All Members

Last month, Congress passed legislation that helps mitigate a nearly 9% cut to Medicare reimbursement for cardiothoracic surgery. Instead, cardiothoracic surgeons will experience a 2.08% decrease in reimbursement—which went into effect Jan. 1, 2023.  While the Society’s goal was to eliminate 100% of the pending cuts, its efforts as part of the Surgical Care Coalition (SCC) succeeded in substantially reducing the impact on surgeons in the interim. Throughout the course of 2022, the Society and its SCC partners engaged with legislators to stop the planned cuts.  “STS members who participated in advocacy efforts this year are to be commended for their contributions toward fixing a broken system,” said STS President John H. Calhoon, MD. “Our work will continue in 2023 or until Congress takes action on developing a long-term solution for Medicare payment.”  “These cuts are not sustainable going forward,” added Joseph Cleveland Jr., MD, chair of the STS Council on Health Policy and Relationships. “A long-term solution to Medicare reform is the most important thing in all of this in order to give cardiothoracic surgeons a degree of financial certainty to operate their practices. We need to be here so that we can take care of all patients with heart disease and cancer when they need us most.”  In addition to the Society’s individual efforts, STS’ legislative advocacy is greatly bolstered by its proactive role in the Surgical Care Coalition, a national coalition of 14 medical associations and societies that collectively represent 150,000 surgeons and anesthesiologists. Targeting Congressional leadership, the Surgical Care Coalition unifies the voice of the surgical profession on policy issues related to patient access and care quality. In addition to the Medicare cuts that just happened, Dr. Cleveland urges surgeons to think about some of the most profound long-term consequences that loom if drastic Medicare cuts continue; aging Baby Boomers may not be able to find cardiothoracic care if surgeons are forced to limit patients covered by Medicare. Further, he notes that tomorrow’s promising surgeons may choose not to enter the profession because of lengthy training, high educational debt, and unpredictable reimbursement—and patients will ultimately suffer. The US shortage of cardiothoracic surgeons is expected to reach severe levels by 2035, according to estimates derived from the STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database and the American Cancer Society.    Although any surgeon who serves Medicare-covered patients will be impacted by these latest cuts, Dr. Cleveland adds that surgeons in rural or under-served areas and independent surgeons may be affected most. He urges STS members to take the following actions: 1. Make your views known to your federal and local lawmakers. Tell them that you want to take care of Medicare patients in their districts, but cuts might jeopardize this. Find contact information for members of Congress at congress.gov/contact-us. 2. Contribute to the STS Political Action Committee, which helps get surgeon advocates in front of legislators who can support surgeons. Donations can be made at pac.sts.org. 3. Participate in volunteer health policy work with STS that fits your preferences and time. Explore proactive opportunities at sts.org/advocacy or email advocacy@sts.org. “If we continue on the current path, we face an unsustainable crisis in providing care to our patients with heart and lung disease,” Dr. Cleveland said.

Whether they know from the start that they’ll emulate their parents’ careers—or they fight tooth-and-nail to carve a different path—there seems to be something in the genes of cardiothoracic surgeons that pulls their children toward their calling.   Hal and Sophia Roberts For Harold “Hal” G. Roberts Jr., MD, and Sophia H. Roberts, MD, Barnes Jewish Hospital and Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, is a cornerstone, an alma mater, and a workplace.  Last year, Dr. Hal Roberts joined the Barnes Jewish Heart and Vascular Center, transitioning from a South Florida private practice. He arrived a celebrated member of the surgical team, with more than 20 years of surgeries under his belt, a patent for a 3D mitral annuloplasty ring, the first publication to describe a modification of the Cox Maze IV right atrial lesion set, and a reputation for performing the first TAVR procedure in Broward County, Florida. And another singular distinction: Sophia’s dad.  “On ‘Take Your Child to Work Day,’ cardiothoracic surgeons can pretty much blow it out of the water by bringing their kid to the OR,” Sophia reflected. “Seeing the team dynamic and the real leadership that comes with being the attending surgeon had a lasting impact on me.”  Dr. Sophia Roberts adds that although her siblings didn’t go into medicine, they also considered the experience to be special—and fundamental to understanding their dad as a person.  “I tend to be a bit quieter than baseline,” she explained, “and that initially made me concerned for my ability to lead an operative team.” But observing her father, in addition to other attending surgeons and their diverse personalities, helped to assuage that concern. “I imagine that my leadership style will channel components of my dad and my other mentors,” Sophia said. “Particularly those who lead without being the loudest person in the room.” Dr. Sophia Roberts is a third-year resident at Washington University, and she’ll soon be assuming a senior resident role. Before Dr. Hal Roberts accepted the job, he made sure that he had Sophia’s blessing, because they’d be working in the same program.    Sophia has explored many facets of surgery during her training, but her father says that, just as he did, she found that she enjoyed caring for cardiac surgical patients the most.  “As far as Sophia deciding to go into cardiothoracic surgery, I was very flattered, but I made quite sure that she realized what she was getting into,” Dr. Hal Roberts said. “Cardiac surgery can be a physically and emotionally draining field, but it does give me great satisfaction in knowing that the quality and quantity of my patients’ lives are favorably impacted by the care I render.”  The new position at Barnes Jewish has afforded the elder Dr. Roberts the opportunity to teach—a realm he entered relatively late in his career. He calls it his greatest satisfaction, saying, “I have been amazed at how much fun this really is.”  For her academic development, Sophia is working through a fellowship in cardiovascular device innovation. “Delving into engineering is new terrain for me, and I am excited to carry our new devices from concept to pre-clinical testing,” she said, adding, “It’s pretty surreal to have a single dream for so long and then realize you’re living it.”  Dr. Hal Roberts hopes that his daughter will have exposure to classic as well as novel surgical approaches. “Though there will be more and more minimally invasive techniques on the horizon, I always think there will be a role for some of the basic procedures, like coronary artery revascularization, that we have been effectively doing for years.”  David and John Cleveland “We’re both extremely pragmatic, to both benefit and fault at times,” says John Cleveland, MD, of himself and his father, David C. Cleveland, MD, MBA. The elder Dr. Cleveland is an associate professor of surgery at the Heersink School of Medicine, part of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He’s a giant in congenital heart surgery, having served as chief of pediatric cardiac surgery for the Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, New York, the Children’s Hospital at Medical City Dallas in Texas, and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. At St. Joseph’s, he founded the Eller Congenital Heart Center and served as its executive director.  As a kid, John Cleveland was acutely aware of the demands of his father’s profession, which often pulled the elder Dr. Cleveland away from time with his wife and three children. He missed some of his kids’ big milestones, from music recitals to winning touchdowns, because he was working to save the lives of “other people’s kids.”  Even so, John was drawn to a surgical career himself—but he was determined to find a course that wouldn’t cause him to miss out on moments with his own budding family. He leaned toward reconstructive plastic surgery.   John’s internship years brought an encounter that for most would be incandescent: He helped treat a man who had been mauled by a grizzly bear. But while his fellow trainees were thrilled at the opportunity to perform a potentially once-in-a-career reconstruction, John realized that he didn’t feel the same rush.   Plastic surgery wasn’t for him, he now understood—and he was just weeks away from starting a plastic surgery residency. Luckily, he was able to slide into a surgical rotation in a different specialty.  “In the operating room, a veteran doctor threw question after question at the rookie,” recounted a feature by the American Heart Association. “Even as the queries became more complex, John—who’d never studied this area, much less trained in it—aced the quiz. The look on the veteran doctor’s face sent John a clear message.”  