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Thriving in and out of the OR requires more than clinical expertise—it takes intentional care of your mental, physical, financial, and interpersonal well-being. The STS Wellness Institute, a five-part virtual program, provides practical tools to support whole-person wellness and empowers participants to bring these strategies back to their institutions, extending their impact across the healthcare community.

In this first of five sessions, taking place on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, 8–9 p.m. ET, hear from leading cardiothoracic surgeons and experienced financial advisors who understand the unique financial landscape of medical professionals. Each stage of your career, from training through retirement, comes with distinct challenges and opportunities. The session offers tailored insights to help you navigate them all.

Here's a sneak peek at what you’ll learn:

1. Your Financial Needs Change Over Time
   Financial priorities evolve throughout a medical career. What matters most early on—such as paying off student loans or setting up a budget—can shift significantly as you progress into mid-career or begin preparing for retirement.

   Understanding where you are in your professional journey allows you to focus on the financial decisions that matter most at each stage. This session will help you build a strong foundation for long-term financial planning and retirement, while highlighting why a tailored approach is essential.

2. Proactive Planning Builds Stability and Confidence
   Many physicians fall into the trap of waiting until a crisis—or major life transition—to start thinking seriously about money. You’ll learn how proactive financial planning can reduce stress, prevent costly mistakes, and help you feel more in control, both personally and professionally.

   Whether it’s working with a financial advisor, creating a savings strategy, or simply becoming more informed, taking early and consistent action makes all the difference over time.

3. Financial Health Supports Overall Well-Being
   Money affects nearly every part of life—from your relationships to your mental health to your career decisions. Financial strain can be a major source of burnout, while financial confidence can empower you to live and work on your own terms.

Register now for this engaging and practical five-part virtual program. 

The Nina Starr Braunwald Extraordinary Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery Award, presented at the STS Annual Meeting each year, honors the remarkable women who have shaped, challenged, and pioneered our specialty. This year, we’re also recognizing the people that support them.

Co-sponsored by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) and Women in Thoracic Surgery (WTS), this distinction pays tribute to excellence in clinical care, academic achievement, mentorship, leadership, and resilience—and in doing so, opens doors for future generations. STS talked with three of the past Extraordinary Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery to discuss what this honor means to them.

Reflections from Past Honorees

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For 2025 award recipient Jessica Donington, MD, the connection to Dr. Braunwald is deeply personal. “Any time your name is placed in association with that of Nina Starr Braunwald, it is an incredible honor that takes my breath away,” said Dr. Donington.

She emphasized the award’s broader significance, recognizing not only surgical achievement, but the lasting impact of mentorship and leadership. “This award speaks to the impact women can create in CT surgery, not just through technical skill, but through the lives they influence.”

Dr. Donington also reflected on the Nina Starr Braunwald Extraordinary Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery ceremony and breakfast, where she received the award, describing it as a “meaningful, understated tribute.” She especially values that the ceremony is held on the opening day of the STS Annual Meeting, underscoring the significance of the occasion.

As part of the recognition, honorees also receive a monthly delivery of flowers in a commemorative vase, which Dr. Donington calls “a simple but elegant gesture that “serves as a daily reminder of my journey.” She added, “These touches reflect the spirit of the award: to celebrate excellence in a way that is both inspiring and deeply human.”

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Ayo Saito, MD, also a 2025 recipient, highlighted the award’s cultural importance. “This award demonstrates the society’s commitment to educating and encouraging female surgeons. That kind of moral support is essential for many of my colleagues today.”

Reflecting on the personal impact of receiving the award, Dr. Saito said,” “It helped me show my mother what I’ve truly achieved. Until then, she had seen only the exhaustion and sacrifice and had hoped I might choose a ‘normal life’ as a ‘normal woman.’ Now, she understands that this level of dedication is not only recognized — but deeply valued.”

Dr. Saito also talked about the Extraordinary Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery Award’s impact on the global community.  “This initiative not only shares our progress as women surgeons but also inspires future generations of women in Japan and beyond.  While our society may not yet fully grasp the significance of such recognition, I believe that, with continued effort, we will see meaningful change.”

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Stephanie Fuller, MD, another distinguished 2025 honoree, reflected on the broader implications of the award and its role in driving equity forward. “We still struggle to achieve equality as women. There remains a significant bottleneck to attaining leadership positions and being recognized for technical ability. This award promotes visibility and recognition for women who accomplish extraordinary things despite these obstacles.  It is also essential to thank and recognize the men who nominate and support us along the way.”

Dr. Fuller shared a memory associated with the award that speaks to the power of peer support. “I was touched to receive the phone call informing me that I was a recipient.  However, my favorite memory comes from the year before, when I was nominated by one of my cardiology colleagues,” said Dr. Fuller. “Yes, you can be nominated by your colleagues outside of surgery.  He reached out with a letter of support, and although I didn’t receive the award that year, I felt truly seen by my peers.”

Reflected on the alignment between this year’s STS Annual Meeting theme, Teaching for Tomorrow Together, and the award’s mission, Dr. Fuller said, “This award embodies inclusion. The premise that everyone has something valuable to offer is prominent. Our field is evolving into a diverse and talented community, regardless of age, sex, race, religion, or ethnicity. We are stronger when we learn from one another, and the camaraderie gets us through even the toughest days.”

Other previous Extraordinary Women in CT Surgery Award winners include Drs. Leah Backhus, Jennifer Ellis, Betty Tong, Shanda Blackmon, Andrea Carpenter, and Jane Schwabe.

