Wellness

“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.

Latin America Cardiovascular Surgery Conference Makes a Resounding Return  The Latin America Cardiovascular Surgery Conference made a strong comeback in December after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the in-person program for the last three years. More than 300 surgeons, trainees, and industry representatives gathered in Cartagena, Columbia, for 2 solid days of education, discussion, and networking.  The conference emphasized cultivation of up-and-coming surgeons: 75 received a scholarship to attend. Supporting their work, the crowd browsed through more than 60 poster presentations and listened attentively to presentations of new research and surgical techniques with the aim of improving surgery and related care. Nearly one-third of attendees participated in the Residents Symposium. Another 100 attendees gathered at the conference’s symposium “Women of the World in Cardiac Surgery: Bringing Balance to Our Field.” The 2022 session was a milestone—the first time that attendees from three continents convened to talk about challenges, opportunities, and barriers facing women in the surgical profession. One of the most popular features of the conference focused on training for the latest surgical techniques and devices. Edwards Lifesciences, Artivion, and Terumo Aortic sponsored hands-on wet labs on mitral and tricuspid valve repair and replacement, the Ross procedure, and a comprehensive overview of innovative approaches to aortic surgery.  Catch up with conference activity, photos, and recollections by browsing #LatAmCardiac2022.   AQO Proves a Valuable Resource for Data Managers  AQO was held in October 2022 to help data managers from surgical teams to effectively utilize the STS National Database™ as part of their work to improve clinical outcomes and patient safety. Data managers learned from surgeon leaders, data managers, and Database platform experts, and expanded their knowledge of the newest research discoveries and clinical guidance. Experts also presented four learning tracks to master each component of the Database: Adult Cardiac, Congenital, General Thoracic, and Intermacs/Pedimacs.  The Database puts unique analytical power in the hands of individual institutions. STS is dedicated to helping users master the Database to assist in each institution’s work for continued analysis of outcomes and perpetual efforts for improvement. In addition, virtual AQO access also brings users the opportunity to attend the “AQO Hot Topics” webinar for each Database registry in January 2023. Speakers from the actual meeting will return and answer questions from virtual attendees.  The Resilient Surgeon Podcast Releases New Episodes Do not miss The Resilient Surgeon podcast, now in its second season! This STS podcast has been a smash hit with audiences who appreciated the insights they could apply to their lives inside and outside the OR.  “The choice of guests featured this season parallels a paradigm I developed called ‘Best Self Pie,’” said Michael A. Maddaus, MD, host of The Resilient Surgeon. “I prefer the term ‘best self’ to the word ‘wellness’ because it is an intuitive and personal reference point that we all have—if we are aware enough."  The first piece of the “pie”—individual habits and activities such as sleep, diet, exercise, gratitude, and connection with others—were covered in the podcast’s first season. Season 2, which began airing in August, covers the additional pieces—self-awareness, purpose, and connection at work and home. Listeners say they can truly relate to the biweekly episodes because they’ve lived the same experiences. More recent episodes included:  Rich Diviney, retired US Navy Seal officer Commander Diviney also authored The Attributes, 25 Hidden Drivers of Optimal Performance. Drawing from his 20-plus years of experience in the Navy, Diviney came to understand that even individuals at the highest levels of physical and mental capabilities can sometimes fail to perform in specific situations. He determined that an individual’s ability to succeed is determined by attributes, not skills. Attributes such as patience, resilience, situational awareness, and adaptability inform behaviors, and each person has a unique combination of attributes that dictates how they behave, react, and perform. Diviney shares how his time with the Navy Seals helped him develop his strongest attributes and how others can come to understand their own. Through careful examination of these attributes, people can build better relationships and teams and ultimately unlock their potential. Brian Little, PhD Dr. Little is a world-renowned psychologist and an expert on personalities. He  has written three bestselling books on personality and has a TED Talk called “Who Are You, Really?” that has been viewed more than 20 million times. He was voted a favorite professor at Harvard University from 2002-2004 and is current professor at the University of Cambridge. In the podcast, he discusses the importance of self-awareness and how understanding our own personality traits can help us make better, more meaningful connections with those around us at work and at home. Learn about the Big Five Personality Traits—openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism—and the profound impact they can have on how our lives unfold and flourish. Drs. Maddaus and Little share examples of these different personality traits and provide insights into how we can harness the unique qualities which truly allow us to be our best selves.   Christine Porath, PhD Professor Porath is an associate professor at Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. She has dedicated her career to understanding the business and personal impacts of how people treat one another in the workplace and how the influence of leaders plays a huge role in happiness and engagement at work. The need for human connection is part of our genes; Porath’s work identifies today’s modern technologies and self-sufficient mindset as disconnecting factors that lead to increased anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.  