Considering a career in cardiothoracic surgery? Hear why STS leaders think it is a good idea. This video features Rishindra M. Reddy, MD, Jules Lin, MD, Jeffrey B. Rich, MD, G. Alexander Patterson, MD, Leah M. Backhus, MD, Mark S. Allen, MD, and Keith S. Naunheim, MD. 


2023 Residents Symposium

The Residents Symposium at the STS 59th Annual Meeting showcased challenging situations that occur in medical practice regarding professionalism that may not be a regular part of a residency curriculum. The 2023 session included talks related to earning respect from work colleagues, staff and fellow trainees; how one surgeon handled being named in a malpractice lawsuit as a trainee; harassment in the workplace; and how a trainee navigated a co-resident’s substance abuse.

All views and opinions expressed therein are those of the authors, and not necessarily those of the Society. 


2022 STS Trainee Retreat

The STS Trainee Retreat (held April 2, 2022) was a unique virtual event that addressed important issues facing cardiothoracic surgery trainees and offered practical early career information. Watch the event recording. Attendees heard from leaders in the specialty and were paired with experienced surgeon leaders in virtual breakout rooms. The event was open to all surgical residents, including those who have not yet decided to pursue cardiothoracic surgery.

Lecture topics included: 

Your Most Important Career Decision Is Your First Job: Choose Wisely

  • When, How, and What Job to Look For? 
  • Negotiating a Contract–What You Need to Know 
  • Setting Yourself Up for Success in the First 3 Years of Practice/How to Be the Ideal Partner 

Achieving Professional and Personal Success and Fulfillment 

  • Working Smart and Investing Wisely for the Future 
  • Taking Care of Oneself and Family–The Importance of Personal Wellness 
  • Social Media: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly 

Parallel Breakout Sessions

Education

  • How important is additional fellowship training after residency?
  • What is the role of dedicated research time during residency training? 
  • Compare and contrast different training approaches at your institutions.

More Than Heart and Lung Surgery

  • What is the field of cardiothoracic surgery doing to address gaps in diversity?
  • Are there any gaps in your training outside of clinical care that need to be addressed?
  • What is the role of training programs in teaching interventional and catheter-based skills (and to what level of expertise)?

CT Surgery in the Real World 2022-2024

  • What is the current state of the job market?
  • Where should we as cardiothoracic surgeons invest most of our efforts?
  • What role should cardiothoracic surgeons and professional societies like the STS play in public health crises?

All views and opinions expressed therein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Society. 


STS Looking to the Future Scholarship Program

The application process for the STS Looking to the Future Scholarship is now closed for 2022 and the awardees have been announced.

The STS Looking to the Future Scholarship Program aims to encourage general surgery residents and medical students who are considering, but not yet committed to, a career in cardiothoracic surgery.


STS Thoracic Surgical Curriculum

The STS Thoracic Surgical Curriculum houses a wealth of educational materials, including textbooks, videos, and case presentations designed to support residency training education. It is available in the STS Learning Center.

Program directors and coordinators easily can set up a 1-, 2-, or 3-year curriculum, as well as create customized assignments and offer National Benchmarked Quizzes for resident comparison across programs.

The Curriculum currently is accessible only by cardiothoracic surgery residency program directors, coordinators, faculty, and residents.

Curriculum Suggestions and Errors Form

Please fill out this form if you have any comments, suggestions, or have identified any errors in the Thoracic Surgical Curriculum.