At the start of the 2023 academic year, three cardiothoracic surgeons working at the Cleveland Clinic cardiac surgery department had an immediate connection. Frank Cikach, MD, Peter Vo, MD, and Meghan Halub, MD, were named STS Looking to the Future Scholars in 2017 and today have the unique opportunity to work together at one of the top cardiac surgery programs in the US.
At Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Cikach serves as the chief resident with a focus on aortic surgery; Dr. Vo is a heart failure, MCS, and transplant fellow; and Dr. Halub is a clinical associate, with a focus on adult cardiac surgery.
All three attribute their initial success in becoming cardiac surgeons to the Looking to the Future Scholarship. The scholarship gave them the opportunity to attend the STS Annual Meeting, where they learned about the latest research and methods advancing the field and took advantage of networking and mentorship opportunities. “We are an example of how important it is to support the Looking to the Future Scholarship,” said Dr. Halub. “The scholarship helped us establish a strong foundation from which to grow our careers and become leaders in the field. We are grateful for the support we received early in our careers and the opportunity to build collegial relationships that will last our entire careers.”
Learn more about the Looking to the Future Scholarship program and apply to become a 2025 LTTF scholar by Sept. 23, 2024.