She is a frequent contributor to the Harvard Business Review and has authored articles in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post. The Resilient Surgeon is part of STS’ Surgical Hot Topics ongoing podcasts. Subscribe via your favorite podcast app, or find episodes at sts.org/podcast. Social media postings about The Resilient Surgeon series will include the hashtag #BeYourBestSelf. Save the Date for the 2023 Coding Workshop Health Information Management professionals with proficient coding skills are a must for any practice. Their work analyzing clinical statements and assigning standard codes according to the widely used classification system has signficant impact on maximizing reimbursement. Industry and government data collection used for research, resource allocation, and other purposes also relies heavily on information generated by coding professionals.  Learn the latest coding changes for 2023 by attending or sending your coders to the 2023 STS Coding Workshop: Best Practices for Cardiothoracic Surgery. Taking place virtually February 10 – 11, this 2-day workshop will address new and revised codes affecting cardiothoracic surgical practices. The event will feature live sessions at conveniently scheduled times as well as recorded sessions that registrants can watch at their convenience. Learn more at sts.org/codingworkshop.  Boot Camp Training Gives Surgeons High-Intensity Simulation Sixty first-year residents took a major step forward in cultivating their surgical skills at STS Boot Camp this past fall. Supervised by 70 surgical leaders from throughout the country, residents were introduced to simulation learning that replicated the OR environment for cardiac and general thoracic procedures. Participants rotated through six immersive, hands-on sessions for cardiopulmonary bypass, vessel anastomosis, open lobectomy/hilar dissection, diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopies, robotic lobectomy/hilar dissection, wire skills, and transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Residents received personalized one-on-one attention to point them on the path to proficiency through the lengthy training ahead. The educational event, previously hosted by the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association, was made possible through generous  industry donations.  Applications Due February 1 for 2023 STS Leadership Institute As the 2022-2023 class of the STS Leadership Institute concludes its curriculum in late January, a new cohort will soon be chosen for 2023-2024.  Applications opened in December for the curriculum, which starts with the first virtual session on March 23. The STS Leadership Institute develops skills for cardiothoracic surgeons that have become vital as healthcare delivery grows more complex and rapidly transforms. Physicians who have the necessary leadership skills are essential for medical teams to adapt and work together effectively in order to provide the best patient care.          The STS Leadership Institute is targeted for early career (0-7 years in practice) and mid-career (8-15 years in practice) surgeons who are STS members. It includes five events: three virtual sessions and two in-person meetings. The capstone event will take place in San Antonio, Texas, in conjunction with STS 2024. Selected applicants are required to participate in all five events of the series.  Participants will work in tracks specific to their career standing and will have ample time to interact with the program’s faculty of prestigious leaders. Course Directors for the 2023-2024 program are Mara B. Antonoff, MD, David T. Cooke, MD, Dawn S. Hui, MD, Anita R. Krueger, MD,  Tom C. Nguyen, MD, and Ram Kumar Subramanyan, MD, PhD. Now in its fourth year, the STS Leadership Institute teaches key physician leadership skills that can influence career progression. Applications are due online by Wednesday, February 1 and can be submitted at sts.org/leadershipinstitute-apply. Step Up and Mentor Early Career Surgeons The STS Board of Directors urges everyone in an STS leadership role to volunteer with STS’ Mentorship Program. Trusted advisors are needed and vital to raise the next generation of surgeons.   Seasoned surgeons are quick to credit those who mentored them along the way, and STS seeks to build these same relationships for up-and-coming surgeons who will no doubt face the rigors of the profession. The program matches trainees and younger surgeons with mid- or later-career surgeons who share their clinical or research interests and/or have been through similar experiences or challenges. The Mentorship Program launched in 2021 and has received numerous requests from early career surgeons for guidance, advice, and collaboration to reach their career goals.   A few weeks after applications are submitted, STS matches mentees with mentors and facilitates initial contact by email. After that, the mentor and mentee will drive their own experience and how they communicate.   