mitzman

Blog
Should I Do "That Case" Open?

You’ve finished the marathon of training, landed your first job, and now you’re standing at the operating room door, about to start building your career. The patient is on the table, the team is looking at you, and you start to have doubts: “Should I be doing this case open?” It’s a deceptively simple question, but in your early years, the answer can shape your reputation for a long time to come.
5 min read
Brian Mitzman, MD
nelson

Blog
Making Efficiency a Team Priority in Cardiothoracic Surgery

Efficiency can be misunderstood as simply working faster. In reality, true efficiency in the operating room is about making every movement count, communicating clearly so that needs are understood, understanding the needs of the team, and simplifying the system. Efficiency is a collective achievement—one that the surgeon is uniquely positioned to lead, and it requires a coordinated, high-performing team.
3 min read
David Nelson, MD
magruder

Blog
Maximizing Relationships with Referring Physicians

As a new cardiothoracic surgeon, interacting with referring providers can be a confusing and daunting experience at times. We have little training or exposure to this critical aspect of practice in residency and fellowship, yet it dramatically affects your success as a surgeon. In some larger and/or academic practices, referring networks and mechanisms may be well established; in smaller community practices, these relationships can determine your survival as a surgeon.
7 min read
J. Trent Magruder, MD
mentorship

Blog
The Mentor I Didn’t Know I Needed

When I was selected for the Looking to the Future Scholarship Program by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), I expected the 61st Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, California to be an inspiring academic experience. But it was much more than that.
3 min read
Jad Elharake, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
greenleaf

Blog
Finding the Right Fit: A CT Surgeon’s Guide to Evaluating Job Opportunities

Starting your first job, or making your first move, as a cardiothoracic surgeon is a big step. The right decision can shape your professional and personal life for years to come. You would prefer not to be that person who makes the wrong choice and who bounces from wrong job to wrong job for the next 10 years.
4 min read
Christopher Greenleaf, MD
leadership institute

Blog
The Leadership Institute Experience: Mastering Conflict in High-Stakes Surgery

Conflict is inevitable in the high-pressure, high-stakes world of cardiothoracic surgery. Whether it's a difference in opinion during an operation, tension between surgical team members, or friction over program outcomes, the ability to manage conflict effectively is a critical—yet often underdeveloped—skill for surgeons at all stages of their careers.
3 min read
Raghav Murthy, MD
leadership

Blog
Transitioning Into a Leadership Role: Section or Department

Congratulations—you’ve landed the leadership role you’ve been working toward. After months (or years) of strategic effort, your appointment is finalized and the path forward begins. Whether you're stepping into a new position or pioneering an inaugural role, this change is as much about vision and preparation as it is about execution.
4 min read
Rian M. Hasson MD
STS 2025 Networking

Blog
What I Gained from the 2025 STS Annual Meeting Experience

The 2025 Society of Thoracic Surgeon Annual Meeting was an incredible experience.  Los Angeles was a beautiful host city and it was great to see the resilience of the community after the tragic wildfires that caused unfathomable loss of life and property.  

3 min read
Robert Van Haren, MD, and Olugbenga Okusanya, MD
career dev blog

Blog
Why Go to In-Person Meetings and How to Get the Most Out of Them

The STS Annual Meeting is only a few short weeks away. Currently, we are preparing to gather for the 61st Annual Meeting of our Society, with the first being held in January of 1965 in St. Louis.

4 min read
Joseph D. Phillips, MD
international surgeons

Blog
Pathway to Cardiothoracic Surgery as an International Medical Graduate

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.

3 min read
Dr. Amro Wafi
good job

Blog
Giving Credit Matters. Here's How to Do It.

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.
5 min read
Dr. Mara Antonoff
physician patient relationship

Blog
Managing Relationships with Patients

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.

3 min read
Olugbenga Okusanya, MD
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