Read New Blog Posts on CTSurgeryPatients.org
The Society’s patient website features a blog through which surgeons offer a wide variety of information to patients about their most frequently asked questions. Check out several recent posts, including “How We Balance Motherhood and Cardiothoracic Surgery” by Mara B. Antonoff, MD and Leah M. Backhus, MD, MPH. Drs. Antonoff and Backhus write that “carrying these two titles simultaneously is not only possible, but enormously rewarding.” Read the full story at ctsurgerypatients.org/blog.
Annals Debuts Updated Website
Many online readers of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery will have an enhanced experience the next time they visit annalsthoracicsurgery.org. The homepage has been streamlined, and the Table of Contents (TOC) now features thumbnail images for most articles. Articles that provide continuing medical education (CME) credit also will be easier to find, with identifying icons in the TOC and article widgets pointing readers to the CME activity. A subscription to The Annals is one of many STS member benefits.
Watch or Listen to STS Roundtable Discussions
Visit the Society’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/thoracicsurgeons to view several roundtable discussions filmed at the STS 54th Annual Meeting. Leading experts discuss a wide range of topics, including the opioid epidemic in the US, diversity and inclusion in cardiothoracic surgery, catheter-based mitral valve repair and replacement, and emerging technologies in lung cancer. New for 2018—listen to the audio at sts.org/podcast, or subscribe to the Surgical Hot Topics podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you access your podcasts.
Joseph E. Bavaria, MD (fourth from right) represented STS at the New York Stock Exchange bell ringing.
STS Promotes Awareness of Heart Valve Disease
STS members participated in a variety of activities to celebrate the second annual Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day on February 22. STS Past President Joseph E. Bavaria, MD was among those ringing the New York Stock Exchange closing bell to recognize the day. In addition, Alan M. Speir, MD participated in a reception at the Inova Heart and Vascular Institute that highlighted the campaign and raised awareness about valve disease. Other STS members participated in similar events across the country. To learn more about this important national day of recognition, visit valvediseaseday.org.
TSF Awards $857,500 in Cardiothoracic Surgery Grants
The Thoracic Surgery Foundation (TSF) distributed 23 grants as part of its 2018 Awards Program in support of research and education in cardiothoracic surgery. These grants will help advance treatment options for patients with heart and lung diseases and offer much-needed assistance to underserved patients. View a list of the award winners at sts.org/TSF2018Awards. Applications for the 2019 TSF Awards Program will be available on July 15, 2018, and are due by September 15, 2018; visit thoracicsurgeryfoundation.org/awards for more information.
Refer a Colleague to STS Membership
Urge your partners and staff who have not yet joined the Society to submit an application for membership. As STS members, they’ll receive many valuable benefits such as a free subscription to The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, reduced rates for educational events and activities, and networking opportunities with the most influential cardiothoracic surgeons in the world.
The STS Board of Directors votes on pending applications for Active and International Membership three times per year (January, Spring, and Fall). The application deadlines for 2018 and the corresponding Board of Directors meetings are outlined in the chart below. Associate, Candidate, and Pre-Candidate Members are admitted on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Potential members can find more information and an application at sts.org/membership. Contact the Member Services Department with any questions.
| Application Deadline | Board of Directors Meeting |
| September 26, 2018 | November 10, 2018 |
| December 3, 2018 | January 27, 2019 |
Symposium Fills a Void in Robotics Education
To address patient desires for minimally invasive valve surgery, STS held a Symposium on Robotic Cardiac Surgery: Mitral Valve Repair, Coronary Bypass, and More, March 23-24 in Chicago. In addition to learning the essentials of robotic arterial and valvular procedures, attendees gained an overview of proper prerequisites, individual and team skills, supplies and equipment, training, and administrative elements. Breakout sessions featured live demonstrations and hands-on opportunities with multiple simulators.