Sign up through the easy-to-use mentorship portal, sts.org/sts-mentorship-program. For more information about the program, contact mentorship@sts.org. Promising Physicians Awarded Looking to the Future Scholarships STS congratulates the following medical students and general surgery residents who will receive Looking to the Future (LTTF) Scholarships in 2023. LTTF Medical Student Scholars Nishant Agrawal University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Adham Ahmed CUNY School of Medicine - New York, NY Alan Amedi Emory School of Medicine Mohammad Arammash University of California San Francisco Philip Broughton University of South Carolina Lin Chen Case Western Reserve University  Juliana Cobb University of Louisville School of Medicine Abeer Dagra University of Florida Tobias Fauser University of Arizona COM - Tucson Yan Gernhofer University of the Incarnate World School of Osteopathic Medicine, San Antonio Carter Glenn University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Adam Kiridly Donald and Barbara Zucker School of  Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Ryan Kramer Duke University School of Medicine Anson Lee University of Hawaii John A. Burns  School of Medicine Hanna Mandl David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Araiye Medlock University of California, Davis Pournika Muniyandi University of Missouri - Kansas City  School of Medicine Ayesha Ng David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Xuan-Mai Nguyen Carle Illinois College of Medicine John Nonu University of Utah School of Medicine George Olverson University of Rochester School of  Medicine and Dentistry Jay Patel California University of Science and Medicine Adegbemisola Perkins University of Tennessee Health  Science Center Ryan Rebernick University of Michigan Natalia Roa-Vidal University of Puerto Rico Medical Science Campus Natalie Schudrowitz University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Shwetabh Tarun University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Allie Thompson University of Michigan Lamario Williams  University of Alabama at Birmingham LTTF Resident Scholars Farshad Amirkhosravi, MD Houston Methodist Hospital Adam Awe, MD  University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill Louisa Bai, MD Washington University in St. Louis Kian Banks, MD UCSF - East Bay Sean Burgwardt, DO  Saint Mary's Hospital - Connecticut Ifeanyi Chinedozi, MD University of Maryland Michael Eisenberg, MD University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Katherine Foley, MD, MPH LSU New Orleans Kathleen Fuentes, MD Lahey Hospital and Medical Center Hiba Ghandour, MD Duke University Hospital Gianmarino Gianfrate, DO Mercy Health at St. Elizabeth Hospital - Ohio Douglas Gouchoe, MD Wright-Patterson Medical Center Elaine Griffeth, MD Mayo Clinic - Rochester William Head, MD The Ohio State University Ryan Holcomb, DO, MPH Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Lauren Johnson, MD University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Jessica Katsiroubas, MD New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Alixandra Killian, MD, MPH University of Alabama at Birmingham Eleanor Kitchell, MD University of Arizona - Phoenix Nicole Lin, MD, MPH Westchester Medical Center - New York Medical College Brandon Peine, MD East Carolina University Terrance Peng, MD, MPH UCLA Medical Center Ryan Randle, MD Oregon Health & Science University Marisa Sewell, MD  Oregon Health & Science University Klaudiusz Stoklosa, MD Northern Ontario School of Medicine Nikia Toomey, MD University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Memphis Kaity Tung, MD  SUNY - Buffalo Kevin Wang, MD,  University of Arizona - Tucson Noah Weingarten, MD Cleveland Clinic Foundation - University of Pennsylvania Research Bobby Zhang, MD  Madigan Army Medical Center - 88th Surgical Operations Squadron They were selected based on their clinical and research achievements and their dedication to advance in the field. Although STS received applications from many worthy candidates, priority was given to applicants who have not attended a national cardiothoracic surgery meeting or received another CT surgery meet­ing scholarship.  Future surgeons need to be nurtured, mentored, and inspired to undergo the lengthy training that is required to enter the field. LTTF Scholar­ship winners will receive unique mentorship to develop their knowledge and surgical skills and encourage them to pursue careers as cardiotho­racic surgeons. Learn more at sts.org/lttf.

After 2 years of virtual-only programming, The Society’s 59th Annual Meeting, January 21 – 23 in San Diego, California, promises an in-person experience that’s better than ever—with late-breaking abstracts, challenging case presentations, immersive experiences, and never-before-seen scientific discoveries and surgical techniques.  “The ability for colleagues and friends to gather in person for the first time in several years will be a palpable opportunity to not only share intellectual knowledge but also—perhaps more importantly—reconnect on a personal level,” said S. Adil Husain, MD, chair of the STS Workforce on Annual Meeting. “We have each experienced many unique challenges since our last in-person meeting and this reunion of sorts will be a valuable elixir for us all.”  The program planning committee received a record number of exciting abstract submissions in all subspecialty areas, Dr. Husain said. They designed the program with a focus on blending top-scoring science with highly respected invited speakers, with an emphasis on interaction and discussion time.  Adult Cardiac Offerings Target Optimal Outcomes  Parallel sessions in adult cardiac surgical topics explore why cardiac surgeons should be involved in pulmonary embolism response teams, the management of severe aortic stenosis in young adult patients, optimizing care for infective endocarditis, the heart team approach to complex tricuspid valve disease, and much more.   Hands-on courses cover annular enlargement and mitral valve repair, while “In the OR with” videos take attendees on an immersive journey as world-class surgeons demonstrate complex aortic arch reconstruction, minimally invasive mitral valve repair, and the Ross procedure. The J. Maxwell Chamberlain Memorial Paper and Richard E. Clark Memorial Paper will unveil outcomes data in large patient groups—the former on coronary artery bypass grafting versus multivessel percutaneous intervention, and the latter on the effect of surgical strategy in isolated tricuspid valve procedures.  