Mentorship is an important component to success for many up-and-coming cardiothoracic surgeons. For established surgeons, being a good mentor is equally as important. Vinay Badhwar, MD (West Virginia University) moderates a discussion that includes Shanda H. Blackmon, MD, MPH (Mayo Clinic), Melanie A. Edwards, MD (Saint Louis University), and David D. Odell, MD, MMSc (Northwestern University) talking about how mentorship is critical to the future of the specialty and what STS is doing to promote mentorship for early career surgeons.
Starting your first job, or making your first move, as a cardiothoracic surgeon is a big step. The right decision can shape your professional and personal life for years to come. You would prefer not to be that person who makes the wrong choice and who bounces from wrong job to wrong job for the next 10 years.
Host Dr. Sara Pereira sits down with Dr. Brittany Zwischenberger, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Duke University, to explore her remarkable career journey. Dr. Zwischenberger shares how she briefly considered majoring in Italian Studies before deciding to follow in the footsteps of her surgeon father and mentor. She also opens up about personal challenges—including divorce and single motherhood—and how support from her surgical partners helped her become a respected clinician, accomplished researcher, and the first female associate professor of cardiac surgery at Duke.
Host Dr. Sara Pereira welcomes Dr. Ian Bostock, thoracic surgeon at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute and associate professor of surgery at Florida International University. Their conversation explores his journey from childhood in Mexico and his early passion for both biology and art, to an initial interest in transplant surgery—and how a serendipitous meeting at Starbucks helped shape his career path. Dr. Bostock also reflects on the importance of supporting trainees and early-career surgeons as they embark on their professional journeys.
In December, on the eve of our last winter break, medical students swarm the library like anxious ants, eager to hear advice from those who had survived the crucible of clerkships. Having nurtured an inclination for cardiothoracic surgery, I waited until the session was over to approach one of the panelists and get the insider information.
Laurie Baedke, executive coach, founder and CEO of Growth Edge Holdings, and best-selling author, talks with Dr. Michael Maddaus about “stepping outside your comfort zone” to grow professionally and personally in this episode of The Resilient Surgeon. They address the challenges of promoting high performers into leadership roles without equipping them with critical skills like communication, accountability, and influence. Listen today.
Host Dr. Cherie Erkmen speaks with Dr. Tomislav Mihaljevic, cardiothoracic surgeon and CEO & President of the Cleveland Clinic, about his remarkable path—from early life in Croatia to surgical training in Zurich and Boston—a journey that reflects the international growth of the Cleveland Clinic itself. Now at the helm of one of the world’s most prestigious healthcare systems, Dr. Mihaljevic shares how his global experiences continue to shape his vision for delivering exceptional care worldwide.
Host Dr. Cherie Erkmen sits down with Dr. Lisa Brown, thoracic surgeon at UC Davis Health, to explore the pivotal moments that shaped her unique journey in medicine — from working as a nursing assistant and contemplating PA school, to earning her medical degree and initially leaning toward emergency medicine, before ultimately finding her calling in thoracic surgery. Dr. Brown also shares her clinical passions and dives into the importance of her research in preoperative education and patient-reported outcomes — and why these areas matter so deeply to her.
Co-hosts Drs. Cherie Erkmen and Sara Pereira have a fascinating conversation with Dr. Ross Ungerleider, a congenital heart surgeon at University of North Carolina Health, and his wife, Dr. Jamie Ungerleider, an educational psychologist, about their research and personal experiences supporting surgeons and their families, with a particular focus on spousal wellness. Their work emphasizes the importance of addressing the well-being of surgeons' significant others, who often face unique challenges that can impact both their relationships and personal lives.
March 21, Match Day, marked a significant milestone for the future of healthcare, as the 2025 Main Residency Match—organized by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)—set a record as the largest and most competitive match in its 73-year history. With 52,498 applicants competing for 43,237 positions, the event saw a remarkable 4.7% increase in active applicants compared to the previous year, signaling the rising demand for residency spots across all specialties.1
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Image courtesy of: @Adham_Ahmed_64
Among the standout trends was the unprecedented surge in interest in thoracic and vascular surgery, both of which achieved a historic 100% fill rate for the first time. This achievement reflects the growing popularity of these highly specialized fields, with many positions filled by senior medical students. The number of certified applicants also grew by 5.3% compared to 2024, indicating that more medical graduates are pursuing specialized fields such as cardiothoracic surgery.2
As the demand for residency positions continues to rise, medical institutions are expected to expand their programs to meet this increased interest. To facilitate this growth, the NRMP has implemented several policy updates and technological enhancements to streamline the residency matching process. Key updates include the removal of the AAMC ID requirement in the Registration, Ranking, and Results® (R3®) system, along with improvements to the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP), which helps unmatched applicants secure residency positions.3 These innovations are designed to improve the overall efficiency, transparency, and success rate of the residency match process, ensuring that more qualified applicants can find positions in their desired specialties.
1 Source: National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) 2 Source: Becker’s Hospital Review 3 Source. Thalamus
