Mentorship is an important component to success for many up-and-coming cardiothoracic surgeons. For established surgeons, being a good mentor is equally as important. Vinay Badhwar, MD (West Virginia University) moderates a discussion that includes Shanda H. Blackmon, MD, MPH (Mayo Clinic), Melanie A. Edwards, MD (Saint Louis University), and David D. Odell, MD, MMSc (Northwestern University) talking about how mentorship is critical to the future of the specialty and what STS is doing to promote mentorship for early career surgeons.
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons today announced the 2025 Nina Starr Braunwald Extraordinary Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery Award recipients at its 61st Annual Meeting in Los Angeles. Now in its third year, the award is co-sponsored by STS and Women in Thoracic Surgery (WTS) and honors women cardiothoracic surgeons who have demonstrated exceptional clinical expertise and made significant contributions to the field.
This year’s recipients are Jessica Donington, MD; Stephanie Fuller, MD; and Aya Saito, MD.
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2025 Nina Starr Braunwald Extraordinary Women in CT Surgery Award recipients (l to r) Dr. Ayo Saito, Dr. Jessica Donington, and Dr. Stephanie Fuller.
“It is our privilege to honor these exceptional women and celebrate their achievements as surgeons, leaders, and mentors,” said STS President Jennifer C. Romano, MD, MS. “They inspire and empower the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons, both women and men, to reach new heights in their fields.”
Meet these exceptional women surgeons:
Dr. Jessica Donington, a thoracic surgeon specializing in benign and malignant chest diseases, is at the forefront of the fight against lung cancer. As professor of surgery and chief of thoracic surgery at UChicago Medicine and director of lung cancer screening at UChicago, she leads thoracic oncology research, focusing on early detection and innovative surgical approaches. Her groundbreaking clinical trials are transforming patient care by paving the way for earlier diagnosis and more effective treatments.
As an advocate for equitable access to screenings and life-saving treatments, particularly for underserved communities on Chicago’s South Side, Dr. Donington works tirelessly to ensure all individuals have the opportunity for timely intervention.
With a strong commitment to advancing the field, Dr. Donington has accepted leadership roles at prominent cardiothoracic surgery organizations. As a past president of Women in Thoracic Surgery, New York Society for Thoracic Surgery, and Western Thoracic Surgical Association, Dr. Donington has championed opportunities for future generations, especially women in the field. She is a member of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and serves on the editorial boards of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Journal of Thoracic Oncology, and CHEST.
Dr. Donington is not only an accomplished surgeon and researcher but also a dedicated educator, earning numerous awards for her exceptional ability to inspire students, residents, and fellows, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology Excellence in Teaching Award and the Distinguished Leader in Program Innovation from the University of Chicago’s Biological Sciences Division. A sought-after speaker both locally and internationally, she continues to shape the future of thoracic surgery through her unwavering commitment to patient care, research, and education.
Several of Dr. Donington’s peers have noted that her influence will resonate for decades, underscoring her enduring impact on both the surgical community and her patients.
Dr. Stephanie Fuller serves as the Thomas L. Spray, MD, Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where she is known for her innovative approach to treating congenital heart conditions in both children and adults. Leading the Philadelphia Adult Congenital Heart Center, she passionately advocates for lifelong care for adult survivors, ensuring they receive continuity in care from doctors familiar with the unique aspects of pediatric cancer survivorship. Her roles at the University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Hospital further underscore her dedication to patient care.
Dr. Fuller is a respected researcher who has significantly contributed to understanding neurodevelopmental outcomes and quality of life following heart surgery. Her research emphasizes the importance of addressing both the physical and emotional well-being of patients. She is considered a pioneer in pushing the boundaries of medical knowledge to advance a more holistic approach to cardiac care.
Beyond her clinical and research work, Dr. Fuller is a dedicated mentor, shaping the next generation of surgeons as program director for the Congenital Cardiothoracic Fellowship at CHOP. She instills in her trainees the same passion and dedication that characterize her own career. The success of her mentees, many of whom have assumed leadership positions, reflects her commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment.
Dr. Fuller’s leadership extends to national and international levels through her role as an oral examiner for the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and her position as the 2025 Chair of the STS Annual Meeting Workforce. She is a strong advocate for gender equity in healthcare, promoting an inclusive environment where all can thrive.