Congenital Program Is Dynamic with Data  Data-driven outcomes, evidence-based guidelines, and optimizing the landscape for the current and future congenital surgery workforces feature prominently in the congenital surgery curriculum. “To Train or Not to Train?” will include a debate on the regulation of fellowship positions, and “Leveling the Playing Field” will explore whether it’s useful for lower-volume centers to partner with high-volume centers to deliver best results.  Engaging video and abstract presentations will demonstrate single leaflet neocuspidization with autologous pericardium, position of the autograft and homograft in the Ross-Konno procedure, neonatal palliation for high-risk single ventricle heterotaxy, and a novel hybrid palliation technique for a premature newborn prior to Norwood single ventricle palliation. The inaugural James S. Tweddell Paper investigates the creation of an STS adult congenital heart surgery risk model, and the Clark paper analyzes the STS National Database for patterns in the management of tetralogy of Fallot.   General Thoracic Sessions Showcase Next-Gen Techniques  Parallel sessions in the general thoracic program highlight topics including controversies in transplant practices, immunotherapy and targeted molecular therapy, and challenging esophageal consults, while an Ask the Experts session titled “Elegant Solutions to Lung Disasters” will show attendees how to salvage pulmonary resections gone wrong. Attendees will gain hands-on expertise in complex central airway reconstruction, and an “In the OR with” video demonstrates uniport segmentectomy and left lower lobectomy.  Among the abstracts are a 20-year experience with salvage esophageal reconstruction with colon interposition, a one-step classifier for molecular differential diagnosis between multiple primary lung cancer and intrapulmonary metastasis, the evolution of pain control for adult pectus excavatum repair, and how the number of involved structures affects outcomes in thymic epithelial tumors. The Chamberlain Paper examines racial disparities in patients awaiting lung transplant, and the Clark Paper pinpoints how urgent paraesophageal hernia repair in elderly patients is associated with worse outcomes. Perioperative, Critical Care Topics Bring Results into Practice  An array of offerings in perioperative and critical care includes controversies in perioperative blood management, building an ERAS cardiac program without added cost, contemporary approaches to pain management, phenotypes and unique characteristics of cardiogenic and postcardiotomy shock, and new regulatory standards for resuscitation. A hands-on course covers the V3 exam—volume status, venous access, ventricular function—for CT surgery.   The Clark Paper, “The Price of Delay: RV Failure and Biventricular Support” utilizes relevant findings from the Intermacs database, and the Chamberlain Paper demonstrates that the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with increased mortality, failure to rescue, and cost across all socioeconomic statuses.   Equity Is Paramount in Wellness, Education, Quality  Surgeon wellness and career advancement take center stage at STS 2023. A “Surgical Families” session explores unique situations including adoptive parents, parents of children with special needs, surgical trainees and parents, two-surgeon households, and single-parent surgeons. A session on ergonomics helps surgeons avoid injuries that can curtail a career, and Annals Academy provides tips on publishing impactful research.   In the quality and education realms are sessions on the preoperative assessment of frailty beyond the “eyeball test” and making sense of hospital star ratings, while intriguing abstracts investigate how communication patterns in the OR are affected by task difficulty, how male versus female candidates regard diversity in selecting jobs and training programs, and harnessing natural language processing to evaluate gender bias in letters of recommendation for cardiothoracic surgery applicants. “The plenary session invited speakers will offer a unique opportunity for attendees to self-reflect both personally and professionally,” added Dr. Husain. The Vivien T. Thomas Lecture will be delivered by Francisco G. Cigarroa, MD, who directs the transplant center at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. Bestselling author Max Lucado will present the Thomas B. Ferguson Lecture, and Peter K. Smith, MD, principal investigator for the Duke University site in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinical Trials Network, is this year’s C. Walton Lillehei Lecturer.   The Presidents Reception—at a bayfront restaurant and cocktail venue featuring a floating reception hall and a skyline lounge—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, MPH, FRCSC and Joseph A. Dearani, MD, who oversaw the Society’s governance with innovation and grace during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Space is limited for the reception, and attendees must add it to their cart during registration.   “We have lost several admired colleagues in recent times, Dr. Tweddell and Dr. Grondin in particular,” said Dr. Husain. “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.”  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.  For those who can’t travel to San Diego—or for those who want to do more with their in-person registration—a new option, Plenary Livestream-Plus, will allow registrants to livestream the President’s Address and named lectures from anywhere onsite or across the globe.   STS Members enjoy significant discounts on STS 2023 registration, and Resident/Fellow and Medical Student Members register for free. There’s still time to register at sts.org/annualmeeting.