help and guidance, the African Society for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery was recently established.

This would not have been possible without the tremendous efforts and dedication of our 1st President and now Executive Director, Christo Tchervenkov, working together with our past presidents, the Executive Committee and the Governing Council making the World Society one of a kind. I express my sincere thanks to all of you, to Christo, to our other ex-presidents, Giovanni Stellin, Hiromi Kurosawa, Richard Jonas and Marcelo Jatene and promise to carry on their legacy. Special thanks to Marshall Jacobs, Editor-in-Chief and to Adam Becker, our Manager.

I am grateful for the tremendous opportunity and for your support. I look forward to serving with enthusiasm to ensure a great future and continued success of our society and for our patients! Sincerely,

Zohair Y. Al Halees, MD, MSC, FACC, FRCSC, FACS

President, World Society for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery
Chairman, Governing Council & Executive Committee

Advisor of Cardiovascular Services to the CEO
Distinguished Senior Cardiac Surgeon / Consultant, Heart Centre
King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia