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Education

Network and Stay on the Cutting Edge of Cardiothoracic SurgeryView All >
STS Wellness institute

2025-26 STS Wellness Institute

Performing as our best selves as cardiothoracic surgeons both inside and outside of the workplace
Mar 10 – Apr 28, 2026
Virtual
STS Leadership Institute banner

2026-27 STS Leadership Institute

An opportunity for early and mid-career STS surgeon members to learn how to lead in and out of the OR.
Mar 19, 2026 – Jan 27, 2027
Virtual, Chicago, and San Diego
Advocacy Conf.

2026 STS Advocacy Conference

Be the voice of the cardiothoracic surgery specialty in Washington, DC.
Mar 23–24, 2026
Washington, DC
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Data & Research

Initiatives and resources to improve quality care for patients

STS National Database

The gold standard for clinical registries and quality improvement

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Public Reporting

Institutional performance and national benchmarks for survival, complications, and other measures. 

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Current Projects

The latest research in progress from programs funded by STS

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Data Access Programs

STS data for quality improvement initiatives, clinical trials, and research

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Resources

Essential tools for cardiothoracic surgeons

Risk Calculators

Calculate a patient’s risk of mortality and morbidities for common surgeries.

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Early Career Resources

Guidance and resources for CT surgeons in the first 7 years of practice

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Clinical Practice Documents and Policies

Improve patient outcomes with guidelines from experienced medical professionals.

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Surgical Checklists

PDFs to prepare you and your team for upcoming surgeries.

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News & Media

The Latest from the Field of Thoracic SurgeryView All >
US Capitol building with blue skies

Efficiency Adjustment: What It Means for Cardiothoracic Surgeons

On Jan. 1, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented a new payment policy, through the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), that directly impacts cardiothoracic surgery.  The “efficiency adjustment,” reduces non-time-based work Relative Value Units (wRVUs) by 2.5%, with additional cuts scheduled every three years.

3 min read
Molly Peltzman, STS Advocacy
Season 6: Live from STS 2026

#172; S6: Same Surgeon, Different Light w/ Dr. Doug Wood

In the Season 6 premiere episode, live from STS 2026, host Dr. Sara Pereira and guest co-host Dr. Fatima Wilder sit down with Dr. Doug Wood, who shares his extraordinary journey—from growing up on a farm in rural Michigan in a family that valued education, to attending the National Science Foundation Summer Science Program at Purdue University, to becoming a national champion rower at Harvard, and ultimately serving as a division chief, department chair, and leader in lung cancer surgery and advocacy.

40 min
An article from STS News

Society of Thoracic Surgeons CEO to Retire in 2026

STS CEO and Executive Director Elaine Weiss, JD, has announced plans to retire. Weiss joined the Society of Thoracic Surgeons in 2019. 

“Ms. Weiss has been a superb leader for STS, collaborating closely with surgeon leaders to advance the Society on multiple fronts over the past seven years,” STS President Vinay Badhwar said. “We have deeply valued her strategic contributions and management oversight.”

Badhwar added, “As the premier organization in the specialty, STS looks forward to identifying our next CEO to continue Ms. Weiss’s legacy as we build upon our innovation, operational excellence, and global impact.”

The STS has selected Immediate Past President Dr. Joseph Sabik, to lead the search committee. Additional search committee members are Drs. Vinay Badhwar, Vinod Thourani, Jessica Donington, Wilson Szeto, Jenna Romano, John Mitchell, David Cooke, Adil Husain, and Susan Moffatt-Bruce.

STS has retained Spencer Stuart to assist in the search.

Feb 17, 2026
1 min read
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STS News Banner

STS News, the Society’s quarterly magazine for members only, brings you the latest CT surgery news, research, stories, and more to help keep you in the know and connected to your peers.

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Member Voices

Emily Farkas
You can craft a career that’s a bit different from the rigid way we traditionally view cardiac surgery.
Emily A. Farkas, MD
Member, TSF Board of Directors
  Podcast