News & Media

  STS News, Fall 2020 — Without a COVID vaccine or an end to the pandemic firmly on the horizon, the Society made the difficult decision to forgo an in-person STS Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas, next January and, instead, create an all-digital meeting that will educate, inspire, and bring together members of the cardiothoracic surgery team from around the world. “I’ve seen the sessions and features that have been planned, and I think it will be an amazing experience,” said STS President Joseph A. Dearani, MD. “Our surgeon leaders and STS staff are using their intellect and ingenuity to design a meeting that is unlike any other that we’ve seen to date in our specialty.” STS 2021, planned Friday, January 29 to Sunday, January 31, is being built on an existing foundation of excellence, combined with the innovations of both today and tomorrow. In expanding the reach of this event, the Society is creating an immersive digital experience that offers a blend of content and community: Sessions will be a mix of on-demand and broadcast content that will include prerecorded and live elements, panel discussions, attendee chat features, 360-degree videos, networking events, and more. “We are developing sessions that utilize technology and offer enough variety that our attendees will remain engaged without experiencing the ‘virtual fatigue’ that has become common over the past few months,” explained Juan A. Crestanello, MD, chair of the Workforce on Annual Meeting. Each day of the 2.5-day meeting will feel similar to an interactive television broadcast, starting with a brief overview of what attendees can expect and a rundown of what they shouldn’t miss and concluding with a recap and highlights. The meeting will showcase the latest research and practice in all major cardiothoracic surgery disciplines via high-scoring abstracts, invited sessions, and e-posters. Tracks for residents/trainees and non-surgeon members of the health care team also will be available. “STS 2021 will be very inclusive and intentionally laid out to avoid screen and mental fatigue,” said Tom C. Nguyen, MD, a member of the Workforce on Annual Meeting and its Program Task Force. “We are including content and immersion features throughout the meeting that will provide an ongoing storyline and dialog that will keep attendees engaged and offer opportunities for connection and mentorship.” Mara B. Antonoff, MD, co-chair of the Virtual Meeting Task Force agreed that the meeting will be a standout experience. “The combination of preproduced elements and live content will provide attendees with access to cutting-edge research and global expertise in our field. The programmed tracks will be complemented by a wide range of on-demand content, giving trainees and early academicians opportunities to share their best work. We are embracing innovation and making the most out of this situation,” she said. The virtual platform and on-demand content will make it easier than ever for attendees to join whenever from wherever—no matter their time zone or location. But despite an expected record attendance, the meeting will offer opportunities for meaningful engagement and feel very intimate. “We are planning a series of small-group sessions in which experts will interact with participants,” explained Dr. Crestanello. “For example, we’ll have a mitral valve repair expert talk about his or her techniques, offer tips, and answer questions. The immediacy and personal nature of the exchange will be invaluable for many people who never would have had the opportunity to interact with that expert.”   While the exact program schedule is still in the works, Saturday morning will be set aside for Dr. Dearani’s Presidential Address. “It’s not going to be me standing at a podium going through a bunch of PowerPoint slides; it will be a very different experience,” he promised. A cornerstone of the meeting will continue to be STS University, which traditionally has been a hands-on course. Instead of touching, feeling, and conducting various procedures, STS 2021 participants will be brought right into an operating room experience using narrated, immersive videos that display actual operative techniques. In addition, attendees will be able to see who’s in the room, how they are positioned, and what equipment they are using—all without traveling to another hospital. STS 2021 also will include an exhibit hall in a digital platform, where industry representatives will be virtually staffing their booths, while showcasing the latest products and services for cardiothoracic surgery. During the exhibit hall open hours, attendees can participate in video chats with industry, take part in a scavenger hunt for prizes, and attend social and wellness events. Up-to-date information about STS 2021 will be available at sts.org/annualmeeting. Registration is expected to open in November, and early bird rates will be available with additional discounts for STS members.

