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.
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.
Early career surgeons should plan to attend this webinar on effective financial management of student loans, presented by an expert speaker from the White Coat Investor. The presentation will examine a variety of student loan considerations: loan repayment plans (IBR, SAVE, PAYE), loan forgiveness (Public Service Loan Forgiveness), refinancing, and making a personal loan management plan.
STS podcasts feature conversations with member surgeons and expert influencers that shine a light on the most pressing issues and opportunities in CT surgery, leadership and surgeon wellness. Discover new ideas. Hear different perspectives, Find connections.
In this week’s Resilient Surgeon episode, Sheila Heen, a lecturer on negotiation at Harvard Law School and co-author of Thanks for the Feedback and Difficult Conversations, talks about giving and receiving feedback and how we can be better at both. Specifically, Heen explains how to be less dismissive in the way we receive feedback and become genuinely grateful and appreciative of feedback from others. She also talks about creating a productive feedback culture in the workplace.
Former US Navy Commander Mike Abrashoff joins Dr. Michael Maddaus for a conversation on leadership with humanity. Abrashoff shares his success in turning around a struggling ship, the USS Benfold, which became the subject of his New York Times bestselling book, It's Your Ship. Learn how to know when it's appropriate to break the rules, when to challenge your superiors, how to do so without endangering your career and how to foster learning and innovation among the ranks of people conditioned to follow orders.
Early career cardiothoracic surgeons have many important relationships that need to be managed and developed. The patient relationship can be excellent, a source of pride and healing, or damaging, a source of stress and contempt.
Join Dr. Michael Maddaus, host of The Resilient Surgeon, for a discussion with Amer Kaissi, professor of healthcare administration at Trinity University in San Antonio and author of Humbitious: The Power of Low Ego, High-Drive Leadership, about embracing change with an open approach rather than a defensive stance. Kaissi explains that when leaders "connect with humility and elevate with ambition" they can transform organizations.
From August 22 - 25, 2024, 60 first-year cardiothoracic surgery residents took part in the STS Boot Camp in Chicago. Throughout the four-day program, leading CT surgeons from across the nation provided hands-on instruction as participants gained practical experience by simulating real-world cases and emergency scenarios.
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During the Boot Camp, first-year CT surgery residents simulated real-world cases and emergency scenarios.
This year's Boot Camp covered training in cardiopulmonary bypass skills, vessel anastomosis, diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopies, open pulmonary lobectomy, TAVR, and wire skills. Residents also received instruction in mitral valve and aortic valve surgery, giving and receiving feedback in the operating room, and the importance of performing ablation.
“Over the next few days, you will receive expert instruction on how to manage real-world cases and emergency scenarios from CT surgeon leaders from around the country,” said STS President Jennifer Romano, MD, MS. “Our exceptional faculty, under the leadership of Dr. Jon Nesbitt and our subspecialty leads, developed an outstanding program with hands-on training in fundamental cardiothoracic surgical skills. Thank you for choosing to be part of our community.”
Here's what a few attendees said about the program:
“It was great to have time with other fellows and to build camaraderie. The hands-on simulation sessions were excellent. The coronary vessel anastomosis session and the CPB/echo room were outstanding.”
“The best parts of the Boot Camp were learning the basics of CT surgery, the vast topics covered (transthoracic echocardiogram, lobectomy, etc.) and getting to meet co-trainees from all across the country.”
“I will keep practicing my vascular anastomosis skills at home and keep in touch with the perfusionists at my institution to keep practicing my bypass skills.”
“The best part of @STS_CTsurgery Boot Camp was the people. Had so much fun having a weekend with my colleagues, reuniting with former fellows, and spending time with faculty who volunteer a weekend of their busy life to teach. Future is bright!” – X, @katiewagnerMD
“What an awesome day learning from @YihanLinMD, @SteveYangMD, @tygrenda, and so many others. Thanks to all the faculty, @STS_CTsurgery, @UCSFCTSurgery, @JennaRomanoMD, and so many others for the opportunity!!” – X, @BrianTillMD
“Inspired time at #STSBootCamp! Grateful to the amazing faculty @STS_CTsurgery.” – X, @Gbale_Cruise
Application Deadline for 2025 Thoracic Surgery Foundation Scholarships Is September 15, 2024
In 2023, Dr. Chizoba Efobi was awarded the Thoracic Surgery Foundation (TSF) International Medical Volunteer Scholarship and used it to participate in a surgical outreach trip to Kampala, Uganda.
Dr. Efobi volunteered at the Uganda Heart Institute, located within the Mulago National Referral Hospital. There, he joined a medical mission group from the US to mentor local healthcare providers. Their goal was to help the local team become more efficient and increase the number of heart surgeries performed each year.
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Dr. Chizoba Efobi, joined by TSF Every Heartbeat Matters awardee Dr. Pranava Sinha on the surgical outreach trip to Uganda.
According to Dr. Efobi, what made this mission unique was its capacity to involve the entire heart care team at the Uganda Heart Institute, including cardiology, anesthesia, nursing, and clinical administration. The focus was on teaching, training, and skills transfer rather than the volume of cases performed.
“I observed a different model of upscaling skills and training not limited to surgery, but across the entire field of heartcare,” explained Dr. Efobi. “In this case, skills and knowledge transfer were given the highest priority and guided other activities. The results of the sustained local capacity building were very evident.”
Bringing the Lessons Home
Upon returning home to Nigeria, Dr. Efobi’s participation in the TSF International Medical Volunteer Scholarship positively impacted his hospital, including the recommencement of the open-heart surgery program. Patients are now experiencing “uneventful perioperative periods” discharge within a week and satisfying recoveries.
Learn more about Dr. Efobi’s mission experience as a TSF International Medical Volunteer Scholar in his personal blog.
TSF, the charitable heart of the STS, is currently accepting applications for its 2025 awards season with nearly $1.7 million in available funding. Award categories include research, education, innovation, and humanitarian outreach. The application deadline for most awards is Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024.