The area was cardiac surgery. Specifically, pediatric cardiac surgery. And John was a natural.  Since those days, Drs. John and David have developed a deeper understanding of one another—and of how they both lamented the moments they missed.  “I have been surprised by the manner in which my career has allowed me to see my father from a different perspective,” John reflected. “Now that I am a dad myself, working in the same field, I have come to better terms with the demands that this job places on you and how much it can compete with family life. It has certainly increased my empathy and understanding of how my dad had to do things growing up.”  It has also helped John approach his career decisions with a savviness for work/life balance that wasn’t as feasible for his dad.  Dr. David Cleveland was often a lone ship in his profession, having at most one surgical partner to cover for him in an emergency. Dr. John Cleveland landed a fellowship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) in California, which has a large surgical staff that he described as virtually interchangeable because of their top-notch skillsets.  “I am entering my fourth year as an attending and have taken over as the program director for our congenital heart surgery training program,” Dr. John Cleveland said. “I’m looking forward to continue matching high-quality applicants that our group of surgeons can mold into excellent technicians as well as thoughtful bedside physicians who care for children with congenital heart disease.”  As his career and family have blossomed, John has happily stayed with CHLA, and it allows him the freedom to be present for moments like birthdays and softball games.  The senior Dr. Cleveland recently celebrated a milestone of his own. He has retired from clinical practice, and he’ll now have the time to not only make memories with his kids and grandkids but also to pick up a research project for which he completed pilot data before the pandemic. He and John are working collaboratively. “We are transplanting genetically modified pig hearts into infant baboons with the intention to translate this to clinical care of neonates and infants as a bridge to cardiac allotransplant,” Dr. John Cleveland said. “The current technology used to bridge this fragile patient population is fraught with complications and risk. We believe xenotransplant will prove to be safer and a more appropriately tailored option for these small children.”  The research is funded, Dr. Cleveland said, and it’s slated to kick off this month. If you know of a unique member experience that should be featured in STS News, contact stsnews@sts.org.

Latin America Cardiovascular Surgery Conference Makes a Resounding Return  The Latin America Cardiovascular Surgery Conference made a strong comeback in December after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the in-person program for the last three years. More than 300 surgeons, trainees, and industry representatives gathered in Cartagena, Columbia, for 2 solid days of education, discussion, and networking.  The conference emphasized cultivation of up-and-coming surgeons: 75 received a scholarship to attend. Supporting their work, the crowd browsed through more than 60 poster presentations and listened attentively to presentations of new research and surgical techniques with the aim of improving surgery and related care. Nearly one-third of attendees participated in the Residents Symposium. Another 100 attendees gathered at the conference’s symposium “Women of the World in Cardiac Surgery: Bringing Balance to Our Field.” The 2022 session was a milestone—the first time that attendees from three continents convened to talk about challenges, opportunities, and barriers facing women in the surgical profession. One of the most popular features of the conference focused on training for the latest surgical techniques and devices. Edwards Lifesciences, Artivion, and Terumo Aortic sponsored hands-on wet labs on mitral and tricuspid valve repair and replacement, the Ross procedure, and a comprehensive overview of innovative approaches to aortic surgery.  Catch up with conference activity, photos, and recollections by browsing #LatAmCardiac2022.   AQO Proves a Valuable Resource for Data Managers  AQO was held in October 2022 to help data managers from surgical teams to effectively utilize the STS National Database™ as part of their work to improve clinical outcomes and patient safety. Data managers learned from surgeon leaders, data managers, and Database platform experts, and expanded their knowledge of the newest research discoveries and clinical guidance. Experts also presented four learning tracks to master each component of the Database: Adult Cardiac, Congenital, General Thoracic, and Intermacs/Pedimacs.  The Database puts unique analytical power in the hands of individual institutions. STS is dedicated to helping users master the Database to assist in each institution’s work for continued analysis of outcomes and perpetual efforts for improvement. In addition, virtual AQO access also brings users the opportunity to attend the “AQO Hot Topics” webinar for each Database registry in January 2023. Speakers from the actual meeting will return and answer questions from virtual attendees.  The Resilient Surgeon Podcast Releases New Episodes Do not miss The Resilient Surgeon podcast, now in its second season! This STS podcast has been a smash hit with audiences who appreciated the insights they could apply to their lives inside and outside the OR.  “The choice of guests featured this season parallels a paradigm I developed called ‘Best Self Pie,’” said Michael A. Maddaus, MD, host of The Resilient Surgeon. “I prefer the term ‘best self’ to the word ‘wellness’ because it is an intuitive and personal reference point that we all have—if we are aware enough."  The first piece of the “pie”—individual habits and activities such as sleep, diet, exercise, gratitude, and connection with others—were covered in the podcast’s first season. Season 2, which began airing in August, covers the additional pieces—self-awareness, purpose, and connection at work and home. Listeners say they can truly relate to the biweekly episodes because they’ve lived the same experiences. More recent episodes included:  Rich Diviney, retired US Navy Seal officer Commander Diviney also authored The Attributes, 25 Hidden Drivers of Optimal Performance. Drawing from his 20-plus years of experience in the Navy, Diviney came to understand that even individuals at the highest levels of physical and mental capabilities can sometimes fail to perform in specific situations. He determined that an individual’s ability to succeed is determined by attributes, not skills. Attributes such as patience, resilience, situational awareness, and adaptability inform behaviors, and each person has a unique combination of attributes that dictates how they behave, react, and perform. Diviney shares how his time with the Navy Seals helped him develop his strongest attributes and how others can come to understand their own. Through careful examination of these attributes, people can build better relationships and teams and ultimately unlock their potential. Brian Little, PhD Dr. Little is a world-renowned psychologist and an expert on personalities. He  has written three bestselling books on personality and has a TED Talk called “Who Are You, Really?” that has been viewed more than 20 million times. He was voted a favorite professor at Harvard University from 2002-2004 and is current professor at the University of Cambridge. In the podcast, he discusses the importance of self-awareness and how understanding our own personality traits can help us make better, more meaningful connections with those around us at work and at home. Learn about the Big Five Personality Traits—openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism—and the profound impact they can have on how our lives unfold and flourish. Drs. Maddaus and Little share examples of these different personality traits and provide insights into how we can harness the unique qualities which truly allow us to be our best selves.   Christine Porath, PhD Professor Porath is an associate professor at Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. She has dedicated her career to understanding the business and personal impacts of how people treat one another in the workplace and how the influence of leaders plays a huge role in happiness and engagement at work. The need for human connection is part of our genes; Porath’s work identifies today’s modern technologies and self-sufficient mindset as disconnecting factors that lead to increased anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.  