Dr. Aya Saito, a cardiac surgeon, is recognized as one whose remarkable career has redefined the landscape of a traditionally male-dominated field. In 2023, she made history as the first female chairperson of the department of surgery at Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, an achievement with far-reaching implications for Japanese and Asian medicine.
Dr. Saito’s impressive background includes training at Yokohama City University School of Medicine, a PhD in cryopreserved heart valves from the University of Tokyo, and a clinical fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery and heart transplantation at the University of Western Ontario Hospital. Specializing in adult cardiac surgery, she is recognized for her expertise in off-pump coronary artery bypass, valvular heart disease, and aortic surgery, providing exceptional and compassionate care, especially to high-risk elderly patients.
Beyond her clinical practice, Dr. Saito is a trailblazing researcher. Her pivotal work on cryopreserved allogeneic vascular tissues, published in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, is highly regarded. She also spearheads the Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database, which is influencing global clinical practices and raising standards in patient care.
Dr. Saito is deeply committed to mentorship and has founded Women in Thoracic Surgery in Japan, creating a supportive and empowering community for aspiring female surgeons. Dr. Saito’s colleagues emphasize that many of the achievements of women thoracic surgeons in Japan are directly attributable to her mentorship, highlighting her significant role in advancing and supporting women in the specialty — demonstrating that the future of medicine thrives when diverse voices are heard and valued.
Host Dr. Michael Maddaus talks with Jonathan Clark, leadership scholar at UTSA and co-author of Leading Through: Activating the Soul, Heart, and Mindof Leadership, about prioritizing people, purpose and real productivity to transform an organization. Hear compelling stories that show how "the legacy model of leadership can be destructive," resulting in what he calls "organizational darkness." Learn about a positive model focused on caring for people and helping them thrive.
In this week’s Resilient Surgeon episode, Sheila Heen, a lecturer on negotiation at Harvard Law School and co-author of Thanks for the Feedback and Difficult Conversations, talks about giving and receiving feedback and how we can be better at both. Specifically, Heen explains how to be less dismissive in the way we receive feedback and become genuinely grateful and appreciative of feedback from others. She also talks about creating a productive feedback culture in the workplace.
Former US Navy Commander Mike Abrashoff joins Dr. Michael Maddaus for a conversation on leadership with humanity. Abrashoff shares his success in turning around a struggling ship, the USS Benfold, which became the subject of his New York Times bestselling book, It's Your Ship. Learn how to know when it's appropriate to break the rules, when to challenge your superiors, how to do so without endangering your career and how to foster learning and innovation among the ranks of people conditioned to follow orders.
Join Dr. Michael Maddaus, host of The Resilient Surgeon, for a discussion with Amer Kaissi, professor of healthcare administration at Trinity University in San Antonio and author of Humbitious: The Power of Low Ego, High-Drive Leadership, about embracing change with an open approach rather than a defensive stance. Kaissi explains that when leaders "connect with humility and elevate with ambition" they can transform organizations.
In this episode, Dr. Thomas Varghese joins Dr. Yolonda Colson, chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, and professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, for an insightful conversation on the advancement of women in cardiothoracic surgery. Dr. Colson shares her origin story - "from farm to field" - as an accomplished surgeon and scientist. What does it take to become a consistently high performer? Dr. Colson advises, "Stay focused on your purpose stay open to new opportunities."
In this episode of The Same Surgeon, Different Light, podcast host Dr. Thomas Varghese explores the opportunities, the rewards, the sacrifice, and the struggles in life as a cardiothoracic surgeon with Dr. Mimi Ceppa, a thoracic surgeon at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Ceppa shares her family's journey as immigrants from Vietnam to Canada, the expectations placed on her to become a doctor, what it takes to get into medical school, and how she balances her career with her personal life. No doubt, it's a "can't miss" episode.
April is National Minority Health Month, a time and opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of improving the health of racial and ethnic minority communities and reducing health disparities. While our patient population in the US is rapidly diversifying, our specialty of cardiothoracic surgery remains one of the least diverse specialties in terms of gender and race.
In this episode of Same Surgeon, Different Light, Dr. Thomas Varghese talks with Dr. Richard Ohye, the University of Michigan C. S. Mott Children's Hospital Congenital Heart Center, about finding his niche and superpower in cardiothoracic surgery, and how his career has evolved over the years. "When I rotated on pediatrics, it was another level of everything perfect. It was art. This is what I wanted to do. I found my niche," said Dr. Ohye.
