Surgical Hot Topics

STS Establishes Advocacy Priorities for 2025

The 2025 STS Annual Meeting marked an unforgettable experience for attendees, offering a vibrant platform for cardiothoracic surgeons to connect and share insights. This gathering provided an invaluable opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities within the field.

A highlight of the event was the remarkable success of the STS-PAC fundraising efforts. Thanks to the generous contributions of 91 members, an impressive $84,000 was raised in just a few days, setting a new record for Annual Meeting fundraising.

Attendees left the meeting with strengthened connections and a renewed commitment to advancing the field of cardiothoracic surgery.

What I Gained from the 2025 STS Annual Meeting Experience

The 2025 Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting was an incredible experience, bringing together experts and professionals in the field. The vibrant city of Los Angeles served as a beautiful host, showcasing its resilience and strength.

Amidst the backdrop of recent tragic wildfires, the community's ability to come together and overcome adversity was truly inspiring. The event highlighted both the advancements in thoracic surgery and the indomitable spirit of those affected by the wildfires.

#5, S1 Leading Science Shared at STS 2025

In this episode, hear from Thinking Thoracic hosts, Drs. Erin Gillaspie, Hari Keshava, Jeff Yang, and Jane Yanagawa as they participated in a sublobar debate on extent of resection that took place at the 2025 STS Annual Meeting. Are you Team Wedge or Team Segment? Hear the unique perspectives and best practices from these experts on the extent of resection and quality metrics in lung cancer care, as well as other changing trends. 

STS and The Thoracic Surgery Foundation created the STS Los Angeles Wildfire Response Fund with a lead gift of $100,000. In total, STS Annual Meeting attendees and STS members collectively donated a total of $175,028. 

Beneficiaries of the fund will be Direct Relief and  United Way of Greater Los Angeles, two organizations that are actively involved in medical emergency response and longer-term disaster. 

#160; S5: Same Surgeon, Different Light w/ Dr. David Cooke and Dr. Thomas Varghese

In the season premiere of Same Surgeon, Different Light, new co-hosts Dr. Cherie Erkmen and Dr. Sara Pereira sit down with Dr. David T. Cooke, professor in the Division of General Thoracic Surgery at UC Davis Health, and Dr. Thomas Varghese, professor and section chief of General Thoracic Surgery at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Together, they reflect on the surprising and inspiring stories shared throughout previous seasons. The episode wraps up with Drs. Cooke and Varghese turning the tables on the hosts, asking about what’s in store for the upcoming season of Same Surgeon, Different Light.

#172, S4 Activating the Soul, Mind and Heart of Leadership

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. 

#4, S1 Management of Emergencies in Thoracic Surgery

In this episode, Dr. Hari Keshava talks with Dr. Sid Murthy, section head, thoracic surgery at Cleveland Clinic, about thoracic surgical emergencies related to pulmonary and lung surgeries...and how optimal management of these situations often requires surgeons to anticipate, collaborate and be prepared with a well-thought-out action plan. 

#171, S4: Surgeon Burnout: A Personal Story

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. 

According to the National Institutes of Health, 40% of surgeons met criteria for burnout, defined as a high emotional exhaustion score and/or a high depersonalization score.

#3, S1: Management of Esophageal Perforation

In this episode of Thinking Thoracic, Dr. Jane Yanagawa talks with Dr. Stephanie Worrell, clinical associate professor and thoracic section chief, division of cardiothoracic surgery, University of Arizona, about her expertise in esophageal perforation management. Hear how esophageal surgery can involve complications such as anastomotic leak, pain, bleeding, infection, and reflux and how surgeons can best handle them. 

#2, S1: Building and Expanding Mobile Lung Cancer Screening Programs .

A traveling, mobile lung screening program has the potential to diagnose cancer earlier, leading to a higher cure rate and lower death rate. In this episode of Thinking Thoracic, STS’s new podcast series, host Dr. Jeffrey Yang talks with Dr. Robert Headrick about CHI Memorial’s “Breathe Easy” mobile lung screening program and how meeting people where they are with quality healthcare services like this one is saving lives. Learn how to build a mobile lung screening program at a hospital and gain tips on assembling a multidisciplinary team, identifying eligible patient populations, securing funding and the necessary equipment, and more.

Global Differences in Managing Patients with Aortic Valve Disease

This episode delves into the pressing need to reevaluate the management strategies for Aortic Valve Disease (AVD) worldwide. With a focus on South Asian and Sub-Saharan African nations, the discussion highlights how low-income countries predominantly rely on surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) using mechanical valves.

The episode explores the unique challenges faced in these regions, where patients are generally younger compared to those in high-income countries, and the disease often stems from rheumatic origins. The conversation aims to shed light on the disparities in treatment approaches and the necessity for tailored solutions that address the distinct characteristics of AVD in diverse global contexts.