Blogs

International medical graduates (IMG) are physicians who obtained their medical degree from a medical school outside the US. Moreover, US citizens who graduated from non-US medical schools are still considered international medical graduates.

As Lung Cancer Awareness Month begins, it’s important to reflect on the significant efforts made by STS over the past year to advocate for improved lung cancer outcomes and raise awareness. Key initiatives have included:  

It is time to reconsider the management of Aortic valve Disease (AVD) across the world. In South Asian and Sub-Saharan African nations, in low-income countries, AVD is treated with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Patients receive mechanical valves. The population is younger than in high-income countries and the disease is different, mostly of rheumatic origin. 

Congress recently passed a continuing resolution to fund the government through Dec. 20, providing a reprieve before another potential budget showdown. Despite the urgency of keeping the government running, significant progress has been made on key STS advocacy priorities in the House of Representatives.  
 

There are so many ways in which we, as surgeons, lead teams—from our first day in practice, through the end of our careers. As we lead teams, we learn repeatedly that a cohesive and effective team works toward common goals, and that successful leaders inspire team members by elucidating and giving importance to those shared goals. But is having the same end goal enough?

Early career cardiothoracic surgeons have many important relationships that need to be managed and developed. The patient relationship can be excellent, a source of pride and healing, or damaging, a source of stress and contempt.

This month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a new mandatory episode-based alternative payment arrangement called the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM).

It's the August recess and lawmakers are back home in their districts campaigning and meeting with their constituents, providing a prime opportunity for STS members to support STS’s advocacy priorities.

The STS oversees numerous workforces and councils with various focuses ranging from cardiothoracic clinical practice to databases to education to surgeon wellness.

Despite the rapidly evolving presidential political scene, Washington remains uncharacteristically busy this election year. 

On June 28, the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron deference doctrine, which for 40 years has required judges to defer to agencies' reasonable interpretations of "ambiguous" federal laws falling within the agencies’ field of expertise.