Date(s)
May 15–16, 2025
Location
Norcross, GA
Area of Practice
General Thoracic
Audience
Surgeon
Hear didactic lectures and case demonstrations from expert faculty, then practice in a realistic, general thoracic robotics simulation environment.

Thank you to all the attendees, course directors, faculty, trainers, exhibitors, and industry partners who helped make this year’s workshop a success!

Attendees: evaluate the course in the STS Learning Center and claim credit.

  • Log in using your STS website credentials and find the workshop listed in your “In-Progress Activities” under the “My Activities” tab.
  • Fill out and submit the overall evaluation.
  • Confirm the amount of credit you are claiming for the conference, then download your CME certificate.
  • Your CME Certificate will be listed in your “Completed Activities” under the “My Activities” tab.

 

Course Description

The STS Workshop on Robotic Thoracic Surgery is a two-day event designed to provide thoracic surgeons with the knowledge and expertise needed to better plan and perform both routine and complex robotic thoracic procedures. The workshop will be divided into two tracks based on experience level: a Foundation track and an Advanced track. The Foundations group will work on mastering robotic lobectomy, thymectomy, and segmentectomy, while the Advanced group will focus more on complex segmentectomy, sleeve resections, and esophagectomy. The workshop will also explore robotic bronchoscopy and SP systems (single port), plus education on advanced robotic bronchoscopic and imaging technologies. Both groups will spend the two days in the wet lab and classroom. The course will include didactic lectures, complex case discussions, and 6+ hours of hands-on sessions at a state-of-the-art training facility.  
                                                                                                                                                                                  

Target Audience

This course is designed for thoracic surgeons with a minimum of 10 robotic cases.
 

Agenda

Day 1 - Thursday, May 15
TimeActivity
7 - 7:45 a.m.Registration
7:45 - 7:50 a.m.Welcome and Introductions
7:50 - 8:15 a.m.Description of Lab
Group and Lab Assignments
8:15 - 9 a.m.Foundations Group Stays at Hotel 
Advanced Group Transport to Intuitive Labs
8:15 - 8:30 a.m.Foundations Group - Break/Visit Exhibits
9 - 11:45 a.m.Advanced Group Lab - Intuitive
8:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Foundations Group Lectures

  • 8:30 – 8:50 a.m.: Principles of Port Placement and Energy 
                                 Natalie Lui, MD, Stanford University
  • 8:50 – 9:10 a.m.: Lobectomy – Fissure Dissection 
                                John F. Lazar, MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
  • 9:10 – 9:30 a.m.: Lobectomy – Fissureless (Anterior-Posterior, Superior, Inferior Approaches)             
                                Jennifer Wilson, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
  • 9:30 – 9:50 a.m.: Break / Visit Exhibits
  • 9:50 – 10:10 a.m.: Typical Segment  
                                  Jason M. Long, MD, MPH, University of North Carolina
  • 10:10 – 10:30 a.m.: Robotic Navigational Bronchoscopy / SABR 
                                    Andrew Brownlee, MD, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
  • 10:30 – 10:50 a.m.: 3D Imaging and Preoperative Planning for Segmentation 
                                    Elliott L. Servais, MD, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
  • 10:50 – 11:30 a.m.: Panel Discussion 
11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.Foundations Group Transport to Intuitive 
Advanced Group Transport to Hotel 
1 - 4 p.m.Foundations Group Lab - Intuitive
12: 45 - 4 p.m.

Advanced Lectures - Hotel

  • 12:45 – 1:05 p.m.: Typical Segment 
                                  Jason Long, MD, MPH
  • 1:05 – 1:25 p.m.: Atypical Segment – 3D Imaging 
                                Nathaniel R. Evans III, MD, Thomas Jefferson University
  • 1:25 – 1:45 p.m.: Bronchial Sleeve 
                                Lana Y. Schumacher, MD, Tufts Medical Center
  • 1:45 – 2:05 p.m.: Sleeve – Double Sleeve 
                                Abbas Abbas, MD, Brown University  
  • 2:05 – 2:25 p.m.: Break / Visit Exhibits
  • 2:25 – 2:45 p.m.: Pneumonectomy 
                                 Sudish Murthy, MD, Cleveland Clinic
  • 2:45 – 3:05 p.m.: Obtaining Vascular Control in Complicated Cases 
                                 Michael Zervos, MD, NYU Langone Medical Center
  • 3:05 – 3:25 p.m.: Nuances in Localization Techniques 
                                 Nicholas Baker, MD, WVU Medicine
  • 3:25 – 4:00 p.m.: Panel Discussion 
4 p.m.Foundations group Transport to Hotel
4 - 4:30 p.m.Break/Visit Exhibits
4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Plenary Lectures