STS News, Summer 2020 — The past several months have been incredibly trying for health care professionals as COVID-19 continues its spread around the world. Fighting on the front lines, surgeons and other members of the health care team have shouldered a great share of the burden. Despite this global pandemic, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is moving forward with planned Medicare payment cuts of 7%–8% for cardiothoracic surgery, starting on January 1, 2021. These cuts are a result of changes in office and outpatient evaluation and management codes. In addition, CMS is expected to propose a 20% cut in global surgery payments sometime this summer. The last time the specialty dealt with these types of drastic cuts was more than 20 years ago. In 1997, cardiothoracic surgeons came up against a proposal to reduce reimbursement by 27%. This was on top of a decade’s worth of cuts that already included a 60% decrease in reimbursement for coronary artery bypass graft surgery. At that time, the Society responded by creating an advocacy arm and forming an important presence in Washington, DC. This led to the opening of an “official” STS Washington office and the launch of STS-PAC—the only political action committee that exclusively represents cardiothoracic surgery. The Society recognizes that cuts of this magnitude jeopardize not only the financial viability of hospitals and cardiothoracic surgeons' clinical practices, but also patients’ timely access to quality care. In addition, it is expected that surgery will be critical to the post-COVID-19 financial recovery of the health care sector, and hospitals will be counting on increased surgical volumes to bolster their bottom lines. Also, smaller practices that are fighting to stay afloat will not be able to afford another financial hit. More information is available at surgicalcare.org. Follow the Coalition on Twitter @SurgeonsCare and LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/surgical-care-coalition. So, in the face of a pandemic and these most recent proposed cuts, the Society is taking drastic, but necessary action. STS has joined the newly formed Surgical Care Coalition, committing significant resources to the group in an effort to prevent these substantial reimbursement cuts. This alliance of surgical specialty societies is tasked with developing and executing a comprehensive, multifaceted campaign to educate the public and policymakers about the importance and role of surgical services as an essential component of health care. The Coalition also will work to prevent new cuts from being proposed. The strategy will consist of legislative and regulatory advocacy, a public relations campaign, research and data collection on the impact of the cuts, and—potentially—legal action. “Coming together to combat this threat and protect and defend the interests of surgeons around the country, national surgical organizations have coalesced around a campaign to educate the public and policymakers about the value of surgeons and prevent significant reimbursement cuts,” said STS President Joseph A. Dearani, MD, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. As part of the campaign, the Coalition commissioned a survey of more than 5,000 surgeons from various specialties. The results showed that many surgeons are facing serious financial distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, it is expected that the combined impact of the planned CMS cuts and economic fallout from the COVID crisis may cause surgeons and hospitals to face difficult decisions about keeping surgical practices open. The survey also found that even before the CMS cuts: 1 in 3 private practice surgeons were concerned that they may have to close their practices, limiting patient choices and access to care. Nearly half of surgeons who already were experiencing financial difficulties responded by instituting pay cuts for themselves and, in some cases, their employees. While Congress considers COVID-19 relief legislation, the Coalition will take steps to ensure it includes language that prevents CMS from implementing the January pay cuts. “Coming together to combat this threat and protect and defend the interests of surgeons around the country, national surgical organizations have coalesced around a campaign to educate the public and policymakers about the value of surgeons and prevent significant reimbursement cuts.”   Joseph A. Dearani, MD Separately, the Society will continue working with policymakers in Washington who have the ability to make a difference and help them understand how these pending pay cuts will negatively affect the health care system and patients. As was the case in 1997 when cardiothoracic surgeons faced a similar situation, the Society will again call upon its members to engage in this effort. “In the coming weeks and months, we will ask you to take action in support of this campaign,” said Dr. Dearani. “Whether it is responding to surveys, writing to your elected officials or penning an op-ed, your active participation in this campaign is imperative and crucial to its success.” Cardiothoracic surgeons have proven—time and time again—that they can produce exceptional outcomes, even in the direst circumstances. With this in mind, the Society will work diligently to help the specialty continue the critical work of saving patients’ lives. Take Action Now Encourage your legislators to reverse these reimbursement cuts! Even during this difficult time, there are still many ways to get involved virtually. STS can help you with scheduling and provide briefing materials. Schedule a phone call or virtual meeting with your representatives or members of their health care teams to provide details on how these cuts may impact patient care. Become a Key Contact. This program is a great way to stay informed while building relationships and advocating for the specialty. Get access to timely legislative updates and opportunities to engage. Encourage your STS colleagues to become involved. STS members are the heart of our grassroots advocacy efforts. The more participation we have, the greater impact STS can make. Contact advocacy@sts.org for more information and assistance.

