Virtual Courses Offer Flexible Access to Don’t-Miss Events
To help professionals balance a post-quarantine schedule of increasing in-person activities, STS has opted to keep some of its most popular courses virtual. Find details on these courses and more—and add them to your calendar—at sts.org/meetings.
Advanced TAVR Symposium
Designed to give cardiothoracic surgeons, interventional cardiologists, and other members of the heart team an in-depth understanding of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), the half-day, Advanced TAVR Symposium: New Perspectives for the Surgeon and Heart Team course—scheduled for August 21—will explore the latest in TAVR research and techniques.
A distinguished multidisciplinary faculty will cover advanced perspectives and topics including state-of-the-art TAVR implantation and explantation techniques, managing controversial patient populations, and staying relevant in the aortic surgical field. The symposium will feature didactic sessions, case-based presentations, and live discussion and Q&A.
Associate, Candidate, and Pre-Candidate Members receive free registration for the Advanced TAVR Symposium. For more information on the meeting agenda and registration, visit sts.org/tavr.
Critical Care Conference
The Perioperative and Critical Care Conference—taking place September 10–11—is expected to attract all members of the critical care team and provide a forum to enhance knowledge and expertise in cardiovascular and thoracic critical care, as well as enhanced recovery after surgery.
The event will feature live transmissions from around the globe, transformative research and science, as well as opportunities to learn and engage with the brightest minds in critical care. Leading experts will present new concepts, technologies, management protocols, and clinical experiences.
For more information, visit sts.org/criticalcare.
AQO Data Managers Meeting
Surgeon leaders and data managers will gather virtually during Advances in Quality Outcomes (AQO): A Data Managers Meeting, October 12–15, to share valuable research and important clinical findings with the goal of improving data collection and patient outcomes. The conference also will highlight what’s new with the STS National Database.
One day will be dedicated entirely to each registry:
- Tuesday, October 12 – Intermacs/Pedimacs
- Wednesday, October 13 – General Thoracic
- Thursday, October 14 – Adult Cardiac
- Friday, October 15 – Congenital
This year, AQO registration is free for all STS National Database data managers. More information is available at sts.org/AQO.
New Pediatric and Congenital Chapters Round Out the STS E-Book
The highly anticipated Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery chapters are now available in the STS Cardiothoracic Surgery E-Book.
This resource is hailed as the most complete and authoritative online resource for cardiothoracic surgical information in the world. The comprehensive e-book features 350+ chapters, more than 780 hand-drawn, high-quality medical illustrations, 25,000 evidence-based references, plus photographs, tables, and relevant surgical videos. It is accessible 24/7/365 via a web browser or mobile app (iOS and Android). The e-book includes two volumes: an update and expansion of the popular Pearson’s General Thoracic Surgery and all-new content in the Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery volume. Among the 15 new chapters are:
- Nomenclature for Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Care
- Basic Hemodynamics for Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Care
- Myocardial Protection
- Basic Hemodynamics for Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Care
- Vascular Rings and Slings
- Hybrid Approaches to Congenital Heart Disease
- Approach to Patients and Families
The e-book chapters are regularly updated with the latest technological and treatment advances. Institutional subscriptions and individual subscriptions—with a special discount for STS members—are available. Subscribe at sts.org/ebook.
Annals Impact Factor Reaches Record High
The Society’s peer-reviewed journal, The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, has earned its highest impact factor to date—and the first one over four.
The impact factor, an important metric indicating a journal’s influence, measures the frequency with which the average article has been cited in a particular year. For 2020, the impact factor was 4.330, as reported by Clarivate Analytics in its Journal Citation Reports.
Article topics that received the most citations last year include: the Intermacs annual report; reporting standards for type B aortic dissection; COVID-19 guidance documents for crisis management, mitigation strategies, and triage of operations in adult cardiac and congenital heart surgery, and thoracic malignancies; social media’s influence in CT surgical literature dissemination; representation of women in STS authorship and leadership positions; and the growing role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in cardiovascular health care.
A subscription to The Annals is a benefit of STS membership. To read the journal online, visit annalsthoracicsurgery.org.
Single Sign-On Enables Easier Access to Annals, Member Benefits
STS members no longer need separate log ins to access the robust multimedia content in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery or other STS member benefits. A new single sign-on (SSO) feature allows members to move seamlessly from the resources accessible on STS.org to the Annals site.
To take advantage of this SSO feature, members will need to sync accounts—only once—using the following instructions:
1. Go to the Annals website: www.annalsthoracicsurgery.org.
2. In the upper right corner, click the “Log in” link.
3. From the two login types displayed, select “STS Member Login.”
4. Once routed to the STS Portal, enter your STS Portal credentials and click “Log in.”
5. This will take you back to the Elsevier page to link your accounts. Enter your Elsevier login credentials and click “Log in.”
6. In the future, you will only need to log in via the STS portal.
If you have questions regarding the STS portal login, contact Member Services at membership@sts.org.
STS Leadership Positions: Are You Interested?
All members are invited to participate in the Society’s self-nomination process for standing committee and workforce appointments.
In order to represent the full gender and ethnic diversity of the membership, STS encourages submissions from all practice types, career levels, disciplines, geographic areas, and other demographics.
Submissions will be accepted in August; information on how to self-nominate will be coming soon through various STS communications and online at sts.org/selfnomination.
A full list of the Society’s leadership and governance structure can be found at sts.org/leadership.
LTTF Scholarships Give Bright Young Minds a Glimpse at a Future in CT Surgery
For general surgery residents and medical students training in the US or Canada and are considering a career in cardiothoracic surgery, the Society’s Looking to the Future (LTTF) Scholarship Program can inspire minds and open doors.
STS encourages ambitious, accomplished students and residents to apply for an LTTF scholarship, which gives selected candidates the opportunity to attend the STS 58th Annual Meeting—to be held January 29-31, in Miami Beach, Florida.
Scholarships cover registration fees to the meeting, a 3-night stay at an STS-designated hotel, participation in exclusive events, and reimbursement of up to $500 in related travel expenses.
Application details will be available later this summer at sts.org/lttf. Previous scholarship recipients are not eligible; however, previous applicants are encouraged to re-apply.
Leaders Advise on Weathering Crises, Building Brand Identity
Navigating the unexpected and establishing your brand as a surgeon have been the focuses of the first two episodes in the new STS Leadership Series: Building Leaders for Today & Tomorrow.
“Leading During Crisis” featured a short presentation on different leadership styles, a keynote address on leading during a pandemic, and a 20-minute panel discussion, moderated by Mara B. Antonoff, MD, and Ram Kumar Subramanyan, MD, PhD, on how to lead in the face of difficult situations such as poor clinical outcomes and HR challenges. Panel members also described the benefits of leading by example, being present, and offering optimism and hope.
In “Building Your Practice and Your Brand,” moderated by Robert S.D. Higgins, MD, MSHA, and Anita R. Krueger, MD, accomplished early career and mid-career surgical practitioners offered tips on how to build a foundation for a successful practice. Topics included how to launch a successful career, creating a professional niche, the art of decision-making, and how to ask for a pay raise.
If you missed these two webinars, you can access the recordings in the STS Learning Center. Instructions are available at sts.org/leadershipseries.
You also can find details about the third and final webinar in the 2021-2022 series, which will be held on October 7. Melanie A. Edwards, MD, and Dawn S. Hui, MD, will moderate “Promoting Your Brand.”
In addition to the three webinars, the series will include an in-person event on Friday, January 28, prior to STS 2022 in Miami Beach, Florida.