Long-term visionIn this year’s last note I would like to comment on the PANLAR Development Plan that draws a course of action for the organization until the year 2022. This Development Plan arose from the need to improve what we do, under the belief PANLAR can and must give more and that we shall do it through a plan adequately setting forth our organization’s mission, establishing differentiated strategies and consulting our action model through measurable and clear goals. Focus and joint work on this plan will allow PANLAR to be what we want it to be in the next 6 years.

A moment during the PANLAR General Assembly gathering 21 member countries

We envision a great PANLAR: an inclusive organization, proud of what it stands for, neither afraid of engaging new challenges nor self-limitating. We shall accept nothing but the best. Our leadership areas shall help stren-gthen our own culture and identity. Moreover, we have the task of growing beyond what we have achieved to transform into a modern, innovative association strongly involved in leading its region and the world.

Building a development plan

The executive committee has set forth the basis of institutional success in the development plan, which were presented at the recent Washington assembly. They include:

1. Clear Direction (Vision and Strategy) Anyone who is aware of PANLAR shall know where it is headed. Anyone working directly on development plans shall know its vision and strategy towards the future. We are convinced anything proposed can be achieved.

2. Measurable Management of Goals Each committee shall establish short, medium and long-term goals within the development plan. Measurable and traceable indicators will allow us to follow-up and take informed decisions every step of the way.

3. Institutional innovation and change culture Innovation is at the core of PANLAR’s corporate culture. Each committee shall clearly set proposals that will impact through their characteristics and design, and preferable stand out of the ordinary. A culture of innovation may not be limited to doing things right. Inno-vation entails respecting the ideas of others while fostering creative thought that enables new solutions to recurring problems. It aims at evolving in a medium where new ideas are a source of applied knowle-dge. Innovation attempts to take advantage of the natural talents and creativity of our people towards excellence. It also involves different generations of members, so all can contribute new ways of action on operational and medical attention levels.

4. Strong leadership team We want born leaders in groups and management positions who are able to deliver great qualities as team workers. We want their talents to be beneficial to PANLAR and not just to themselves. PANLAR shall be a formation center for potent leaders capable of inspiring and contributing knowledge to all team members and to our field of work.

5. PANLAR brand visibility The PANLAR brand shall be associated to the above-mentioned characteristics.

Innovation, development of successful projects, leadership, long-term vision, outreach to the societies of those countries were it becomes an important and different referent, shall be source of knowledge and supranational integration confirmed by a community gathered around excellency, friendship and professionalism.

The president and president-elect of PANLAR, Carlo V. Caballero and Enrique Soriano, respectively, joined by (left to right) the legal adviser, Cinthya Uzcátegui and Javier Montilla (Congrex Executive Secretariat), Paola Piza and Dan Rivlin (CEO) (PANLAR Kenes PCO).

Challenges ahead

All 21 national associations and each of their members are at the center of PANLAR’s common project. The following areas have been strengthened during the past year:

• A committed team• Representation and clear rules in our operations• Increased connection with members, patients and clients• Improved products. Unique and differentiating in the spirit of our region• Innovation and creativity as the force behind development and sustainability• Considering all ideas and feedback from members• Direct, frequent and fluid communication through all modern communication means. Intelligent, hard-working and creative people used to overcoming numerous daily obstacles form our asso-ciations, without exception. In a favorable environment, we can together reach the dreamed level of excellency for this new PANLAR. There are no excuses. The mo-ment is right and we shall prepare the next generation of Pan-American leaders to develop PANLAR in the fo-llowing decades.

I am personally very proud of all the messages, co-rrespondence and personal interaction with PANLAR members. In most countries, the desire to strengthen this project is evident, as well as the respect for our or-ganization’s history. Our mission is to motivate through presence, writings and, mainly, actions that help create the favorable environment where ideas are expressed, creativity flourishes and hopes are fulfilled.

“Intelligent, hard-working and creative people used to overcoming numerous daily

obstacles form our associations, without exception. In a favorable

environment, we can together reach the dreamed level of

excellency for this new PANLAR. There are no excuses. The

moment is right and we shall prepare the next generation of Pan-American leaders to

develop PANLAR in the following decades.”

Some say we dream too big. According to them, why change when we’ve reached a certain level of comfort? or what is the need of upending established traditions? We thank all because they provide the impulse needed for change and at the same time we invite them to embrace change, since there is no turning back on it. Dr. Enrique Soriano, president-elect for 2016-2018, has been active, as all members of the managing board and the executive committee, in promoting the development plan and fully engaging current and future leadership committed to this historical change.

We remind large countries that together we are more and that a well-structured PANLAR will help many of its members reach regional goals that will have global impact. To intermediate countries we say, it is the time to take your position in the development of PANLAR, since these projects will help you become bigger players. To small countries I say, country size should not be an obstacle to reach outstanding quality standards. It is all about a shared vision about what we do and can do.

My next note will be dedicated to delve on the 2022 Development Plan.

I wish you all the best during the holiday season and an excellent new year, and extend an invitation to actively participate in the Costa Rica (May) and Lima (September) courses and to work closely with any of the PANLAR groups.

Carlo Vinicio Caballero Uribe MD Phd ©President 2016-18