  • 4:30 - 5 p.m.: How I Do It: First Rib
                            Bryan Burt, MD, UCLA
    • 5 - 5:30 p.m.: Panel Discussion
                             All faculty
5:30 - 6:15 p.m. Reception/Visit Exhibits
Day 2 - Friday, May 16
TimeActivity
7 - 7:45 a.m.Registration / Breakfast
7:45 - 8:15 a.m.Breaks / Visit Exhibits
8:15 - 9 a.m.Groups separate: Foundations group stays at hotel. Advanced group takes bus to Intuitive Lab.
8:15 - 8:30 a.m.Foundations Group - Break/Visit Exhibits
8:45 - 11:45 a.m.Advanced Group Lab - Intuitive
8:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Foundations Group Lectures - at Hotel

  • 8:30 – 8:50 a.m.: Anterior/Posterior Mediastinum (Non-Thymomas) 
                                 Alicia Bonanno, MD, Emory University
  • 8:50 – 9:10 a.m.: Thymectomy 
                                Jacob Klapper, MD, Duke University Medical Center
  • 9:10 – 9:30 a.m.: Diaphragm Plication and Hernias 
                                Samuel S. Kim, MD, Northwestern University  
  • 9:30 – 9:50 a.m.: How to Teach Robotics as a New User 
                                 Svetlana Kotova, MD, OHSU / PeaceHealth
  • 9:50 – 10:10 a.m.: Break / Visit Exhibits
  • 10:10 – 10:30 a.m.: Intra-Operative Complications 
                                   Jason Long, MD
  • 10:30 – 10:50 a.m.: Being Prepared: Disaster Drills/Simulation 
                                    Feiran Lou, MD, UMass Memorial Health Care
  • 10:50 – 11:10 a a.m.: Building a Program/Talking with C-Suite 
                                      Brian Mitzman, MD, University of Utah
  • 11:10 – 11:30 a.m.: Panel Discussion  
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.Foundations Group Transport to Intuitive  
Advanced Group Transport to Hotel 
1 - 4 p.m.Foundations Lab - Intuitive
12:45 - 4 p.m.

Advanced Group Lectures - at Hotel

  • 12:45 – 1:05 p.m.: First Rib 
                                  Bryan Burt, MD
  • 1:05 – 1:25 p.m.: Tracheobronchoplasty 
                                Onkar V. Khullar, MD, MSc, Emory University
  • 1:25 – 1:45 p.m.: Single Port Experience 
                                Robert Merritt, MD, The Ohio State University
  • 1:45 – 2:05 p.m.: Esophagectomy Anastomosis 
                                 Lana Y. Schumacher, MD
  • 2:05 – 2:25 p.m.: Break / Visit Exhibits
  • 2:25 – 2:45 p.m.: Tips and tricks of esophageal conduit preparation 
                                 Manu Sancheti, MD, Emory University
  • 2:45 – 3:05 p.m.: Expanding your program 
                                 Brian Mitzman, MD
  • 3:05 – 3:25 p.m.: Managing Disasters: Ask the Experts – Submissions  
                                 Panel  
  • 3:25 – 4:00 p.m.: Panel discussion 
4 p.m.End of Workshop
 

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  1. Master optimizing robotic surgical approaches in both simple and complex thoracic cases.
  2. Gain proficiency in performing both simple and complex segmentectomies.
  3. Understand the importance of the operating room team performing emergency drills and know how to address emergencies in the operating room during robotic thoracic surgery.  
  4. Identify currently available enhanced 3D imaging.
  5. Recognize future developments in the field of thoracic robotic surgery. 
     

