Author Archive: STSA Headquarters
Ten Premium STSA 2016 Foyer Exhibit Spaces Available
STSA is now accepting exhibitor applications for the STSA 63rd Annual Meeting Exhibition, which will take place at the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples, FL Nov. 10-11, 2016.
STSA has made several key modifications to the STSA 2016 Exhibition based on previous exhibitor feedback. Of special note, ten premium foyer booth spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Foyer booths are located directly next to the attendee registration desk. Submit an application today to secure your company’s premium booth space.
Additional STSA 2016 Exhibition enhancements include:
- An attendee preregistration list is included with your booth price.
- The educational program has been tailored to offer extra non-compete break times when attendees will be encouraged to visit exhibits.
- Lunch on Thursday, Nov. 10 will be available inside the exhibit area. All coffee breaks and breakfasts taking place during exhibit hours will also be served inside the exhibit area.
- Exhibitors can further engage with attendees and enhance their meeting presence by hosting satellite activities.
- Companies exhibiting at the STSA for the first time in 2016 will receive a 5% discount off of normal booth prices*.
Each of these changes has been made in response to previous exhibitor feedback, and we are confident that the program modifications will improve the STSA Annual Meeting experience for both exhibitors and meeting attendees.
STSA will again offer Corporate Support and branding opportunities to exhibiting companies.
The branding opportunities brochure will be available in the coming weeks.
Visit www.stsa.org/exhibits for additional information about exhibiting at the STSA 63rd Annual Meeting, and contact STSA Exhibit Manager, Angel Law, at alaw@sts.org or 312.202.5838 with questions and to request additional information. Contact STSA Executive Director, Nicole Schroeder, at nschroeder@stsa.org or 312.202.5825 with questions about Corporate Support and branding opportunities.
*Application must be received by September 1, 2016 for discount to apply. Refer to page 5 of the STSA 63rd Annual Meeting Exhibitor Prospectus to confirm if your company has previously exhibited with STSA.
May 2-6 is National Perfusionist Appreciation Week
STSA wishes all of its perfusionist Associate Members a happy National Perfusionist Appreciation Week!
According to the American Society of Extracorporeal Technology, National Perfusionist Appreciation Week draws awareness to the crucial role perfusionists play on the cardiovascular surgical team.
STSA President, A.J. Carpenter, MD, shared her perspective on how perfusionists drive advancements in the field of cardiothoracic surgery:
“The advent of cardiopulmonary bypass is clearly one of the most critical developments in the advancement of cardiac surgery. As the technology evolved and spread, the perfusionist became a critical member of the heart team. These dedicated professionals are not only valued members of daily life in cardiac surgery, but they also have been, and continue to be, a driving force in the evolution of our profession. Improvement in CPB circuits and elements has been driven by perfusionists who draw on their experience and perform high quality research. Operations that were once impossible are today quite routine. Cardiopulmonary support has saved literally millions from previously lethal diseases and injuries. We owe much of this progress to the creativity of our perfusionists, and we owe them all of our gratitude.”
– Andrea J. Carpenter, MD
University of Texas, Health Science Center at San Antonio, Division of Thoracic Surgery
Perfusionists practicing at an institution in the Southern region are eligible for STSA Associate Membership. Membership applications are currently being accepted, and the deadline to apply is September 15.
Perfusionists and all interdisciplinary care providers working in the field of CT surgery are encouraged to participate in the STSA 63rd Annual Meeting, November 9-12, 2016 in Naples, FL. New in 2016, the November 10 Postgraduate Program will feature a session designed specifically for the interdisciplinary care team.
Contact STSA with questions at stsa@stsa.org or 312.202.5892.
May 2-6 is National Perfusionist Appreciation Week. Learn more at www.amsect.org.
STSA Is Seeking Feedback from 2015 Annual Meeting Attendees
More than 450 professional attendees earned 4,797 CME credits by participating in the STSA 62nd Annual Meeting November 4-7, 2016 in Lake Buena Vista, FL. STSA attendees can provide feedback about the long-term impact of the 62nd Annual Meeting on their practice by completing a 6-month follow-up survey.