She is a frequent contributor to the Harvard Business Review and has authored articles in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post. The Resilient Surgeon is part of STS’ Surgical Hot Topics ongoing podcasts. Subscribe via your favorite podcast app, or find episodes at sts.org/podcast. Social media postings about The Resilient Surgeon series will include the hashtag #BeYourBestSelf. Save the Date for the 2023 Coding Workshop Health Information Management professionals with proficient coding skills are a must for any practice. Their work analyzing clinical statements and assigning standard codes according to the widely used classification system has signficant impact on maximizing reimbursement. Industry and government data collection used for research, resource allocation, and other purposes also relies heavily on information generated by coding professionals.  Learn the latest coding changes for 2023 by attending or sending your coders to the 2023 STS Coding Workshop: Best Practices for Cardiothoracic Surgery. Taking place virtually February 10 – 11, this 2-day workshop will address new and revised codes affecting cardiothoracic surgical practices. The event will feature live sessions at conveniently scheduled times as well as recorded sessions that registrants can watch at their convenience. Learn more at sts.org/codingworkshop.  Boot Camp Training Gives Surgeons High-Intensity Simulation Sixty first-year residents took a major step forward in cultivating their surgical skills at STS Boot Camp this past fall. Supervised by 70 surgical leaders from throughout the country, residents were introduced to simulation learning that replicated the OR environment for cardiac and general thoracic procedures. Participants rotated through six immersive, hands-on sessions for cardiopulmonary bypass, vessel anastomosis, open lobectomy/hilar dissection, diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopies, robotic lobectomy/hilar dissection, wire skills, and transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Residents received personalized one-on-one attention to point them on the path to proficiency through the lengthy training ahead. The educational event, previously hosted by the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association, was made possible through generous  industry donations.  Applications Due February 1 for 2023 STS Leadership Institute As the 2022-2023 class of the STS Leadership Institute concludes its curriculum in late January, a new cohort will soon be chosen for 2023-2024.  Applications opened in December for the curriculum, which starts with the first virtual session on March 23. The STS Leadership Institute develops skills for cardiothoracic surgeons that have become vital as healthcare delivery grows more complex and rapidly transforms. Physicians who have the necessary leadership skills are essential for medical teams to adapt and work together effectively in order to provide the best patient care.          The STS Leadership Institute is targeted for early career (0-7 years in practice) and mid-career (8-15 years in practice) surgeons who are STS members. It includes five events: three virtual sessions and two in-person meetings. The capstone event will take place in San Antonio, Texas, in conjunction with STS 2024. Selected applicants are required to participate in all five events of the series.  Participants will work in tracks specific to their career standing and will have ample time to interact with the program’s faculty of prestigious leaders. Course Directors for the 2023-2024 program are Mara B. Antonoff, MD, David T. Cooke, MD, Dawn S. Hui, MD, Anita R. Krueger, MD,  Tom C. Nguyen, MD, and Ram Kumar Subramanyan, MD, PhD. Now in its fourth year, the STS Leadership Institute teaches key physician leadership skills that can influence career progression. Applications are due online by Wednesday, February 1 and can be submitted at sts.org/leadershipinstitute-apply. Step Up and Mentor Early Career Surgeons The STS Board of Directors urges everyone in an STS leadership role to volunteer with STS’ Mentorship Program. Trusted advisors are needed and vital to raise the next generation of surgeons.   Seasoned surgeons are quick to credit those who mentored them along the way, and STS seeks to build these same relationships for up-and-coming surgeons who will no doubt face the rigors of the profession. The program matches trainees and younger surgeons with mid- or later-career surgeons who share their clinical or research interests and/or have been through similar experiences or challenges. The Mentorship Program launched in 2021 and has received numerous requests from early career surgeons for guidance, advice, and collaboration to reach their career goals.   A few weeks after applications are submitted, STS matches mentees with mentors and facilitates initial contact by email. After that, the mentor and mentee will drive their own experience and how they communicate.   Sign up through the easy-to-use mentorship portal, sts.org/sts-mentorship-program. For more information about the program, contact mentorship@sts.org. Promising Physicians Awarded Looking to the Future Scholarships STS congratulates the following medical students and general surgery residents who will receive Looking to the Future (LTTF) Scholarships in 2023. LTTF Medical Student Scholars Nishant Agrawal University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Adham Ahmed CUNY School of Medicine - New York, NY Alan Amedi Emory School of Medicine Mohammad Arammash University of California San Francisco Philip Broughton University of South Carolina Lin Chen Case Western Reserve University  Juliana Cobb University of Louisville School of Medicine Abeer Dagra University of Florida Tobias Fauser University of Arizona COM - Tucson Yan Gernhofer University of the Incarnate World School of Osteopathic Medicine, San Antonio Carter Glenn University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Adam Kiridly Donald and Barbara Zucker School of  Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Ryan Kramer Duke University School of Medicine Anson Lee University of Hawaii John A. Burns  School of Medicine Hanna Mandl David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Araiye Medlock University of California, Davis Pournika Muniyandi University of Missouri - Kansas City  School of Medicine Ayesha Ng David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Xuan-Mai Nguyen Carle Illinois College of Medicine John Nonu University of Utah School of Medicine George Olverson University of Rochester School of  Medicine and Dentistry Jay Patel California University of Science and Medicine Adegbemisola Perkins University of Tennessee Health  Science Center Ryan Rebernick University of Michigan Natalia Roa-Vidal University of Puerto Rico Medical Science Campus Natalie Schudrowitz University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Shwetabh Tarun University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Allie Thompson University of Michigan Lamario Williams  University of Alabama at Birmingham LTTF Resident Scholars Farshad Amirkhosravi, MD Houston Methodist Hospital Adam Awe, MD  University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill Louisa Bai, MD Washington University in St. Louis Kian Banks, MD UCSF - East Bay Sean Burgwardt, DO  Saint Mary's Hospital - Connecticut Ifeanyi Chinedozi, MD University of Maryland Michael Eisenberg, MD University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Katherine Foley, MD, MPH LSU New Orleans Kathleen Fuentes, MD Lahey Hospital and Medical Center Hiba Ghandour, MD Duke University Hospital Gianmarino Gianfrate, DO Mercy Health at St. Elizabeth Hospital - Ohio Douglas Gouchoe, MD Wright-Patterson Medical Center Elaine Griffeth, MD Mayo Clinic - Rochester William Head, MD The Ohio State University Ryan Holcomb, DO, MPH Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Lauren Johnson, MD University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Jessica Katsiroubas, MD New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Alixandra Killian, MD, MPH University of Alabama at Birmingham Eleanor Kitchell, MD University of Arizona - Phoenix Nicole Lin, MD, MPH Westchester Medical Center - New York Medical College Brandon Peine, MD East Carolina University Terrance Peng, MD, MPH UCLA Medical Center Ryan Randle, MD Oregon Health & Science University Marisa Sewell, MD  Oregon Health & Science University Klaudiusz Stoklosa, MD Northern Ontario School of Medicine Nikia Toomey, MD University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Memphis Kaity Tung, MD  SUNY - Buffalo Kevin Wang, MD,  University of Arizona - Tucson Noah Weingarten, MD Cleveland Clinic Foundation - University of Pennsylvania Research Bobby Zhang, MD  Madigan Army Medical Center - 88th Surgical Operations Squadron They were selected based on their clinical and research achievements and their dedication to advance in the field. Although STS received applications from many worthy candidates, priority was given to applicants who have not attended a national cardiothoracic surgery meeting or received another CT surgery meet­ing scholarship.  Future surgeons need to be nurtured, mentored, and inspired to undergo the lengthy training that is required to enter the field. LTTF Scholar­ship winners will receive unique mentorship to develop their knowledge and surgical skills and encourage them to pursue careers as cardiotho­racic surgeons. Learn more at sts.org/lttf.

