THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN THORACIC-SURGERY

This is an historic moment, with the first Ralph D. Alley lectureship. We are extremely pleased to have Dr Alley with us with his wife, two of his daughters, and Dave Sheridan, one of his close friends. The selection of the speaker to deliver this first Ralph Alley Lecture as one of the requirements Dr Replogle just mentioned was not very difficult indeed. I have long been an admirer of Harry Schwartz. Dr Schwartz obtained his PhD from Columbia University. He is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of State University of New York, and he has been notably prominent in his editorials and writings of many articles in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today; where we see them most commonly, I think, is in The American Medical News. I have had the opportunity to hear Dr Schwartz many times over the last few years and have always been impressed with the different perspective that he brings to our profession. His talks always contain provocative thoughts of some of the ways that we should approach our future. Dr Schwartz has chosen as his topic today, "The Future of American Thoracic Surgery." Dr Schwartz, we are delighted to have you.