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In late May, House Republicans narrowly passed a sweeping bill aimed at advancing President Trump’s domestic agenda with a vote of 215 to 214. The bill now heads to the Senate, where additional changes are expected. STS is actively engaging with congressional offices to raise several areas of concern and improve the bill:

In the years since I traded the operating room for the classroom and microphone, one truth has become increasingly clear to me: leadership is not about command and control — it’s about connection and belonging.

Last week, the Energy & Commerce Committee advanced its section of the budget reconciliation package, which includes approximately $880 billion in federal spending cuts—most of which target the Medicaid program.

In April, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the proposed rule for the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Inpatient Prospective Payment System. This annual regulation includes several initiatives that will directly impact cardiothoracic surgery.

Last week, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a sweeping restructuring plan that will reduce the agency’s workforce by 10,000 full-time employees and consolidate 28 divisions into 15. This plan is part of broader workforce reductions across the administration, which will decrease HHS’s total number of employees from 82,000 to 62,000.

Mehmet Oz, MD, has been confirmed as the new Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As a cardiothoracic surgeon with a strong background in medical innovation, Dr. Oz will oversee policies that impact Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, as well as physicians, hospitals, and healthcare providers across the country.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the newly appointed Department of Health and Human (HHS) Secretary, has introduced plans to significantly restructure health agencies under his purview. This restructuring is based on President Trump's Executive Order, “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative.”

It will include two major actions:

Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has issued a series of executive orders (EOs) and actions that have significant implications for the healthcare landscape. These policies could affect hospitals, Medicare coverage, and regulatory oversight.

When most surgeons think about procrastination, the instinctive reaction is: Not me. I don’t have time to procrastinate. After all, few professions demand the level of discipline, endurance, and execution required in cardiothoracic surgery. But as I recently learned in a fascinating conversation with Dr.