Course Directors

Drs. Kotova, Lazar, Mitzman, and Schumacher - course directors

 

Faculty Disclosures

Unless otherwise noted, the individuals below have had no commercial relationships with ineligible companies in the past 24 months. All commercial relationships have been mitigated. (current as of May 14, 2025) 

Course Directors, Faculty, and STS Staff Planners Disclosure Information

Course Directors

  • John F. Lazar, MD 
    Saint Thomas Hospital / University of Tennessee-Nashville
    Commercial Relationships: Intuitive Surgical – Research Support and Consultant/Advisory Board, Medtronic – Research Grant and Consultant/Advisory Board, AstraZeneca – Speakers Bureau/Honoraria
  • Lana Y. Schumacher, MD, MS
    Tufts Medical Center
    Commercial Relationships: Intuitive Surgical, Medtronic – Consultant/Advisory Board, AstraZeneca – Speakers Bureau/Honoraria
  • Brian Mitzman, MD, MS 
    University of Utah 
    Commercial Relationships: Intuitive – Speakers Bureau/Honoraria
  • Svetlana Kotova, MD 
    Oregon Health and Science University / PeaceHealth
    Commercial Relationships: Intuitive Surgical – Proctor 

Faculty

  • Abbas Abbas, MD, MS 
    Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School 
    Commercial Relationships:  
  • Nicholas Baker, MD 
    WVU Medicine 
    Commercial Relationships: OnTarget Laboratories – Speakers Bureau/Honoraria and Consultant/Advisory Board, Intuitive – Proctor  
  • Alicia Bonnano, MD 
    Emory University
  • Andrew Brownlee, MD 
    Cedars-Sinai Medical Center 
    Commercial Relationships: Intuitive Surgical – Speakers Bureau/Honoraria
  • Bryan Burt, MD 
    UCLA 
    Commercial Relationships: Bayou Surgical – Founder, AstraZeneca and Intuitive Surgical – Consultant/Advisory Board, Momatero-Gene – Research Grant, Navigation Sciences – Consultant/Advisory Board and Stock Options
  • Nathaniel R. Evans III, MD 
    Thomas Jefferson University 
    Commercial Relationships: Intuitive Surgical, AstraZeneca, BMS, Genentech – Consultant/Advisory Board, Merck – Speakers Bureau/Honoraria
  • Samuel S. Kim, MD 
    Northwestern University
    Commercial Relationships: Intuitive Surgical – Speakers Bureau/Honoraria
  • Onkar V. Khullar, MD, MSc 
    Emory University 
    Commercial Relationships: Roche, Merck – Consultant/Advisory Board
  • Jacob Klapper, MD 
    Duke University Medical Center  
    Commercial Relationships: Intuitive Surgical – Consultant/Advisory Board, Lung Bioengineering – Speakes Bureau/Honoraria
  • Jason M. Long, MD, MPH 
    University of North Carolina 
    Commercial Relationships: Stryker, Medscape – Consultant/Advisory Board
  • Feiran Lou, MD, MS 
    UMass Memorial Health Care
  • Natalie Lui, MD 
    Stanford University 
    Commercial Relationships: Intuitive Surgical – Consultant/Advisory Board, Centese – Research Grant
  • Robert Merritt, MD, MBA  
    The Ohio State University 
    Commercial Relationships: Intuitive Surgical – Speakers Bureau/Honoraria, AstraZeneca – Consultant/Advisory Board
  • Sudish Murthy, MD, PhD 
    Cleveland Clinic 
    Commercial Relationships: Medtronic – Speakers Bureau/Honoraria, OnTarget Laboratories, Lazzaro Medical – Consultant/Advisory Board
  • Manu Sancheti, MD 
    Emory University 
    Commercial Relationships: Intuitive Surgical – Speakers Bureau/Honoraria
  • Elliott L. Servais, MD 
    Emory University 
    Commercial Relationships: Intuitive Surgical – Speakers Bureau/Honoraria and Consultant/Advisory Board
  • Jennifer Wilson, MD, MPH 
    Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
  • Michael Zervos, MD 
    UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute 
    Commercial Relationships: Intuitive Surgical – Speakers Bureau/Honoraria and Consultant/Advisory Board 

STS Staff

The following staff have NOT had any financial relationships with any ineligible companies in the past 24 months.

  • Scott Bradbury, Vice President of Education
  • Chris Bukowski, Meeting Coordinator
  • Amy Cacich, Meeting Manager
  • Kasia Chalko, Associate Director of Marketing
  • Anne Friedman, Education Manager
  • Meredith Herzog, Associate Director of Education
  • Melisa Puthenmadom, Senior E-Learning Coordinator
  • Elisa Robles-Gnet, Meeting Manager 

Exhibitors

View the Exhibitor Prospectus.
 

Accreditation

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons designates this live activity for a maximum of 13.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Physician Assistants (PAs) may claim AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for completing this activity.

 

Ethical MedTech Compliance

This workshop has been assessed by Ethical MedTech and is COMPLIANT with the MedTech Europe Code of Ethical Business Practice and EFPIA Code of Practice.