STS News, Summer 2020 — Innovation, knowledge, research, patient care—these principles lie at the forefront of The Thoracic Surgery Foundation (TSF) mission. “The mission of the Foundation is so important. The first part is to develop cardiothoracic surgeon-scientists. They will be the investigators who help us better understand the causes of and treatments for cardiothoracic disease,” explained TSF Board Member Scott A. LeMaire, MD. “The second part of the mission is to provide better patient care. In order for us to deliver better care in the future, it is important to support the people who are in training now and their ongoing research efforts.” TSF President Joseph E. Bavaria, MD (left), and Sibu P. Saha, MD, MBA In an effort to continue advancing the TSF mission and the specialty, a new award will be offered for 2021—the Saha Scholarship Award—developed with the generous support of Sibu P. Saha, MD, MBA, from the University of Kentucky in Lexington. “My mentor, who was a great teacher and generous person, took me to the STS Annual Meeting, where we shared a room because of budgetary constraints,” said Dr. Saha. “Now it is my turn to give back. Residents will benefit by learning and networking at our Annual Meeting.” The Saha Award will allow two cardiothoracic surgery residents—one from the US and one from India—to attend the STS 57th Annual Meeting January 31–February 2, 2021, in Austin, Texas. The costs for registration, lodging, meals, and transportation will be covered.​ Apply Now for a 2021 TSF Award The Foundation is accepting applications for 2021 awards through September 15, 2020. Offerings include grants for research, education, leadership, and surgical outreach. A full menu of options, along with specific submission criteria, can be found at thoracicsurgeryfoundation.org/awards. In 2019, more than $1.1 million was awarded to 109 surgeons. So far in 2020, TSF has already provided approximately $1.1 million in grants and scholarships. A full list of this year's award recipients is available at sts.org/2020TSFawards. “The Foundation’s awards have been instrumental in developing hundreds of young surgeons by providing the support needed for their career advancement,” said Foundation President Joseph E. Bavaria, MD. “The contributions of these award recipients to cardiothoracic surgery and our patients will be significant.” TSF is the charitable arm of STS. For more information on the Foundation, go to thoracicsurgeryfoundation.org or see the 2019 TSF Annual Report at thoracicsurgeryfoundation.org/2019annualreport. ​ Double Your Impact: Donate to TSF Today Take part in the 2020 Surgeon Match Challenge with The Thoracic Surgery Foundation (TSF). STS will match all surgeon contributions up to $200,000. So far this year, the Society’s charitable arm has awarded approximately $1.1 million in funding to support surgeon-scientists in cardiothoracic surgery. Award recipients are investigating topics such as the predictive utility of machine learning algorithms in adult cardiac surgery, functionality of T cells in advanced lung cancer, and sphingosine-targeted therapies in heart transplants. They’re training with experts to learn new skills, including robotic esophageal surgery, cone repair, valve sparing root replacement, the Bentall procedure, and complex tracheal surgery. The funding also has allowed surgeons to provide lifesaving care to underserved patients in developing countries, including Armenia, Honduras, India, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, and South Africa. 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. Help the Foundation continue supporting such important projects by contributing today at thoracicsurgeryfoundation.org/donate.