A message from the ILD Network Chair Anne-Marie Russell
It was a privilege to accept the position of chair on 9th October 2017 at our second ILD Network conference. I look forward to serving you well during my term of office. Thank you to committee and to our former chair Geraldine Burge who has set a very solid foundation upon which to build and expand the network.
Conference
We were delighted to have so many delegates at conference from a range of professional disciplines representing the UK; Eire; Holland; Denmark and the US. Your feedback tells us that conference was a great success. Thank you to you our members for your support and enthusiasm. I wanted to let you know that we have responded to your evaluations and requests and are already planning conference for next year. We have programmed the content you have asked for which will be delivered by professionally renowned speakers. We will strive to deliver a balance of academic rigour and practical application. We have secured a great venue that is light and airy with ample parking and excellent transport links. We can promise that our 2018 conference will be a memorable experience!
As a not for profit organisation we are grateful to our sponsors, Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis, Hoffman La Roche and Boehringer Ingelheim without whom we could not deliver such large and successful conferences. In addition we are grateful for the support available to members and delegates through the generous bursaries offered by Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis, the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association, the Pulmonary fibrosis Trust UK and Hugh James. We look forward to your continuing support in 2018.
It is valuable to have our professional organisations represented and there was a great deal of informal education and conversation taking place in the conference exhibition hall. Thank you to exhibitors Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, National Asbestos Helpline, Baywater Healthcare, ARNS, ARTP and the British Lunch Foundation for contributing to the success of the conference.
We look forward to welcoming you all on 7th – 8th October 2018.
Mentorship
It is great to see that the ILD community of professionals is growing; working together, educating ourselves and responding well to academic and clinical challenges. We must continue to influence and shape the future of patient care. However, we are working in challenging times, often with limited resources. In the UK the uncertainty of how Brexit will impact healthcare provision, the financial constraints experienced by those working in the NHS and concerns around downgrading professional positions undoubtedly cause distress. Whilst the ILD Network cannot solve these problems we hope that our Mentorship programme will offer support, time to reflect and to consider different ways of working, enabling us to better manage professional challenges. The Mentorship programme will help us in regaining our professional focus to realise our individual and collective potential.
We are rebuilding our website behind the scenes. Further information regarding the Mentorship programme will be available in the members’ section early in December. In the interim, if you are interested in becoming a mentor or a mentee please get in touch via email at: mentorship@ild-inn.org.uk
We will be holding a training day for mentors on 27th June 2018 followed by a Spring School for mentees on 28th June 2018 in Birmingham. Please hold the date and register your interest at mentorship@ild-inn.org.uk
Should you have any additional queries or need further information please get in touch via the contact page on the website.
And so…………..I am now taking a sabbatical / writing leave. Sarah Agnew has taken the interim chair position until April 2018 supported by Sandra Olive Co-chair, Sarah Lines secretary and Anna Murphy treasurer. The Network is in safe hands and will continue to thrive. I am grateful to all committee members for their commitment and hard work to support the ILD Network.
I look forward to seeing you on 27-28th June 2018 at the Mentor / Mentee Spring School and again at conference on 7th – 8th October 2018 in Birmingham.
Best Wishes
Anne Marie
