ETA Chapter Report

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The CSAO-ETA Chapter report was prepared in accordance with the criteria set by our association's constitution and the chapter by-laws and it is a true reflection of the chapter activity from the last chapter annual report.

In keeping with our association goals and tradition, the ETA Chapter tried to maintain or increase its ability to support or actively participate in the educational process being at the chapter level or as part of the provincial activities.

The ETA Chapter has, for the past many years, offered the facility for the spring and fall sessions being at St. Michael's or Mount Sinai hospital.

As well, education was the main goal when organizing the chapter meetings. Some translated in our members' exposure to new technologies where other events open unique opportunities for learning new skills and knowledge.

Since the last annual report, the ETA Chapter held three meetings scheduled and delivered at the most acceptable and opportune times and locations making sure that all these were accepted by the membership.

The first meeting took place on December 07, 2011 and was organized by the Chapter Executive group together with the academic group from the surgical Skills Labs at Mount Sinai Hospital.

The attending members had the opportunity of visiting the Surgical Skills Centre at MSH, which is a unique academic centre that provides a laboratory setting where basic and complex surgical procedures can be learned and practiced. The Centre plays a key part in training medical students, resident fellows and surgeons locally, nationally and internationally. The Surgical Skills Centre provides trainees with an opportunity for deliberate but monitored practice in a non critical environment. This was a very impressive operation and at the same time the members had a lot of fun asking questions while getting some hands-on experience with the specific and highly sophisticated apparatus located in each and every laboratory.

A good part of the evening was spent on various hands-on exercises from suturing, simulated colonoscopy and the use of air ways and crash carts.
This meeting was extremely educational and very well received by the attending members.

The second meeting was a seasonal networking session which after many years became a tradition. It was held at the "Mandarin Restaurant" on March 06, 2010 was attended by our members from various hospitals.

Having been part of this event for many years I truly hope that the future executive groups will continue this tradition; it is a well attended and enjoyable networking and celebratory opportunity.

Although scheduled as a fun/networking meeting the executive group made sure that enough time was allocated for information on the chapter and provincial activities.

These were some of the matters covered and discussed at this meeting:

• Nominating the ETA Chapter representative
• Nominations for the three available chapter executive positions
• CSAO executive news
• CSAO Annual Conference

Our third meeting was held at Mount Sinai Hospital on April 24^th, 2012 and its goal was to develop and promote a better understanding of the vaporized hydrogen peroxide, Steris technology, known as the V-Pro 1 plus, low temperature sterilization system.

Bryan Bolger and Robert Rowe provided an overview of the company, its representation on the healthcare sector as well as the latest products which came out of a very intense research and development program.

When talking about the research and development programs Bryan indicated that 291 scientists and 38 PhD's are part of the program and so far have either worked on or brought to market 1235 patents.

The meeting was very well received and the attending members praised the content and the delivery format of this technical information.

I would like to take this opportunity and thank our secretary, Leela Gibbard for taking and keeping these minutes in a very organized fashion, Ilda Sousa, the chapter treasurer for preparing and maintaining our finance in order and the vice president, Louis Konstant for all his support for the past two years.

It is the opinion this executive group that the membership welcomed our attempt to innovate and invigorate the meeting concepts; the content and the timely delivery of our meetings provided us with the necessary membership support.

As far as the membership is concerned the ETA Chapter is still attracting a fairly good number of members; new or not so new. Unfortunately, as reported last year, we are no longer the largest chapter in the province as far as membership is concerned. As of March 26, 2012 our chapter registered 67 members out of which 10 were managers and 8 associates.

In my opinion, in order to regain the premier position we need full support of the all the present previous members. It is your support that will invigorate and energize all chapter activities and give us the opportunity to speak for everyone working in the reprocessing of medical devices.

Michael Lacatus
President - ETA Chapter
June 2012