The Reviewer of the Year award is announced annually to recognize outstanding peer reviewers for The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. The Editorial Board highlights a winner in each of the three main disciplines—Adult Cardiac, General Thoracic, and Congenital Heart Surgery—in addition to highlighting one trainee/resident award winner.  The Annals recognizes these 2022 contributors who consistently provided a combination of high-quality, thorough, and professional reviews in a timely manner:  Adult Cardiac Heidi J. Reich, MD from Central California Heart and Lung Surgery, Fresno, California  General Thoracic Alejandro Bribriesco, MD  from Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio  Congenital  Nishant Saran, MBBS  from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota  Trainee Alejandro Suarez-Pierre, MD University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado “Reviewing for The Annals is an act of generosity, a responsibility to uphold high standards, and a privilege,” said editor Joanna Chikwe, MD, FRCS. “This year’s winners demonstrated extreme dedication, and their work helped authors conduct better studies and write better papers.”  “The Annals is tremendously grateful for this year’s recipients for safeguarding the quality and integrity of scholarly communication,” Dr. Chikwe continued. “Their work, and the work of other contributors, has made The Annals the most cited journal in cardiothoracic surgery.”  STS experts interested in peer reviewing for The Annals are invited to join the Reviewer Volunteer program, which provides senior editors with a qualified pool of potential reviewers when editors are working with manuscripts in different areas of expertise. For more information, contact theannals@sts.org.   

After 2 years of virtual-only programming, The Society’s 59th Annual Meeting, January 21 – 23 in San Diego, California, promises an in-person experience that’s better than ever—with late-breaking abstracts, challenging case presentations, immersive experiences, and never-before-seen scientific discoveries and surgical techniques.  “The ability for colleagues and friends to gather in person for the first time in several years will be a palpable opportunity to not only share intellectual knowledge but also—perhaps more importantly—reconnect on a personal level,” said S. Adil Husain, MD, chair of the STS Workforce on Annual Meeting. “We have each experienced many unique challenges since our last in-person meeting and this reunion of sorts will be a valuable elixir for us all.”  The program planning committee received a record number of exciting abstract submissions in all subspecialty areas, Dr. Husain said. They designed the program with a focus on blending top-scoring science with highly respected invited speakers, with an emphasis on interaction and discussion time.  Adult Cardiac Offerings Target Optimal Outcomes  Parallel sessions in adult cardiac surgical topics explore why cardiac surgeons should be involved in pulmonary embolism response teams, the management of severe aortic stenosis in young adult patients, optimizing care for infective endocarditis, the heart team approach to complex tricuspid valve disease, and much more.   Hands-on courses cover annular enlargement and mitral valve repair, while “In the OR with” videos take attendees on an immersive journey as world-class surgeons demonstrate complex aortic arch reconstruction, minimally invasive mitral valve repair, and the Ross procedure. The J. Maxwell Chamberlain Memorial Paper and Richard E. Clark Memorial Paper will unveil outcomes data in large patient groups—the former on coronary artery bypass grafting versus multivessel percutaneous intervention, and the latter on the effect of surgical strategy in isolated tricuspid valve procedures.  Congenital Program Is Dynamic with Data  Data-driven outcomes, evidence-based guidelines, and optimizing the landscape for the current and future congenital surgery workforces feature prominently in the congenital surgery curriculum. “To Train or Not to Train?” will include a debate on the regulation of fellowship positions, and “Leveling the Playing Field” will explore whether it’s useful for lower-volume centers to partner with high-volume centers to deliver best results.  Engaging video and abstract presentations will demonstrate single leaflet neocuspidization with autologous pericardium, position of the autograft and homograft in the Ross-Konno procedure, neonatal palliation for high-risk single ventricle heterotaxy, and a novel hybrid palliation technique for a premature newborn prior to Norwood single ventricle palliation. The inaugural James S. Tweddell Paper investigates the creation of an STS adult congenital heart surgery risk model, and the Clark paper analyzes the STS National Database for patterns in the management of tetralogy of Fallot.   General Thoracic Sessions Showcase Next-Gen Techniques  Parallel sessions in the general thoracic program highlight topics including controversies in transplant practices, immunotherapy and targeted molecular therapy, and challenging esophageal consults, while an Ask the Experts session titled “Elegant Solutions to Lung Disasters” will show attendees how to salvage pulmonary resections gone wrong. Attendees will gain hands-on expertise in complex central airway reconstruction, and an “In the OR with” video demonstrates uniport segmentectomy and left lower lobectomy.  Among the abstracts are a 20-year experience with salvage esophageal reconstruction with colon interposition, a one-step classifier for molecular differential diagnosis between multiple primary lung cancer and intrapulmonary metastasis, the evolution of pain control for adult pectus excavatum repair, and how the number of involved structures affects outcomes in thymic epithelial tumors. The Chamberlain Paper examines racial disparities in patients awaiting lung transplant, and the Clark Paper pinpoints how urgent paraesophageal hernia repair in elderly patients is associated with worse outcomes. Perioperative, Critical Care Topics Bring Results into Practice  An array of offerings in perioperative and critical care includes controversies in perioperative blood management, building an ERAS cardiac program without added cost, contemporary approaches to pain management, phenotypes and unique characteristics of cardiogenic and postcardiotomy shock, and new regulatory standards for resuscitation. A hands-on course covers the V3 exam—volume status, venous access, ventricular function—for CT surgery.   The Clark Paper, “The Price of Delay: RV Failure and Biventricular Support” utilizes relevant findings from the Intermacs database, and the Chamberlain Paper demonstrates that the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with increased mortality, failure to rescue, and cost across all socioeconomic statuses.   Equity Is Paramount in Wellness, Education, Quality  Surgeon wellness and career advancement take center stage at STS 2023. A “Surgical Families” session explores unique situations including adoptive parents, parents of children with special needs, surgical trainees and parents, two-surgeon households, and single-parent surgeons. A session on ergonomics helps surgeons avoid injuries that can curtail a career, and Annals Academy provides tips on publishing impactful research.   In the quality and education realms are sessions on the preoperative assessment of frailty beyond the “eyeball test” and making sense of hospital star ratings, while intriguing abstracts investigate how communication patterns in the OR are affected by task difficulty, how male versus female candidates regard diversity in selecting jobs and training programs, and harnessing natural language processing to evaluate gender bias in letters of recommendation for cardiothoracic surgery applicants. “The plenary session invited speakers will offer a unique opportunity for attendees to self-reflect both personally and professionally,” added Dr. Husain. The Vivien T. Thomas Lecture will be delivered by Francisco G. Cigarroa, MD, who directs the transplant center at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. Bestselling author Max Lucado will present the Thomas B. Ferguson Lecture, and Peter K. Smith, MD, principal investigator for the Duke University site in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinical Trials Network, is this year’s C. Walton Lillehei Lecturer.   