The STSA 62nd Annual Meeting was held approximately six months ago from November 4-7, 2015 in Lake Buena Vista, FL.
By all accounts the STSA 62nd Annual Meeting was a huge success. The educational program featured more than 20 hours of ACCME-accredited content, and STSA awarded 4,797 CME credits (or the equivalent) to professional meeting attendees for their participation.
2015 total meeting registration set an all-time record high for STSA. 636 individuals registered for meeting compared to an average of 530 registrants for the previous five Annual Meetings. Industry participation was equally as impressive: 40 companies were represented in the Exhibit Hall, and six companies awarded STSA educational grant funding to assist in covering meeting-related costs.
Select STSA 2015 video presentations – including invited talks by Tirone David, MD and Robert Bartlett, MD – are available on CTSNet. Visit www.stsa.org/62ndannual to learn more about the meeting and review the full educational program.
If you joined STSA at the 62nd Annual Meeting, we want to hear from you. STSA is seeking feedback from 2015 Annual Meeting professional attendees to help determine the long-term impact of the educational program. All meeting registrants received an e-mail this morning including a link to the STSA 2015 Annual Meeting 6-month Follow-up Survey. If you attended the November 2015 STSA Annual Meeting but did not receive an e-mail inviting you to participate in the 6-month follow-up survey, please contact STSA and stsa@stsa.org or (312) 202-5892 for assistance. The deadline to complete the survey is May 4, 2016.
The purpose of the STSA 62nd Annual Meeting six-month follow-up survey is to measure the level to which CME content improved attendees’ long-term competence, performance, and/or patient outcomes in clinical practice. STSA also seeks to identify any barriers that have prevented attendees from implementing intended practice changes and improvements. Topic suggestions and feedback about current areas of need and professional practice gaps will be considered by the Postgraduate and Program Committees as they work to create the 63rd Annual Meeting November 9-12, 2016 in Naples, FL.
Save the date for STSA 2016: November 9-12 in Naples. The STSA 63rd Annual Meeting is shaping up to be another excellent event. STSA President, Dr. A.J. Carpenter, recently conducted a planning visit at the Naples Grande Beach Resort. The Postgraduate Committee is hard at work identifying 2016 invited talks and topics. The Program Committee is currently reviewing more than 260 abstract submissions in anticipation of their May 6 Program Planning Meeting in Chicago. Learn more at www.stsa.org/63rdannual.
2016 Postgraduate Program Highlights Announced
The STSA Postgraduate Committee is tasked with creating the Association’s annual Postgraduate Program: a four hour educational session comprised of invited talks on pressing topics in the field of CT surgery. The 2016 Postgraduate Program will take place in conjunction with the STSA 63rd Annual Meeting on Thursday, November 11 from 7:00 am-12:15 pm in Naples, FL.
2016 Postgraduate Committee Members include:
- Paul J. Chai, Chair
- Scott A. LeMaire, Chair
- John H. Calhoon
- Andrea J. Carpenter
- Robert J. Dabal
- Melanie Edwards
- Richard K. Freeman
- Kirk R. Kanter
- Daniel L. Miller
- Chad N. Stasik
The Committee has reviewed 2015 Annual Meeting evaluation data and various other resources to identify existing educational needs and practice gaps in cardiothoracic surgery. The 2016 Postgraduate Program agenda will be published in the Spring issue of STSA News next month.
2016 STSA Annual Meeting attendees can look forward to the following Program highlights:
- Invited talks on ECMO and best practices for blood conservation;
- Adult cardiac, general thoracic, and congenital breakout sessions featuring complicated case presentations;
- New in 2016, a fourth breakout session designed specifically for interdisciplinary care providers will focus on managing the post-operative care of cardiothoracic surgery patients;
- A “How I Teach It” session featuring expert speakers will address the challenges of teaching cardiothoracic operations; and
- A Legends Lecture by Mark B. Orringer, MD.
