Career Resources

The development and success of early career members is an important objective for the Society. The STS Workforce on Career Development endeavors to address the specific career needs of members in their first 7 years of practice.

Additional Resources

• The 2019 Residents Symposium at the STS Annual Meeting included talks related to private practice and academic career pathways, the mechanics of finding a job, negotiating a contract, building a successful clinical practice, early career development, what you need to know about finances, and achieving a successful work/life balance. View the slides from the Symposium.
• The job market for cardiothoracic surgeons is more promising now than it has been in decades. So how can residents and fellows be successful in finding that first job? Dr. Vinay Badhwar (West Virginia University) asks seasoned and early career colleagues for tips on making a good impression during an interview, making sure that the job is a great fit, how to find the best career resources, and how to engage and maintain good mentors. The video also features Drs. John Ikonomidis (University of North Carolina), Damien J. LaPar (NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital), Gabriel Loor (Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center Heart and Lung Transplant Center), and Rishinda M. Reddy (University of Michigan).

• Some of the most successful cardiothoracic surgeons credit mentors for part of their achievements. Whether you are still in training, an early careerist, or a senior surgeon, taking part in a productive mentor/mentee arrangement has long-term benefits. But how do you identify a good mentor or mentee and cultivate that relationship? Drs. Mara B. Antonoff (UT MD Anderson Cancer Center), Vinod H. Thourani (MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute), John D. Mitchell (University of Colorado Denver), and Elizabeth A. David (Keck School of Medicine of USC) describe the qualities to look for in a mentor, the importance of communication, setting realistic expectations, avoiding “mentor malpractice,” and why mentees should under promise and over deliver.

• An important element of building and maintaining a successful cardiothoracic surgery practice is the relationship with referring physicians such as cardiologists and primary care physicians. V. Seenu Reddy, MD, MBA (TriStar Cardiovascular Surgery) moderates a panel discussion about the elements of forming good relationships, breaking through the anonymity resulting from electronic health records, creating a patient-centered experience, how to communicate bad news, and building a solid reputation. Joining him are cardiologist Patrick T. O’Gara, MD (Brigham and Women's Hospital), Tom C. Nguyen, MD (The University of Texas Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery), and Craig J. Baker, MD (Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California).