As we look ahead to the 2026 STS Annual Meeting, I am energized by the opportunities before us. Our Annual Meeting is one of the most important things we do as a professional society. It is our moment each year to come together as colleagues, trainees, and partners to examine where our specialty is today and to shape where it will go tomorrow. That spirit inspired this year’s theme: Teaching for Tomorrow, Together.
“Tomorrow” is more than a sense of time. It is an active commitment to preparing ourselves, our teams, and the next generation for the future of cardiothoracic surgery. What skills will surgeons need? What technologies and data will drive decision-making? How will we lead in environments that continue to evolve? These questions have guided every decision in building this year’s program.
Equally important is the word “together.” None of us advances this specialty alone. Progress happens when we share ideas freely, learn from one another, and support the success of every member of our community. This year’s meeting reflects that belief in meaningful ways, from expanded trainee involvement to new tools that remove barriers to participation and discussion.
One of the most exciting elements of the 2026 meeting is the greater emphasis on science emerging from the STS National Database. It remains one of our Society’s greatest contributions to global cardiothoracic care. With more than 10 million real-world patient records, it allows us to ask and answer questions that matter deeply to our patients.
This year’s program features several major studies using the Database to explore clinical outcomes, evaluate emerging techniques, and bring clarity to areas where randomized trials alone cannot fully guide practice. This is the kind of evidence that truly moves our specialty forward.
We are also modernizing the meeting experience in ways that make learning more dynamic, more visual, and more engaging. Attendees will see an expanded slate of video-based sessions, theater-style rooms designed for immersive presentations, and new TED-style talks that create a closer connection between speakers and the audience.
Other new features include digital moderators, who will help facilitate Q&A through the meeting app. Attendees can submit questions using the app for the sessions. This not only drives meaningful discussions but also gives a voice to those who might be shy in a physical setting.
RFID-enabled badges will help collect data on popular presentations, exhibitor booths, wellness activities, and more. The more we know, the greater the improvements we can make to the meeting each year.
I hope every STS member will join us in New Orleans. Together, we will celebrate new science, invest in the next generation, strengthen our community, and continue building the future of our specialty one conversation, one idea, and one shared commitment at a time.