Videos

The FDA recently expanded the indications for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to include patients at low surgical risk. But experts are urging caution about which low-risk patients should undergo TAVR until more information is gathered. At the STS Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Joseph E. Bavaria, MD, explored recent clinical trials with Tsuyoshi Kaneko, MD, Michael J. Reardon, MD, and Vinod Thourani, MD.

2020 STS Presidential Address
On Life, Leadership, and the Pursuit of Happiness

During the STS 56th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Dr. Robert S.D. Higgins delivered his Presidential Address, "On Life, Leadership, and the Pursuit of Happiness."

When asked about what attendees can expect to hear, he said:

2020 Vivien T. Thomas Lecture
The Saga of Vivien Thomas: Discrimination, Segregation, and Bias

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons launched a new named lecture at its 2020 Annual Meeting. It was in honor of Vivien Thomas, a black surgical technician with only a high school education who steadfastly designed and tested anastomosis of the subclavian artery to the pulmonary artery, resulting in the landmark "blue baby" operation in 1944 for children with tetralogy of Fallot.

2020 Thomas B. Ferguson Lecture
Domenico Pagano, MD, FRCS(C-Th), FETSC

The Thomas B. Ferguson Lecture at The Society of Thoracic Surgeons 56th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, was delivered by Dr. Domenico Pagano, Secretary General of the European Association of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.

In his lecture, M.E.G.A.: Make Evidence Great Again, Dr. Pagano explored how cardiothoracic surgeons can challenge the soundness of data that support the practice of evidence-based medicine.

2020 STS Annual Meeting Lillehei Lecture
Bumper Car Innovation of Heart Pumps and Mechanical Lungs

The STS Lillehei Lecture was established in 2009 through a generous gift from the Lillehei Family Charitable Foundation in honor of Dr. C. Walton Lillehei, a pioneer in open heart surgery utilizing cross circulation.

The job market for cardiothoracic surgeons is more promising now than it has been in decades. So how can residents and fellows be successful in finding that first job? Vinay Badhwar, MD asks seasoned and early career colleagues for tips on making a good impression during an interview, making sure that the job is a great fit, how to find the best career resources, and how to engage and maintain good mentors. In addition to Dr. Badhwar, the video features John Ikonomidis, MD, PhD, Damien J. LaPar, Gabriel Loor, MD, and Rishinda M. Reddy, MD.

Dr. Andrea Steely, from Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical Center, received a 2018 International Medical Volunteer Scholarship from The Thoracic Surgery Foundation (TSF). In early 2019, she made a trip to Rwanda, where there are no cardiac surgeons. This video highlights her life-changing volunteer experience, treating and screening under-served patients.

Surgical Outreach Mission Awards are among the programs offered by The Thoracic Surgery Foundation, the charitable arm of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

For the past 10 years, Dr. Chip Bolman (University of Vermont) and his wife have been traveling to Rwanda to perform heart surgery on those in need and train locals to build a sustainable heart program.

Despite mandates that determinants of health and differences in sex be incorporated into clinical trials, some groups—such as minorities, women, and those of lower socioeconomic status—are still underrepresented. Drs. David T. Cooke, Loretta Erhunmwunsee, and Linda W. Martin discuss why diverse groups are important, how to improve clinical trial design, and strategies to enroll more broadly representative groups into clinical trials.