“In the OR with” encounters, live exhibitor symposia, and extraordinary social events await attendees at the STS Annual Meeting in San Diego.
“Attendance figures look as good as ever, but what is most energizing is the program,” said STS President John H. Calhoon, MD. “It is designed to give attendees some time … to not just talk about work/life balance, but to actually live it a bit.”
STS 2023 registrants are highly encouraged to add ticketed “extras” to their registration, including the Presidents Reception and the Extraordinary Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery Awards Breakfast.
The morning of Saturday, January 21 kicks off with the breakfast event, which will honor women surgeons who have achieved excellence in clinical practice and demonstrate integrity, leadership, creativity, and expertise in carrying out day-to-day duties and supporting the specialty.
On Saturday evening, the Presidents Reception will be held at Coasterra, a bayfront restaurant and cocktail venue featuring a floating reception hall and a skyline lounge. Guests will make memories reuniting with—and meeting new—friends and colleagues. The event 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, and Joseph A. Dearani, MD, who oversaw the Society’s governance with innovation and grace during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have lost several admired colleagues in recent times, including Dr. Tweddell, Dr. Pagano, and Dr. Grondin,” said S. Adil Husain, MD, chair of the STS Workforce on Annual Meeting. “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.”
Space is limited for the reception and the breakfast, and attendees must add them to their carts during registration or to an existing registration.
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.
Between the conclusion of afternoon sessions and the Presidents Reception on Saturday, attendees can browse an exhibit hall opening reception and view presentations of scientific posters alongside their colleagues. Two half-hour coffee breaks on Sunday, January 22 give attendees more designated time to explore the exhibits and socialize at their leisure.
“In the OR with …” experiences return with an added dimension of virtual reality, during which attendees can don headsets and virtually stand side-by-side with a master surgeon as they perform real-life operations including complex aortic arch reconstruction, uniport segmentectomy and left lower lobectomy, the Ross procedure, and minimally invasive mitral valve repair. Watch a teaser video.
There’s still time to register, add ticketed events, and start planning your San Diego experience at sts.org/annualmeeting.