CHICAGO — July 28, 2026 — The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) has appointed Justine Varieur Turco as its Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director effective August 31, 2026. She succeeds Elaine Weiss, who is retiring after seven years at STS and more than four decades of association leadership.
“Today marks both a moment of gratitude and an exciting new chapter for The Society of Thoracic Surgeons,” said STS President Vinay Badhwar, MD. “We thank Elaine Weiss for her tremendous leadership and many contributions to STS during her tenure as CEO. Her dedication helped strengthen the Society, advance key strategic initiatives, and position STS for long-term success.”
Dr. Badhwar added, “We are honored to welcome Justine Varieur Turco as STS’s next CEO. Throughout her stellar career, she has demonstrated an outstanding ability to lead complex teams, build strategic partnerships, and create value for members and stakeholders. The Board is extremely confident that her experience and bold leadership will help build on STS’s strong foundation and advance the Society’s global mission in support of cardiothoracic surgeons and the patients they serve.”
Turco brings more than 20 years of executive leadership experience in medical publishing, education, and professional societal leadership. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Scientific Publications & Guidelines at the American College of Cardiology (ACC), where she oversaw the JACC journals portfolio, ACC/AHA Clinical Practice Guidelines, educational initiatives, and strategic partnerships. She has also held leadership roles at Boston Children’s Hospital and other healthcare organizations.
“Healthcare is at an important inflection point, shaped by evolving policy, technology, and care delivery models,” said Turco. “STS has long been a leader in advancing quality, education, research, and data-driven improvement in cardiothoracic surgery. I am honored to join the Society and look forward to working with its members, Board, and staff to build on that legacy and support the specialty’s continued advancement.”
As CEO/Executive Director, Turco will work closely with the STS Board of Directors, leadership, and staff to advance the Society’s strategic priorities and continue its leadership in surgical quality, clinical data, education, research, and advocacy.
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About The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is the largest not-for-profit organization in cardiothoracic surgery, representing more than 8,000 surgeons, researchers, and allied healthcare professionals worldwide committed to improving patient outcomes in cardiothoracic surgery. Through the STS National Database—one of medicine's most robust clinical registries—and ongoing education, research, and advocacy, STS advances the highest standards of patient care.
