The innovation of success: the pediatric surgery and APSA response to "disruptive technologies"

APSA is in a strong position. It has a well-established but continually evolving organizational structure, it has 39 years of institutional memory, it is fiscally healthy, it has a strategic plan to chart its future, and it has a talented and energized membership, all designed to fulfill a mission on behalf of the families, children, and surgeons we serve! The ingredients of success will remain the election and selection of level 5 leaders with disciplined thought and actions who retain their creative ability to respond to and lead in an ever-changing environment of anticipated and unanticipated "disruptive technologies" that have the potential to derail our charted course for the future. The disciplined hierarchy of APSA leadership will beget disciplined thought and an appropriate selection of annual activities that meet the needs of our members. We must transition pediatric surgery and APSA into a proactive position of anticipating and responding to impending change. This combination of disciplined leaders, thought processes, and action will transform APSA into a great organization; one whose BHAGs will continually be created and actualized. It only takes our individual and collective innovation and creativity to ensure this continued success. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.