The Presidents Reception—at a bayfront restaurant and cocktail venue featuring a floating reception hall and a skyline lounge—will celebrate not only the term of current STS President John H. Calhoon, MD, but also the legacies of Past Presidents Sean C. Grondin, MD, MPH, FRCSC and Joseph A. Dearani, MD, who oversaw the Society’s governance with innovation and grace during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Space is limited for the reception, and attendees must add it to their cart during registration.   “We have lost several admired colleagues in recent times, Dr. Tweddell and Dr. Grondin in particular,” said Dr. Husain. “We will value our ability to celebrate their contributions to our subspecialty as well as to acknowledge the loss of other cherished members within our Society.”  STS 2023 also heralds the return of live product demonstrations, with 150 exhibitors showcasing the latest tools and technologies for surgical practice. Industry symposia—both offsite and at the convention center this year—afford rare opportunities to practice new techniques, and product theaters let attendees experience devices and software hands-on.  For those who can’t travel to San Diego—or for those who want to do more with their in-person registration—a new option, Plenary Livestream-Plus, will allow registrants to livestream the President’s Address and named lectures from anywhere onsite or across the globe.   STS Members enjoy significant discounts on STS 2023 registration, and Resident/Fellow and Medical Student Members register for free. There’s still time to register at sts.org/annualmeeting.

Dynamic Event Featured CVT Critical Care and ERAS Techniques, Strategies The multifaceted nature of cardiovascular and thoracic (CVT) critical care cases was the focus of the 19th Annual Perioperative and Critical Care Conference, held September 8–10, in Denver, Colorado. More than 150 cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, nurses, perfusionists, and other medical professionals learned about new concepts, management protocols, and clinical experiences from a multidisciplinary faculty. In addition, Ronald M. Stewart, MD, from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, delivered the special keynote address, “Team Management Through Crisis: Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative from the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.” “For our first in-person meeting in 2 years, it was great to meet with a very engaged and interested group,” said Rakesh C. Arora, MD, PhD, one of the program directors. “Participation in every session was outstanding: the level of talks, the questions being asked, the conversations in-between. We had great science and breakout sessions, and meeting old friends again was a real treat.” Thomas Knapp, a third-year medical student from the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando, received the Best Overall Poster honor for his presentation, “Dexmedetomidine Withdrawal in Pediatric Cardiac ICU Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Thomas Knapp, from the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando, received the Best Overall Poster honor. He shared how much he enjoyed the hands-on sessions, especially the “ECMO 101” session. “I was really excited because it was smaller groups and very visual, which appealed to me. I appreciated the intimacy of the sessions and that the conference was niche.” The meeting content will be available for purchase this month through the STS Learning Center. More information is available at sts.org/criticalcare. New Award Will Honor Extraordinary Women in CT Surgery Nominations currently are being accepted for the inaugural Extraordinary Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery Award, which is co-sponsored by STS and Women in Thoracic Surgery. This honor will recognize outstanding women cardiothoracic surgeons who achieve excellence in clinical practice. Nominees also should exemplify one or more of the following characteristics: Selfless leadership in cardiothoracic surgery Mentorship/sponsorship of others in the specialty Exceptional advocacy on behalf of cardiothoracic surgery, the patient population, or fellow surgeons/trainees Integrity, innovation, creativity, and expertise in carrying out day-to-day professional responsibilities The Extraordinary Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery Award will be presented live during STS 2023 in January. Nominations are being accepted through October 21. For more information, visit sts.org/extraordinarywomen. STS 2023 Will Reconnect the CT Community in San Diego After 2 years of virtual-only Annual Meetings, STS is bringing the cardiothoracic surgery community back together for never-before-seen science, hands-on demonstrations, virtual OR experiences, industry showcases, and thought-provoking keynote lectures. STS 2023 will take place January 21–23, at the San Diego Convention Center. “There isn’t an STS Annual Meeting that I don’t walk away from having learned something new, thought about something differently, or gained a unique perspective about how another surgeon or institution is tackling a problem,” said S. Adil Husain, MD, Chair of the STS Workforce on Annual Meeting. “Being together face to face creates organic conversations and opportunities to learn from one another, as well as allows us to find joy, excitement, and commonalities in terms of challenges and successes we have as cardiothoracic surgeons.” For those who can’t travel to San Diego—or for those who want to do more with their in-person registration—a new option, Plenary Livestream-Plus, will allow registrants to livestream the President’s Address and the Thomas B. Ferguson, Vivien T. Thomas, and C. Walton Lillehei Lectures from anywhere onsite or across the globe. Plenary Livestream-Plus also gives participants access to all session recordings within 48 hours of presentation. Early registration guarantees a place—and the best choice of hotel rooms—at the most highly anticipated cardiothoracic surgery event in the world. Registration now is under way at sts.org/annualmeeting.   World-Class Faculty Will Headline Latin America Conference Featuring interactive panel discussions, original scientific abstracts, and hands-on courses, the 2022 STS/EACTS Latin America Cardiovascular Surgery Conference takes place December 1–3, in Cartagena, Colombia. The conference is an exceptional opportunity to explore the latest developments and best practices in coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, thoracic aortic disease, atrial fibrillation, and the surgical management of heart failure. The final day of the conference will showcase industry-sponsored workshops that demonstrate mitral, tricuspid, and aortic valve repair, as well as valve sparing and the Ross procedure. “The Latin America Cardiovascular Surgery Conference this year will be a remarkable event as surgeons from South America, Europe, and North America come together to disseminate knowledge and learn from each other,” said program committee member Vinod H. Thourani, MD. “We will discuss cases, listen to didactic lectures, and watch videos about the best practices for adult cardiac, congenital, and heart failure surgery. I encourage you to attend this don’t-miss event.” For more information, visit sts.org/latam. 8 in 8s Provide Quick Tips for Hypoxemia, Reimbursement, Epicardial Pacing, and More The STS 8 in 8 Series is a collection of expert-presented videos that offer clear, concise explanations of cardiothoracic surgery topics—each features just 8 slides and is approximately 8 minutes long.  The newest videos cover hypoxemia during VV ECMO, academic promotion for advanced practice providers, post-cardiotomy temporary epicardial pacing in the ICU, surgeon reimbursement, and tracheostomy techniques.  