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

STS News Archives:

Top Story

Surgical Ablation During CABG Linked to Longer Survival in Patients with AF

Medicare patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who undergo surgical ablation during isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) live longer than those who do not, offering compelling support for clinical guidelines that recommend this procedure but are too often not followed in practice, according to a new study published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, a journal from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

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CABG AFib

Latest news

Host Dr. Cherie Erkmen welcomes Dr. Emily Farkas, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the Indiana University School of Medicine, to discuss her unconventional path to becoming a trailblazer in global medicine. Dr. Farkas shares how she balances a clinical career in academic medicine with surgical missions around the world, and she reflects on her hope of serving as a model for the next generation of surgeons committed to giving back. As she puts it, “You can craft a career that’s a bit different from the rigid way we traditionally view cardiac surgery.”

52 minutes
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halub

The 2025 STS Leadership Institute meeting held in Chicago was a fantastic experience that far exceeded my expectations.  I was not only able to network and get to know many people in the field, but was also able to take away many lessons that helped me to determine the path I would like to take to become a better leader as I grow and mature as a surgeon.

2 min read
Meghan Halub, MD

In this episode of Thinking Thoracic, hear from Christopher Seder, MD, professor of surgery and chief of the thoracic surgery division at Rush University, and Robert Habib, vice president of research and analytics at STS, about the development of the Society’s short-term risk calculators for pulmonary resection and esophagectomy, powered by the General Thoracic Surgery Database with more than 800,000 patient records.

40 min
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greenleaf

Starting your first job, or making your first move, as a cardiothoracic surgeon is a big step. The right decision can shape your professional and personal life for years to come.  You would prefer not to be that person who makes the wrong choice and who bounces from wrong job to wrong job for the next 10 years.

4 min read
Christopher Greenleaf, MD

STS submitted a response to the proposed Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) hospital inpatient rule.  

Key highlights included:  

  • Recommendations for improving the Transforming Episode Accountability Model, which will impact all coronary artery bypass grafting procedures at select hospitals starting in January 2026. 
  • Suggestions for programs like the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System, global surgical post-operative data reporting, and the appropriate use criteria program for deregulation.
  • Examples of ways CMS can enhance data quality through standardized collection of unique device identifiers and improved imaging interoperability. Additionally, we continue to advocate for access to federal claims data to support long-term clinical outcomes research.  

Read the full letter.  

Senate Intensifies Negotiations on the Reconciliation Bill

The Senate needs to hear from surgeons about reconciliation! Make your voice heard now.

  • There are key concerns regarding the legislation, including substantial cuts to Medicaid, which could leave millions of people uninsured.
  • The proposed increases to Medicare physician payments are modest despite ongoing financial pressures.

Legislation includes significant changes to federal student loan programs that could reduce access to affordable financing for medical education.  

Jun 16, 2025
1 min read

The 2025 STS Coronary Conference was held from June 12–14 in Chicago, bringing together more than 200 healthcare specialists from around the world. This three-day event was delivered groundbreaking insights and hands-on training for professionals involved in coronary surgery. “More and more, the concept of a coronary surgery specialist is emerging, and this conference supported that development by providing the education needed to acquire and validate the relevant skills and knowledge at each surgeon’s institution,” said co-course director Marc Ruel, MD, of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.

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STS 2025 Coronary Conference
New for 2025, the Training Village offered attendees hands-on opportunities to build their skill set.

The conference featured a comprehensive program that focused on advanced surgical techniques, minimally invasive methods, and the latest technological innovations in the field. Attendees engaged with leaders in cardiothoracic surgery through lectures, panel discussions, and collaborative learning activities.

Each day included expert-led sessions covering a wide range of topics, including radial artery and BITA grafting, evidence-based practices, and technical pearls in coronary surgery. Participants also attended sessions on academic career development and minimally invasive, hybrid, and robotic CABG techniques. Highlights of the conference included keynote lectures, interactive case discussions, and surgical video presentations that allowed attendees to explore complex intraoperative and postoperative decision-making strategies in greater depth.

