Hear about the invaluable benefits of becoming an active and involved member of STS, your career journey partner. Involvement opportunities to be discussed include joining a task force or workforce, becoming an advocate on healthcare policy, and developing new tools and resources to improve patient care.
Cardiothoracic surgeons often are faced with desirable opportunities to change institutions. Melanie Edwards, MD, a member of the STS Career Development Communications Task Force explains, it's important to take your time weighing the pros and cons. The worst thing you can do is get swept up in the moment and make a decision too quickly.
There are many profound changes and considerations during the early stages of your career. Planning for retirement is one that needs your time and attention now.
This webinar aims to help early career surgeons and trainees learn objectives and strategies for negotiating a contract. The session covers a wide range of negotiation elements from preparation to health insurance considerations to signing bonuses.
A new and exciting space, The Hub will be the center of activity for programs, sessions, networking, and mentoring specifically for cardiothoracic surgery trainees and early surgeons. Use the following schedule to plan to connect with your colleagues and refresh during the meeting:
The Hub will make its first appearance at STS 2024
Saturday, January 27
Juice Shots Available
9 - 9:45 a.m.
Early Career Insights with Dr. Leah Backhus, sponsored by AstraZeneca
9:10 - 9:40 a.m.
Small Theater
STS Trainee Luncheon
11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Large Theater
Leaders in CT surgery, including members of the STS Board of Directors, Workforces, and Task Forces, will be seated with trainees to discuss topics of interest to residents. Discussion topics include subspecialty training, dedicated research time, interventional and catheter-based skills during training, gaps in diversity, training paradigms, the current job market, and addressing non-clinical training needs. Attendance is limited to trainees (residents, fellows, medical students, LTTF scholars) and invited faculty.
Sunday, January 28 Ask the Experts: How I Succeeded as an Early Career Surgeon
7 - 8 a.m.
Large Theater
Listen to a panel discussion from your colleagues who found success early in their careers.
Moderators:
Dr. Brian Mitzman – University of Utah
Dr. Jessica Rove – University of Colorado
Panelists:
Dr. Amy Fiedler – University of California San Francisco
Dr. Stephanie Worrell – University of Arizona
Dr. Reilly Hobbs – University of Utah/Primary Children's Hospital
Dr. Derek Serna-Gallegos – University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Dr. Olugbenga Okusanya – Thomas Jefferson University
Juice Shots Available
9:45 - 10:30 a.m.
Early Career Journey Roundtables
9:55 - 10:30 a.m.
Large Theater
Early career surgeons and trainees have the opportunity to meet in an informal setting with STS leaders, who will offer insight into topics relevant to their career stages. Early career surgeons and trainees are on a unique journey, and seasoned surgeons will provide high-value information and an opportunity to meet and network with leaders in the specialty.
(The roundtables listed below will be held concurrently.)
STS: Your Career Journey Partner
This roundtable discussion will focus on how STS is a surgeon’s partner throughout one’s career journey, including how to become a more active and involved member; tap into award and fellowship opportunities; engage in STS’s resources, avenues of support, and advocacy opportunities; and make the most of the STS Annual Meeting.
Trade Secrets for a Successful Career Journey
This roundtable discussion will focus on how surgeons can set themselves up for success early in their career journey, including how to navigate a job transition, negotiate a contract, get the most out of being a mentor or mentee, best manage one’s time, lead an OR team, and network with peers and colleagues.
TSRA Luncheon
11:30 a.m. -12:45 p.m.
Large Theater
Join fellow trainees for the TSRA Luncheon moderated by TSRA President, Dr. David Blitzer. The program will include TSRA Awards, an update on TSDA activities, and a "State of the Workforce," including the job market and policy changes impacting trainees.
Monday, January 29
STS Trainee Symposium: Professionalism Puzzles You May Encounter During Residency: How to Piece Together a Resolution
7:15 - 8:45 a.m.
Large Theater
Continental breakfast will be served
This session showcases challenging situations that occur in medical practice regarding professionalism using real and hypothetical scenarios.
Moderators:
Dr. Elizabeth Dexter – Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Dr. Amber Duda – University of Nebraska Medical Center
Presentations:
Dr. Pauline Go — Penn State College of Medicine - Proper Use of Social Media for Surgeons
Dr. Clauden Louis – BayCare Medical Systems – Named in a Malpractice Lawsuit? Keep Calm, Consult with a Malpractice Lawyer, and Learn On
Dr. Aundrea Oliver – East Carolina Heart Institute at East Carolina University – Harassment in Residency
Dr. Sean A. Jordon – University of Tennessee Medical Center – A Co-Residents Substance Abuse is Affecting Their Work – What Now?
