January 26, 2025
1 min read

Day 2 of STS 2025 kicked off with an inspiring morning at the Vivien T. Thomas Lecture, as award-winning photojournalist Ami Vitale shared her insights on the impactful role caregivers play. "With compassion, connection, and a determination to protect the vulnerable, even the smallest kindness can change the world."

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Ami Vitale

Yesterday, STS presented two prestigious awards: Shanda Blackmon, MD, received the 2025 STS Distinguished Service Award for her exceptional contributions to cardiothoracic surgery, while Mark Rodefeld, MD, was honored with the 2025 Earl Bakken Scientific Achievement Award for his groundbreaking contributions to the field and patient care.

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Dr. Mark Rodefeld and Dr. Jenna Romano

New to this year’s Annual Meeting, two live broadcasts of popular STS podcast shows hosted by CT surgeons—Thinking Thoracic and Same Surgeon, Different Light—explored engaging topics and sparked captivating discussions.  

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thinking thoracic
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thinking thoracic
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same surgeon different light

Late-breaking science has taken center stage throughout this year's Annual Meeting, including a presentation by Michael Bowdish, MD, on the impact of valve choice (mechanical vs. bioprosthetic) on long-term survival in patients under 60, using data from the STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database. 

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dr bowdish

Catch up on everything from day two in our video recap!