STS POLICY ON REQUESTS FOR ENDORSEMENT OR THE USE OF THE STS LOGO OR OTHER STS TRADEMARKS IN CONNECTION WITH INDUSTRY PRODUCTS OR NON-EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES

STS has adopted a published policy, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Standards for Interactions with Companies (updated September 9, 2026) (the “Standards for Interactions”), governing most aspects of STS interactions with industry. STS also has published STS Criteria and Stipulations for Endorsing Industry Educational Programs (updated Oct. 19, 2022), a separate policy with standard forms governing applications for STS endorsement of industry-sponsored educational programs. The policy outlined below focuses an additional aspect of industry engagement not addressed by those policies. 

Specifically, this policy applies to situations where (1) industry requests STS’s express endorsement of a product or initiative other than an educational program; (2) industry requests that STS’s name, logo, or other trademark(s) be associated with an industry product, service, practice, campaign, or other identifiable industry initiative (other than an educational program), or (3) industry requests that STS take action(s) that may reasonably appear to be supporting, co-sponsoring, approving, certifying, or otherwise endorsing, either expressly or indirectly, an industry product, service, practice, or initiative (other than an industry educational program) (collectively referred to in this policy as “Industry Endorsements”).

General Criteria and Principles

All STS Industry Endorsements must align with the core principles outlined in the Standards for Interactions. Thus, any Industry Endorsement must advance STS’s purpose and member interests, allow the Society to retain full independence and control over its positions, publications and decisions, provide for full transparency, and be consistent with STS’s strategic plan and mission. 

With those principles in mind, outside of the industry-sponsored educational context, STS generally disfavors endorsing industry products or initiatives, and as a matter of policy STS will grant a request for Industry Endorsement only under exceptional circumstances.  Furthermore, no STS endorsement or permission for use of STS trademarks will be provided on an exclusive basis or for a perpetual term.

Guidelines, Accreditation, Certification and Public Policy Positions Distinguished

Nothing in this policy shall govern STS development of practice guidelines, expert consensus papers or other evidence-based surgery publications, or the participation in or development of accreditation or certification programs operated by the Society individually or in collaboration with non-industry institutions, even if a particular industry segment, participant or product is addressed as part of such publications/programs. No endorsement by STS of any particular company or any particular industry product or initiative is intended or implied.

In addition, nothing in this policy shall apply to the Society’s taking of legislative or regulatory positions and STS government relations activities, regardless of whether any company has adopted a similar position or undertaken similar government relations activities. STS may engage in government advocacy on matters of common interest with industry, working concurrently with or in cooperation with industry, and no such activities are intended to or shall imply endorsement by STS of any particular company or any particular industry product or initiative.

Advertising Material; No Implied Endorsement

STS may accept advertising from companies for display at Annual Meetings or stand-alone meetings, or for incorporation into publications such as STS websites, its journals, newsletters or emails, and the STS OnDemand platform, all consistent with the Standards for Interactions and other applicable STS policies, rules and regulations. Inclusion of any advertising material in STS meetings or publication does not constitute a guarantee or endorsement of the quality or value of such product or service or of any of the representations or claims made by the advertiser. All advertising matter included in STS publications shall be clearly delineated as such.

Procedure for Industry Endorsement Requests

  1. Requests for Industry Endorsements should be transmitted to STS at industry@sts.org, and must contain the following information:
    1. Indicate whether or not the request seeks permission to use an STS trademark.
    2. Identify the specific product or initiative, and provide as much information about it as possible. Include supporting documentation.
    3. In the case of a product that is a medical device, include documentation of the government-approved use of the device.  STS will not consider applications relating to unapproved devices, or for unapproved uses of devices.
    4. In the case of an industry initiative that has inclusion/exclusion criteria associated with it, clearly define, document, and justify any and all such criteria.
    5. Identify the specific action requested of STS (endorsement, permission to use STS logo, etc.).
    6. Explain how the Industry Endorsement would not create any conflict of interest for the Society.
    7. Include an explanation of how the requested Industry Endorsement would align with the core principles outlined in the Standards for Interactions and meet the criteria identified in the first paragraph under “General Criteria and Principles” above.
  2. Requests will be reviewed in the first instance by the Industry Relations Committee. Requests that the Industry Relations Committee does not recommend for approval will be rejected. If the Industry Relations Committee recommends the request for approval, it may include specific conditions for approval as part of its recommendation. The recommendation will then be considered by the STS Board of Directors or the Executive Committee for final action.
  3. The Industry Relations Committee, with the approval of the Executive Committee, may establish reasonable, appropriate, and transparent application fees for requests for Industry Endorsements.
  4. To receive final approval by STS, all requests for Industry Endorsements must meet the following minimum requirements.
    1. Have a documented relationship to specific STS programs, activities, and/or mission priorities that may be advanced through the requested Industry Endorsement;
    2. Align with the core principles outlined in the Standards for Interactions and meet the criteria identified in the first paragraph under “General Criteria and Principles” above;
    3. Satisfy any conditions that were mandated by the Industry Relations Committee;
    4. Satisfy any application fee requirements;
    5. Be conditioned on the mutual execution of a written contract that clearly defines and limits the scope of authorized STS trademarks or other intellectual property licenses (if applicable), clearly defines and limits the scope of any endorsement or other STS action (as applicable), includes procedures for assessing and managing conflicts of interest associated with the Industry Endorsement, and contains required disclaimers or similar disclosures, prohibitions on endorsements or other statements outside of the Industry Endorsement parameters, legal compliance obligations, and ongoing monitoring/evaluation/quality assurance requirements; and 
    6. Be subject to legal review and approval of Industry Endorsement parameters, agreement terms, compliance and risk-related considerations, and other elements as necessary and appropriate.
  5. The Industry Relations Committee is authorized to promulgate further procedural rules regarding Industry Endorsements and associated applications, not inconsistent with this policy and at all times subject to oversight by the Executive Committee, which shall be made available on STS’s website.

Adopted by the STS Executive Committee on September 9, 2026