Dr. Melanie Edwards – Trinity Health Care – Financial Planning During Training and the Transition from Training to Practice
Presentations of Thoracic Surgery Foundation Research Award Recipients
9:30 - 10 a.m.
Large Theater
A highlight of research being conducted by cardiothoracic surgeon and trainee recipients of a TSF Research Award.
Juice Shots Available
10:30 - 11:15 a.m.
Early Career Journey Roundtable: My Approach to Wellness
10:40 - 11:15 a.m.
Large Theater
Coffee will be served
Early career surgeons and trainees have an opportunity to meet in an informal setting with STS leaders who will provide insight into topics relevant to their career stage. Early career surgeons and trainees are on a unique journey, and seasoned surgeons will provide high value information and an opportunity to meet and network with leaders in the specialty.
This roundtable discussion will focus on achieving personal and professional wellness, how to avoid burnout, advice on personal self-care, and tips for achieving financial stability.
This program is designed to help decrease the stress of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) exam by allowing trainees to prepare for and practice with the oral exam format. Registrants will receive access to a collection of online modules and resources that provide an overview of effective oral exam test-taking strategies, the anatomy of an oral exam, mock oral exam dos and don’ts; and an in-person session with a mock examiner (including small group of other trainees) who will present case scenarios, pose questions, and provide individualized verbal and written feedback to each participant. Limited spots are available, and priority will be given to cardiothoracic surgery residents who are registered for the Annual Meeting and scheduled to take the ABTS oral examination in June 2024.
STS Mentorship Program
STS Mentorship Program mentors and mentees are encouraged to meet up in the Networking Lounge. The STS Annual Meeting is an excellent opportunity for mentors and mentees to meet face-to-face with their program partners during breaks, meals, or any other time that works best for both parties.
Painting with a Purpose
While in The Hub, tap into your creative side and contribute to Painting with a Purpose by adding your personal touch to a mural that will be completed through meeting-goers’ collected efforts and donated to Shriners Children’s Hospital in Galveston, TX, after the meeting.
Leaders in cardiothoracic surgery share valuable information about the transition from training to practice from academic, private practice, and hospital perspectives. Topics will include networking with colleagues, conducting a job search, negotiating a contract, and managing personal finances.
For the first time, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons joined the Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (KSTCVS) in their presentation of the Heart Valve Disease Forum (HVDF), an annual conference that delivers the latest developments on the basis, cause, diagnosis, treatment, and future of valve disease.
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The forum, held September 15-16, 2023, in Dragon City, Yongsan, Seoul, was led by the President of the HVDF, Dr. Kyung Hwan Kim, and organized by co-program directors Dr. Joon Bum Kim of Asan Medical Center of Ulsan College of Medicine and Dr. S. Chris Malaisrie of Northwestern University, who commented “STS was thrilled to partner with the KSTCVS on this international event, highlighting transpacific expertise on valves.”
Dr. Kim remarked, “By co-hosting the forum with STS, we brought together the world’s top scholars in related fields for discussion and achieved the best conference experience.”
More than 300 surgeons, residents, and other medical students attending the conference heard from luminary surgeons and professors on today’s hottest topics impacting the specialty, including TAVI, innovative SAVR, and endocarditis, and trained on surgical techniques in wet labs. “The dynamic, case-based discussions and interactive wet labs with skilled faculty inspired the next generation of cardiac surgeons," said Dr. Malaisrie.
Dr. Thomas MacGillivray, president of STS, delivered several talks, including one on “Crisis Management in the Operating Room and Surgeon Leadership.”
At this year’s conference, particular emphasis was placed on connecting young surgeons responsible for the future of heart valve surgery with proven STS surgeon leaders through a mentor-mentee program. It was an exclusive opportunity for early career attendees to gain invaluable guidance on navigating their career paths and overcoming challenges from leaders.
“The heart valve symposium was a wonderful success and a historical event that stands out among the meeting’s 30-year history,” said Dr. Kim. “Our Korean colleagues agreed that collaborating with STS was the best thing in terms of excellence of lectures, one-to-one teaching in the wet lab, an exciting mentorship program, and beautiful times spent outside of the conference room.”
