Improving patient outcomes

Curated resources, tools, events, news, and videos for aspiring, in-training, and experienced surgeons.

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Image collage of surgeon, scalpel, lungs, graphics

Submit Abstracts for STS 2025

Submit your work for presentation consideration at STS 2025 (Jan. 24-26, Los Angeles). STS is seeking abstracts for oral presentations, scientific posters, and “how I do it” surgical videos in all CT surgery disciplines. Submissions are due July 3.

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Education

Network and stay on the cutting edge of cardiothoracic surgeryView All >

Event
STS Leadership Institute

An opportunity for early and mid-career STS surgeon members to learn how to lead in and out of the OR.

Mar 21, 2024 – Jan 23, 2025

Zoom, Chicago, and Los Angeles

Event
2024 STS Boot Camp

An experiential foundation and hands-on practice in basic cardiothoracic operating skills for first-year residents.

Aug 22–25, 2024

Chicago, IL

Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (blue background, computer-generated heart)

Event
Heart Valve Disease Forum 2024

KTCVS-STS Asia Symposium on Valvular Heart Disease

Aug 30–31, 2024

Seoul, Korea

Data & Research

Initiatives and resources to improve quality care for patients

STS National Database

The gold standard for clinical registries and quality improvement

Open

Public Reporting

Institutional performance and national benchmarks for survival, complications, and other measures.

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Current Projects

The latest research in progress from programs funded by STS

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Data Access Programs

STS data for quality improvement initiatives, clinical trials, and research

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Resources

Essential tools for cardiothoracic surgeons

Risk Calculator

Calculate a patient’s risk of mortality and morbidities for common cardiac surgeries.

Open

Early Career Hub

Guidance and resources for CT surgeons in the first 7 years of practice

Open

Clinical Practice Documents

Improve patient outcomes with guidelines from experienced medical professionals.

Surgical Checklists

PDFs to prepare you and your team for upcoming surgeries.

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News & Media

The latest from the field of thoracic surgeryView All >

Podcast
#157; S4: Same Surgeon, Different Light w/ Dr. Yolonda Colson

In this episode, Dr. Thomas Varghese joins Dr. Yolonda Colson, chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, and professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, for an insightful conversation on the advancement of women in cardiothoracic surgery. Dr. Olson shares her origin story - "from farm to field" - as an accomplished surgeon and scientist. What does it take to become a consistently high performer? Dr. Colson advises, "Stay focused on your purpose stay open to new opportunities."

1 hr

Blog
The Importance of Setting Boundaries as a Cardiothoracic Surgeon

As physicians, we spend the first half of our adult lives being told to always say yes. The goal is to build that CV so you can make it to the next step. Set a foundation to show you have potential and you’ll get accepted to medical school. Show academic, research, and leadership promise to land that coveted residency spot.

Jun 20, 2024

4 min read

Brian Mitzman, MD, MS, University of Utah

News
2024 STS Coronary Conference Showcases Latest Research and Techniques

On June 7-8, 2024, in Miami, more than 120 cardiothoracic surgeons and heart team members from around the world gathered for the third annual STS Coronary Conference. With a focus on the technical aspects of coronary surgery, attendees experienced case-based panel discussions, abstract sessions, practical tips and tricks, and interactive “How I Do It” video presentations featuring surgical techniques.

STS Coronary Conference presentations — The two-day 2024 STS Coronary Conference brought together coronary surgery experts from throughout the world.

The two-day event covered a wide range of topics, including conduit selection and harvest, graft configuration, off- and on-pump CABG, and a stepwise approach to minimally invasive coronary surgery, from MIDCAB to advanced multivessel revascularization.

"Coronary surgery is a sub-specialty within cardiac surgery, so it’s important for future surgeons to be skilled in off-pump surgery, minimally invasive surgery, and traditional on-pump cross clamp surgical techniques,” said Chase Brown, MD, assistant professor of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania, and a course presenter. “Attendees were able to learn from experts leading the way in the field.”

"The most exciting things I learned about were the technical aspects of coronary sequential grafting," said cardiac surgery resident Dr. Kevin An from the University of Toronto. “It’s an area I’m interested in implementing into my practice.”

Here's what a few other attendees said about the Coronary Conference:

"I enjoyed the panel discussions at the end of each session – I learned as much from them as I did from each of the presentations."
"So many great presentations. I think the 'How to Prevent AKI After CABG' presentation by Dr. Daniel Engleman may have been my favorite."
"After attending the sessions, we will add certain changes in the steps for endoscopic harvesting of the saphenous vein, as well as measures to reduce and prevent sternal wound complications."
"In the future, I would like to see more perioperative content and learn how to implant an Impella 5.5."
"I really enjoyed the conference. It was worth coming to the US from Brazil to take the course."
"As a result of attending the conference, I would tend to perform MAG-TAG more often to more patients, use the skeletonization technique to decrease sternal wound infections, and practice the Y-T graft."

View all conference abstracts.

Check out our event photo gallery.

Jun 12, 2024

2 min read

STS News, the Society’s quarterly magazine for members only, brings you the latest CT surgery news, research, stories, and more to help keep you in the know and connected to your peers.

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