The series is available at sts.org/8in8 and on the STS YouTube channel, ThoracicSurgeons. This 8 in 8 video identifies contributors to hypoxemia during VV-ECMO support, including cannula recirculation. Now Is the Time to Send Data Managers to AQO Surgeons are encouraged to register their data management teams for the 2022 Advances in Quality Outcomes (AQO): A Data Managers Meeting, October 26–28 in Providence, Rhode Island. Registrants can choose one or multiple in-person tracks—for the Adult Cardiac, Congenital, General Thoracic, and/or Intermacs/Pedimacs Databases—or choose a virtual pass to get access to digital content. STS members, including non-physician associate members, save even more. Details are available at sts.org/aqo. Blog Curates Conversations for Aspiring Surgeons The Aspiring CT Surgeons Blog launched to much celebration, providing a space for trainees to openly reflect on their experiences and share ideas to help each other navigate the troubles and triumphs of medical school, residency, fellowship, and beyond. New articles—which offer viewpoints from a diverse range of backgrounds and stages of training—are added regularly. The first few articles detail coping with complications, feeding the joy, and finding your own way to the operating room. Coping with Complications in Cardiothoracic Surgery: How Do We Grow as Trainees? by Linda Schulte, MD   The Scenic Route to Cardiothoracic Surgery by Mahnoor Imran, MD   Feed the Joy by Anna Olds, MD   Visit sts.org/aspiringctsurgeons, and carry on the discussion via social media with #aspiringctsurgeons. Webinar Challenges Teams to Prepare for Post-Surgical Arrest In the event of a sudden cardiac arrest after surgery, everyone on the perioperative team needs to know their roles and act fast. A recent installment of the STS Webinar Series teaches teams to establish a protocol that everyone can follow. In “Arrest after Cardiac Surgery: Is Your Team Ready?,” an expert panel demonstrates how to implement Cardiac Surgery Advanced Life Support protocols and their utility in failure-to-rescue algorithms. The free webinar is available to watch now at sts.org/videos. STS Traveled to Milan for EACTS Meeting The Society had an important presence at the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) Annual Meeting in Milan, Italy, in October. STS President John H. Calhoon, MD, met with colleagues from around the world, while other surgeon leaders gave presentations during the meeting. STS staff also promoted the benefits of STS membership at a booth in the Exhibit Hall.

STS News, Fall 2022 — Whether they were called to the specialty by heritage or by destiny, these parent-child duos represent the evolving arena of cardiothoracic surgery in real time. Surender Reddy Neravetla, MD, and Soumya Reddy Neravetla, MD  At Springfield Regional Medical Center in Ohio, Surender Reddy Neravetla, MD, has earned accolades for his more than 10,000 valve repairs, beating-heart surgeries, and minimally invasive lung resections, as well as a most distinctive trophy: King of Dad Jokes. Dr. Surender Neravetla’s daughter, Dr. Soumya Neravetla, shares her father’s passion for preventative education and community outreach. Despite Dr. Neravetla encouraging his daughter, Soumya Reddy Neravetla, MD, to try out different career paths, Soumya found herself gravitating time and again toward cardiothoracic surgery. And when veteran surgeon Lofton N. Misick, MD, left the Springfield center for a position in Texas in 2016, Soumya stepped in to take on some of the workload. The plan was to stay “for a little while.” She’s still there. “I’ve been busy!” she said. “Launched a TAVR program and a lung screening program in Springfield. Met with the governor of Ohio about lung cancer. Served in multiple board positions with the Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), Association of Telugu Medical Graduates of USA.” She served as president of AAPI’s physician’s section from 2021–2022, and she is currently the chair of the hospital’s Cancer Committee and Department of Surgery. The Drs. Neravetla may be the first father-daughter cardiothoracic surgeon pair to have operated as a team. Soumya referred to heart transplant pioneers, the late Norman E. Shumway, MD, PhD, and his daughter Sara J. Shumway, MD, who now serves as professor and vice chief of cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis. “It’s my understanding that the Shumways never worked together, but I believe she’s the first daughter to follow her young father in this path. Dr. (Vinod) Thourani once pointed out to me that we may be the first father-daughter duo to actually work together,” Soumya said. Clearly, a passion for preventative medicine and public health also runs in the family. The senior Dr. Neravetla is a longtime champion of bringing health education to underserved communities. He’s the author of the 2012 book Salt Kills and its 2014 follow-up, Salt: Black America’s Silent Killer, and he maintains a public blog on prevention issues, explaining current medical literature in plain language. Dr. Soumya Neravetla says that she and her father are both calm but fun to work with in the OR. “My father, however, is the king of dad jokes—he has a trophy to prove it—resulting in my appropriate eye rolls.” A grassroots advocate for the American Heart Association’s positions on disease prevention, Dr. Surender Neravetla works with local health fairs and culture festivals, churches and social clubs, schools and city halls, lecturing and initiating vital conversations with the community. “Cardiac surgery is going through a tough transition, largely due to the rapid growth of technology,” the senior Dr. Neravetla said. “The patients under our care are at a later stage in the disease process; the surgeries and post-op care are increasingly complex. All the while, cardiac surgeons are facing increasing scrutiny. This poses significant difficulty for the younger surgeons—especially women—to get established and be respected in their field.” Dr. Soumya Neravetla says that she was surprised at just how deep the disparities run. “Even though you know about it, it’s still surprising to see how dramatic the difference is for female surgeons in the real world.” She’s also startled by the lack of awareness surrounding lung cancer, despite it being the number one cancer killer in men and women. While she and her dad are both relatively quick-handed, “my father is one of the fastest surgeons you’ll ever see,” said Soumya. “On the other hand, I’m known for my small incisions, and though we both do a broad range of open and robotic surgeries, the endovascular space is my playground.” As she monitors technologies in cardiac, vascular, and thoracic applications, Dr. Soumya Neravetla spearheads lung cancer screening and awareness in Dayton, serving on the Ohio Partners for Cancer Control lung committee. Her team also is preparing to launch another TAVR program at Kettering Health Dayton in Ohio. “It’s always exciting to develop a program from infancy and watch it mature,” she said.  