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STS 2025 Coronary Conference
Between sessions, attendees explored poster presentations and visited industry exhibits.

A key feature of the event was the introduction of the Training Village, a non-CME, hands-on learning space that featured cutting-edge surgical simulations and demonstrations and allowed attendees to gain practical experience under expert guidance. 

The Training VIllage was organized into three stations:  

  • Anastomosis Masterclass, which focused on advanced anastomotic techniques
  • Flow Measurement & Quality Control, where attendees practiced using intraoperative assessment tools to improve graft outcomes; and
  • Atrial Fibrillation Treatment, which provided instruction on left atrial appendage clipping and intraoperative Maze procedures.

“The Training Village was a great example of the conference’s practical component—emphasizing ‘know-how’ and ‘how-to’ over abstract concepts or theory, if you will,” said Dr. Ruel.

Throughout the conference, attendees participated in a wide array of engaging sessions, such as "Mastering Coronary Surgery: Expert Techniques," "Making the Most of Your Conduits," and "Which Kind of Academic Surgeon Do You Want to Be?" These sessions focused on developing both technical skills and strategic thinking.

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STS 2025 Coronary Conference
Dr. Brittany Zwischenberger (left) and her father, Dr. Joseph Zwischenberger (right), both presented at the conference.

By the end of the conference, participants had expanded their clinical knowledge, honed their skills, and networked with peers and leaders in coronary surgery. “As both a moderator and presenter, I left feeling inspired by the exchange of ideas and the shared commitment to advancing progress in coronary surgery,” said Brittany Zwischenberger, MD, of Duke University.

Check out our event photo gallery

 

Jun 16, 2025
2 min read

Chicago, IL – June 12, 2025 – The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) has launched a new mobile app that offers surgeons and multidisciplinary medical providers real-time access to its suite of adult cardiac surgery and thoracic surgery risk calculators. Designed to enhance physician-patient decision-making and improve patient outcomes, the STS Risk Calculator App is now available for both iOS and Android devices.

Digital Clinical Support

Jun 12, 2025

Host Dr. Sara Pereira sits down with Dr. Brittany Zwischenberger, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Duke University, to explore her remarkable career journey. Dr. Zwischenberger shares how she briefly considered majoring in Italian Studies before deciding to follow in the footsteps of her surgeon father and mentor. She also opens up about personal challenges—including divorce and single motherhood—and how support from her surgical partners helped her become a respected clinician, accomplished researcher, and the first female associate professor of cardiac surgery at Duke.

45 minutes

What were the most practice-changing thoracic surgery papers of 2024? In this episode of Thinking Thoracic, Dr. Linda Martin, UVA Health, and Dr. Jeff Yang, Thinking Thoracic co-host, spotlight top studies shaping the field, from groundbreaking lung cancer and esophageal cancer findings to surgical profession papers that impact how surgeons work and lead. Dr. Martin’s curated list is a go-to resource for surgeons looking to stay at the forefront of evidence-based care.

40 min.

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Dr. Sharon Ben-Or and her surgical team.

Member News

Learn about member experiences from your specialty, and stories about the ever-evolving landscape of cardiothoracic surgery.

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Technology

Learn about science, technology, and date-driven tools made possible by the STS National Database.

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Dr. Ourania Preventza with mentees.

Advocacy

Learn about Leadership, Advocacy, and Regulatory Action; you and your colleagues are taking steps to drive change in healthcare institutions and on Capitol Hill.

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The STS Blog

From career advice to expert perspectives illuminating the latest findings in the media, STS authors share their insights and experience.

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Press Releases

News and announcements for cardiothoracic surgery, the health care press, and the public.

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All media inquiries, including requests for interviews with leading experts in cardiothoracic surgery.

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Share your news and stories 

STS wants to hear from its members and share their news and stories with others. Working on new research or an innovative initiative? Making an exciting career move? Receiving a promotion? Honored with an industry award?  Send us an email at stsnews@sts.org.