As we look ahead to the upcoming STS 62nd Annual Meeting, STS encourages you to nominate a peer, mentor, or colleague whose contributions embody the legacy of Dr. Nina Starr Braunwald and whose passion, perseverance, and impact deserve this recognition. By participating, you will not only honor your colleague but also help inspire the next generation and strengthen the community of surgeons who continue to break barriers. Learn more.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons hosted an early career webinar, How to Maximize Your First Six Months of Training, facilitated by Sandeep Bharadwaj, MD, Northwestern University, and featuring insights from faculty, fellows, and recent graduates, including Sara Pereira, MD, Indiana University School of Medicine; Irbaz Hameed, MD, Yale University School of Medicine; Allison Davila, MD, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Kathleen Banfield, MD, University of Washington; and Rachel Schenkel, MD, University of Minnesota. The session focused on how residents and fellows can set themselves up for success during the critical early months of cardiothoracic surgery training.

Here are the five key takeaways:

1. Preparation and Attention to Detail Build Trust

Panelists emphasized that preparation begins with knowing the patient thoroughly through indications, imaging, labs, and prior operative notes. Because each attending has different preferences, keeping a running document of techniques and nuances is invaluable. Remembering even small details, such as how a surgeon places retraction stitches, signals meticulousness and builds early trust.

Tip: Take notes or create personalized preference cards after each case. Reviewing them before scrubbing in demonstrates initiative and reliability.

Panelists also talked about the importance of using medical journals and resources strategically. For example, the Annals of Thoracic Surgery was highlighted as the most commonly read journal, with additional helpful content sometimes found in cardiology-focused publications such as Circulation or JACC. Apps like the older CSAT versions can also be valuable if still available.

2. Maximize Rotations Beyond the Operating Room

Early in training, residents should take advantage of rotations in anesthesia, perfusion, and imaging. These experiences provide foundational knowledge about cardiopulmonary bypass, echocardiography, and perioperative care that will make OR time more meaningful later.

Advice from faculty: “You’ll have plenty of opportunities for cardiac and thoracic cases. Early on, prioritize learning the physiology, imaging, and team dynamics that support those operations.”

3. Presence Matters More Than Case Volume

Technical milestones in the first six months vary widely and depend largely on faculty trust. Rather than focusing on how many sternotomies or cannulations you log, concentrate on showing up prepared and present. Double-scrubbing, even when you’re not the primary, provides an opportunity to observe technique, communication, and decision-making without the pressure of leading the case. 

Key reminder: “It isn’t always about doing, it’s about being present and understanding the flow of the operation.”

4. Clarify Communications, Manage Expectations, and Avoid Comparisons

Many trainees struggle with self-doubt when their technical skills don’t advance as quickly as their peers’ skills. Faculty urged residents not to compare themselves to others or to what’s portrayed on social media. Everyone progresses at a different pace, and impostor syndrome is common. Define communications protocols. Different institutions use pagers, texts, WhatsApp, Epic chat, or Teams messages. Trainees should learn the preferred hierarchy of communication (e.g., page - call vs. text - call) and align with their team’s expectations. Junior residents are also encouraged to err on the side of overcommunication with seniors and attendings. If you’re unsure whether to call, the safe rule is that you should.

Practical step: Check in regularly with program directors or attendings. Structured feedback often reveals that you’re performing at or above expectations, even if you feel behind.

5. Develop a Study System That Works for You

Learning outside the OR is just as important as time inside it. Some panelists recommended structured reading plans, such as committing to one textbook in the first year, while others suggested journaling surgical techniques or building photo libraries of operative steps. The method matters less than consistency.
Advice from the panel: Identify a study routine early and stick to it, whether through textbooks, operative atlases, or case-based reviews. Over time, selective reading and case preparation will sharpen your clinical judgment.

The first six months of cardiothoracic surgery training are about more than technical skills. They are about building trust, cultivating presence, and laying the foundation for a lifelong career. By preparing thoroughly, engaging fully in every rotation, and giving themselves grace, residents can maximize this critical period.

More than 300 attendees from around the world gathered in Seoul, Korea, on September 12–13 for the 2025 Heart Valve Disease Forum (HVDF), which was co-hosted by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (KTCVS). This year’s forum, centered on the theme “The Wonderland of the Tricuspid Valve: Unraveling Its Secrets,” offered an in-depth exploration of tricuspid valve disease, from anatomical foundations to advanced treatment strategies.

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The immersive, two-day event featured leading faculty from around the world and provided a multidisciplinary platform to examine the latest trends in diagnosis, surgical innovation, and clinical management of tricuspid valve pathology.

“This year’s HVDF covered the latest insights into the anatomic and physiologic basics, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and future of valve diseases, featuring scholars from various fields,” said HVDF President Kyung Hwan Kim, MD, PhD. “We facilitated discussion among experts, covering everything from foundational concepts to the latest trends in tricuspid valve research, including emerging surgical and treatment methods.”

Expert-Led Training and Hands-On Education

The program featured a comprehensive series of sessions, including mentorship programs, abstract presentations, poster sessions, and scientific debates, designed to foster both technical skill development and collaborative exchange. Hands-on wet labs allowed participants to practice complex procedures under expert guidance, while breakout discussions provided tailored instruction on topics such as tricuspid valve repair and the management of regurgitation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

“This year, we highlighted a particularly relevant topic: managing tricuspid valve disease in the setting of atrial fibrillation,” said Christopher Malaisrie, MD, of Northwestern Medicine. “The conference reflected growing global interest in the valve’s complexity and clinical significance.”

Advancing the International Dialogue on Valve Disease

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By combining practical skill-building with high-level academic dialogue, the HVDF continues to raise the bar for heart valve education. The English-language conference emphasized the importance of cross-cultural collaboration in tackling complex cardiothoracic challenges and provided a space for participants to engage directly with international experts.

With its emphasis on personalized mentorship, state-of-the-art content, and a focus on clinical translation, the 2025 HVDF reinforced its position as a premier global platform for advancing the science and practice of heart valve disease treatment.