Undoubtedly, her dad feels that, to a superb degree, about his daughter. Richard M. Engelman, MD, and Daniel T. Engelman, MD In 1968, when Richard M. Engelman, MD, was a resident at New York University, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was in its infancy. Patients remained intubated for at least a day, were on mandatory bedrest for a minimum of 48 hours, and didn’t begin rehabilitation—which involved only limited ambulation—until 72 hours later. The senior Dr. Engelman (right) pioneered “Fast-Track” recovery after surgery, and his son Daniel continued to advance perioperative care through the ERAS Cardiac Society. “Discharge was routinely 1 to 2 weeks after surgery, and patients were encouraged to remain sedentary for the next 4 to 6 weeks,” Dr. Engelman said. “These practices remained the standard for cardiac surgical perioperative care for decades, and morbidity following surgery was not inconsequential.” With increased evidence supporting the success of mindful perioperative care, Dr. Engelman formed a team to introduce the “Fast-Track” approach to cardiac recovery in the early 1990s. This method involved a coordinator-led multidisciplinary team, who paid close attention to intravenous fluid intake, controlling atrial arrythmias, normalizing gut function, and getting patients quickly up and walking. Fast-Track dramatically reduced extubation times, ICU stays, and overall time in the hospital, all with improved outcomes for the patient. Richard’s son, Daniel T. Engelman, MD, picked up the torch in 1999, when he became a Board-certified surgeon after graduating from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. “As my career progressed, I noticed waning interest in the Fast-Track protocols popularized by my father, coincident with increasing provider concern about patient-reported outcomes and the costs associated with care,” the younger Dr. Engelman said. Since stepping down from his role as head of cardiac surgery, the elder Dr. Engelman continues to serve as chief of cardiac surgical research—and as his son’s colleague—at Baystate. Changes in cardiac and surgical training and practice patterns—as well as improvements in percutaneous techniques—led to increased emphasis on reducing delays between patient evaluation and surgical procedures, explained Dr. Daniel Engelman. “Perioperative optimization was at odds with this new urgency.” Enter enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). After examining the successful outcomes surgeons and patients were enjoying in other specialties, Dr. Engelman put it to use within cardiac surgery. In 2017, he and a group of likeminded surgeons founded the nonprofit ERAS Cardiac Society. “The national and international interest was tremendous,” he said. “A few early studies were simultaneously being conducted outlining enhanced recovery protocols demonstrating improved outcomes within our specialty. What was old was new again.” Both Drs. Engelman served as authors of the 2019 Guidelines for Perioperative Care in Cardiac Surgery, which are the first of their kind. They’ve been downloaded more than 260,000 times. “The field continues to evolve throughout the years in ways we couldn’t even imagine when I started my career, and I’m thrilled to be able to witness it through Dan’s achievements,” said the elder Dr. Engelman. Meanwhile, although he’s retired from operating, he continues to work each day at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, as chief of cardiac surgical research. “I also continue to enjoy time with my wife, Jane, of 62 years, and spend time on the golf course with kids and grandkids!”   If you know of a unique member experience that should be featured in STS News, contact stsnews@sts.org.

STS News, Fall 2022 — More than 50 cardiothoracic surgeons, residents, and medical students participated in the Society’s first in-person Advocacy Conference since 2019. STS members met with lawmakers to discuss several key issues of critical importance to STS members and their patients. “The Advocacy Conference is really important for each and every one of us in STS—to get together with colleagues and discuss what is really important in our specialty and, more importantly, for our patients, so that we can make health care better,” said Patrick T. Roughneen, MD, from UT Health Houston McGovern Medical School. “We are here together to talk with members of Congress, and they are very receptive to our voice.” Participants connected with several legislative decision makers during the conference. In addition, STS President John H. Calhoon, MD, presented Rep. Kim Schrier, MD (D-WA), with the STS Legislator of the Year Award. Rep. Schrier discussed the physician workforce shortage and her continued efforts to help stall physician Medicare payment cuts. “What we need is a permanent solution to Medicare reimbursement cuts,” she said. “Every year, the payment cuts come up, and it always is a crisis at the end of the year. I happen to think this is a good time for doctors to make their case, as we are losing physicians to retirement and resignation. This is a moment to make a play for that permanent solution, and I'm working with my committee to help.” STS members also heard from Rep. Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN), a cardiothoracic surgeon, and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, MD (R-IA), an ophthalmologist, who provided perspective about the current Congress and its focus for the remainder of 2022. Reps. Bucshon and Miller-Meeks emphasized the importance of surgeon participation in advocacy and answered questions from participants. They explained their roles in temporarily halting Medicare reimbursement cuts for surgeons this year and their hopes to work with health care providers on a more permanent solution. Rep. Bucshon also discussed the bill he cosponsored with Rep. Schrier that would help registries like the STS National Database to facilitate innovation and quality improvement. Dr. Joseph Cleveland Jr. sits down with Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) during the STS Advocacy Conference. During the conference, STS members met with House and Senate representatives in Congress and their staff, urging them to take action on three issues that are especially important to the specialty. “It’s a great experience to be in the city of Washington, DC, and connecting face to face with members of Congress and legislative assistants, talking about issues that help our specialty and our patients. There’s nothing like it—a lot of energy,” said Karen M. Kim, MD, from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Ask #1: Stop Medicare Reimbursement Cuts The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed to cut the Medicare conversion factor—the multiplier used to calculate the amount of Medicare payment using the relative value unit of a procedure or service—by 4.42%. Even worse, additional budget-related cuts will be layered on top starting in 2023. In addition, some estimates show the cost of running a medical practice has increased by 37% between 2001 and 2020. The startling reality is that, when adjusted for inflation in practice costs, Medicare physician pay actually declined 22% from 2001 to 2020. Unless Congress steps in again, cardiothoracic surgeons could see Medicare payment cuts of up to 8.5% in 2023. Reductions of this magnitude represent a very real threat to the financial viability of clinical practices and could limit patient access to care. Ask #2: Support Access to Claims Data Medicare claims data, when linked with clinical outcomes data in registries such as the STS National Database, allow researchers to conduct longitudinal analyses to measure quality improvement and improve patient safety. Currently, regulatory barriers prevent registries from linking claims data with clinical outcomes data. In order to help improve quality of care and perform important research, registries need timely, cost-effective, and continuous access to these data. Ask #3: Support the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act A key factor impacting the shortage of physicians is the artificial cap placed on Medicare-supported graduate medical education (GME) positions. This bill would help mitigate the physician shortage by creating 14,000 new GME slots over 7 years.  In December 2020, Congress provided 1,000 new Medicare-supported GME positions—the first increase of its kind in nearly 25 years. While this is progress, more support is needed. The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2021 is a step in the right direction. Dr. John Calhoon and other STS members met with Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) and other members of Congress. Miss the STS Advocacy Conference? You Still Can Be Involved! If you could not attend the STS Advocacy Conference, you still have a chance to meet with your federal representatives. STS members are the most effective advocates for the specialty and patients; contact the STS Government Relations office at advocacy@sts.org or 202-787-1230 for help with setting up a meeting or site visit. 

