Thriving in and out of the OR requires more than clinical expertise—it takes intentional care of your mental, physical, financial, and interpersonal well-being. The STS Wellness Institute, a five-part virtual program, provides practical tools to support whole-person wellness and empowers participants to bring these strategies back to their institutions, extending their impact across the healthcare community.

In this first of five sessions, taking place on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, 8–9 p.m. ET, hear from leading cardiothoracic surgeons and experienced financial advisors who understand the unique financial landscape of medical professionals. Each stage of your career, from training through retirement, comes with distinct challenges and opportunities. The session offers tailored insights to help you navigate them all.

Here's a sneak peek at what you’ll learn:

  1. Your Financial Needs Change Over Time
    Financial priorities evolve throughout a medical career. What matters most early on—such as paying off student loans or setting up a budget—can shift significantly as you progress into mid-career or begin preparing for retirement.

    Understanding where you are in your professional journey allows you to focus on the financial decisions that matter most at each stage. This session will help you build a strong foundation for long-term financial planning and retirement, while highlighting why a tailored approach is essential.

  2. Proactive Planning Builds Stability and Confidence
    Many physicians fall into the trap of waiting until a crisis—or major life transition—to start thinking seriously about money. You’ll learn how proactive financial planning can reduce stress, prevent costly mistakes, and help you feel more in control, both personally and professionally.

    Whether it’s working with a financial advisor, creating a savings strategy, or simply becoming more informed, taking early and consistent action makes all the difference over time.

  3. Financial Health Supports Overall Well-Being
    Money affects nearly every part of life—from your relationships to your mental health to your career decisions. Financial strain can be a major source of burnout, while financial confidence can empower you to live and work on your own terms.

Register now for this engaging and practical five-part virtual program. 

Oct 9, 2025
2 min read
Performing as our best selves as cardiothoracic surgeons both inside and outside of the workplace
Event dates
Oct 28, 2025 – Apr 28, 2026
Location
Virtual

Chicago—September 24, 2025—A new study published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, a journal from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), offers rare insight into what it’s like to grow up as the child of a cardiothoracic (CT) surgeon mother, revealing a powerful blend of challenges, inspiration, and resilience.

Sep 24, 2025
Image
the resilient surgeon

In the years since I traded the operating room for the classroom and microphone, one truth has become increasingly clear to me: leadership is not about command and control — it’s about connection and belonging.

3 min read
Michael Maddaus, MD

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.

 

1 hr

Do you ever say to yourself, “I don’t feel like doing this today?” On this episode, Tim Pychyl, PhD, procrastination researcher and author of Solving the Procrastination Puzzle, talks about procrastination and how to avoid it. Pychyl reveals the latest research on why people get stuck and offers strategies to "break free from self-destructive ideas and habits" and start living an inspired life. Listen today.

1 hr
Image
resilient surgeon

When most surgeons think about procrastination, the instinctive reaction is: Not me. I don’t have time to procrastinate. After all, few professions demand the level of discipline, endurance, and execution required in cardiothoracic surgery. But as I recently learned in a fascinating conversation with Dr.

4 min read
Michael Maddaus, MD

Host Dr. Michael Maddaus talks with Jonathan Clark, leadership scholar at UTSA and co-author of Leading Through: Activating the Soul, Heart, and Mind of Leadership, about prioritizing people, purpose and real productivity to transform an organization. Hear compelling stories that show how "the legacy model of leadership can be destructive," resulting in what he calls "organizational darkness."  Learn about a positive model focused on caring for people and helping them thrive. 

1 hr
Image
resilient surgeon

In medicine, and in life, we often focus on resilience at the individual level. Exercise, mindfulness, and healthy routines, are all essential. But what happens when you walk into a toxic work environment? Where you don’t feel valued, where you’re treated like a cog in the machine? 

3 min read
Michael Maddaus, MD
Image
retirement
All medication strips and packages carry the date of manufacture and the date of expiration. As physicians, we know our date of birth and date of retirement. It is known as soon as you enter employment and maybe a few years different in various regions. Not preparing for a relaxed stress-free post-retirement life is inviting stress.
3 min read
Dr. A. Sampath Kumar

In this episode of The Resilient Surgeon, host Dr. Michael Maddaus talks with Dr. Ross Bremner, the executive director of Norton Thoracic Institute and the department chair of the Center for Thoracic Disease and Transplantation at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, about surgeon burnout. Dr. Bremner shares his journey through burnout and how he used the 3 Cs - compassion, connection, and creativity, to recover. 

1 hr

Dr. Steven Gerndt is a cardiothoracic surgeon, speaker, and leadership mentor who developed the concept “Civilitas,” a system-wide cultural transformation focused on psychological safety and fostering of leadership by example. In this episode, Dr. Gerndt talks about his work dedicated to helping organizations and people navigate personal crises through counseling, affirmation, and empathy. He emphasizes the critical importance of allowing people in crisis to be heard.

51 min.