STS News, Fall 2022 — Douglas J. Mathisen, MD, is a giant in every sense of the word—a giant in his professional career as a master surgeon, a giant in education, and perhaps most significantly, a giant as a mentor and role model. There are few practicing cardiothoracic surgeons today who have not been touched in a meaningful way by the powerful influence of Dr. Mathisen, said Douglas E. Wood, MD, from the University of Washington in Seattle, about his longtime friend and colleague. “Dr. Mathisen is an incredible physical presence, easily found in a crowd, standing a head taller than everyone else. His hand engulfs one with a welcoming handshake accompanied by a warm smile,” said Dr. Wood. “The true measure of this giant is the enormous personal and professional respect that he holds from his peers for his integrity and generosity.” Dr. Mathisen—STS Past President and former Historian—trained in general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, where he has remained for almost all of his extraordinary career. It is not difficult to recognize the Midwestern roots of Dr. Mathisen. His easygoing demeanor, common sense, humility, and perfectionism have had a profound effect on the specialty and thousands of patients. “Dr. Mathisen has been a leader in almost every aspect of our profession, a voice for our specialty, a mentor to many, and a friend to all,” said Thomas E. MacGillivray, MD, STS First Vice President, from MedStar Health in Washington, DC. Dr. Mathisen was raised in the small town of Danville, Illinois, where his father was principal of the high school and his mother helped in her family’s auto shop. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. While growing up in Illinois, Dr. Mathisen was influenced by a surgeon in his hometown—Harlan English, MD. As a young boy, Dr. Mathisen was captivated by Dr. English’s sense of humor and the image of him being completely in charge. From the first time Dr. Mathisen met him, all he ever wanted to be was a surgeon. In fact, through medical school and residency, Dr. Mathisen stopped in regularly to see Dr. English. Over the years, Dr. Mathisen generously paid it forward. According to Dr. Wood, every MGH resident from the past 30 years likely would highlight Dr. Mathisen as one of their most important influences and an approachable senior colleague who helped shape their careers. But his mentorship has extended far beyond Boston, as his wise advice and generous support are sought by junior and senior surgeons from around the US and world. He has been a champion for literally several hundred aspiring surgeons: writing letters of support for society applications, advocating for positions on organizational committees and workforces, selecting volunteers to write board exam questions, and taking his personal time to vouch for early careerists professionally or coach them personally. During his long, remarkable career, Dr. Mathisen has authored more than 240 peer-reviewed publications, 160 book chapters, and five books. Perhaps his largest contribution, though, has been in pushing forward thoracic oncology and airway surgery. With world-renowned thoracic surgeon Hermes C. Grillo, MD, Dr. Mathisen helped set the surgical indications, techniques, and outcomes for tracheal and bronchial surgery that have served as the foundation for airway surgery. Dr. Mathisen also has made broad contributions in thoracic oncology: lung cancer, esophageal cancer, chest wall tumors, thymoma, and mesothelioma. Notably, he and his team were involved in tissue engineering research, building toward the ultimate goal of tracheal replacement. A Distinguished Career Recognized In recognition of his dedication to the specialty and its future, Dr. Mathisen recently was honored with a fellowship award in his name—the TSF/STS Douglas Mathisen Traveling Fellowship in General Thoracic Surgery. This fellowship highlights Dr. Mathisen’s commitment to refining the practice of cardiothoracic surgery, teaching innovative surgical skills, and advancing the careers of bright and motivated young surgeons, which is essential for the specialty to advance and thrive in the future. The Mathisen Award will provide financial support for early career general thoracic surgeons from North America, and potentially Europe, to travel domestically or internationally to learn a new technique, adapt an innovative technology, and collaborate with surgical investigators to further the progress of general thoracic surgery at the recipients’ home institutions. "The fellowship in Dr. Mathisen’s honor will be a lasting tribute to him by continuing his legacy as a champion of early career development and connecting colleagues from around the world,” said Dr. MacGillivray. Applications for the Douglas Mathisen Traveling Fellowship are expected to open in July 2023. In the meantime, fundraising to build the fellowship fund is under way. For more information on donating to this award, visit thoracicsurgeryfoundation.org.  Double Your Impact: Donate to TSF Today The Thoracic Surgery Foundation (TSF)/STS Surgeon Match Challenge is under way, and—to date—$89,680 has been raised toward research, education, and philanthropic initiatives that advance cardiothoracic surgery. For every dollar donated by surgeons during the challenge, STS will match contributions up to $200,000. So far this year, the Society’s charitable arm has awarded approximately $1.5 million in funding to support surgeon-scientists in cardiothoracic surgery. Award recipients are investigating topics such as an ambulatory pulmonary assist system for end-stage lung disease, opioid use in thoracic surgery, and the role of mechanical load in heart failure. They’re training with experts to learn new skills, including endovascular cardiac surgery, donation after circulatory death heart transplantation, and thoracoabdominal surgical approaches to treating aortic disease. TSF also has funded lifesaving care for underserved patients in developing countries, including Uganda, Mozambique, Kenya, Nepal, and Nigeria. In addition to matching surgeon donations, the Society covers all of TSF’s administrative expenses so that 100% of each donation is applied to award programs. Plus, TSF donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. If you have not given to the Foundation recently, consider a gift at this time when your donation will have double the impact. For more information, visit thoracicsurgeryfoundation.org/donate.