Be sure to check your inbox for STSA News in late-May for the full lineup of speakers and talks. Registration and housing for the STSA 63rd Annual Meeting will be available in mid-June. Learn more about the meeting at www.stsa.org/63rdannual. Contact STSA Headquarters at stsa@stsa.org or (312) 202-5892 with questions.
Abstract Submission Deadline Extended Until Wednesday, April 6
The STSA abstract submission deadline has been extended. STSA will now accept oral and surgical video abstracts until Wednesday, April 6, 11:59 pm, ET. Abstracts selected for presentation at the STSA 63rd Annual Meeting will be included in the official Annual Meeting Program Book and will be considered for publication in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. The 63rd Annual Meeting will be held November 9-12, 2016 at the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples, FL.
Learn more about the 63rd Annual Meeting abstract submission process at www.stsa.org/abstracts.
For technical questions regarding abstract submissions, e-mail Technical Support at ts.acsupport@thomson.com or call (434) 964-4100. Technical Support is available Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., ET. For non-technical questions regarding submissions, e-mail STSA at stsa@stsa.org or call (312) 202-5892.
Enter Your STSA Abstract Disclosure Information in 3 Easy Steps
The deadline to participate in the STSA 2016 call for abstracts is Monday, April 4, 2016, 11:59 pm, ET.
The deadline to submit STSA 63rd Annual Meeting abstracts is Monday, April 4, 2016, 11:59 pm, ET. Visit www.stsa.org/abstracts for additional information about the abstract submission process and the many benefits of presenting your work at the STSA Annual Meeting.
- Review the 2016 STSA 63rd Annual Meeting Abstract and Surgical Video Submission Guidelines.
- Access the STSA 63rd Annual Meeting abstract submission website.
New in 2016, each STSA abstract co-author is required to submit their personal financial disclosures. This process has been put in place to alleviate the burden on primary authors (who were previously responsible for collecting and submitting all co-author disclosures) and to ensure that the financial disclosure collected is as accurate and complete as possible.
To submit your disclosure information, follow these three easy steps:
1. Log in to the STSA abstract submission site using your personal username and password, and select General Information from the dropdown next to your name on the top right-hand menu.
2. On the General Information page, go to the Disclosure step, and complete all sections with a red asterisk next to them.
3. Save changes.
Not sure of your STSA abstract submission site username or password? Click here to access the Forgot Password page.
Call or e-mail us for additional assistance. For technical questions regarding submissions, e-mail Technical Support at ts.acsupport@thomson.com or call 434.964.4100. Technical Support is available Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., ET. For non-technical questions regarding submissions, e-mail STSA at stsa@stsa.org or call 312.202.5892.
AJ Carpenter Conducts Successful Planning Session in Naples
STSA President, Andrea J. Carpenter, MD, joined STSA staff in Naples, FL March 22-24 for the STSA 63rd Annual Meeting planning session. The 2016 Annual Meeting will take place November 9-12 at the Naples Grande Beach Resort. Meeting registration and housing as well as the Advance Program will be available in mid-June.
Following a full tour of the Naples Grande Beach Resort property, Dr. Carpenter and STSA staff are confident that STSA meeting attendees and their families will enjoy all that the Naples Grande has to offer.
“The Naples venue has been seriously updated since our last visit there in 2012, and it will be a great site for our meeting,” says Dr. Carpenter. “There will be terrific activities available to entertain family and friends while attendees are busy learning.”
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The resort is located just 15 minutes from downtown Naples and features three miles of white-sand beach along the Gulf of Mexico as well as three pools. In addition to a premium educational program and over 20 hours of CME sessions, highlights that STSA 2016 attendees and their families can look forward to include:
- Golf and fishing tournaments will take place on Saturday, November 12;
- The Saturday evening Awards Dinner & Dance will again feature live music and the attire will be attendees’ choice — cocktail or evening wear. New this year, STSA is planning a special kids-only party for children during the Awards Dinner so that they can have just as much fun as their parents.
- Waived resort fees for STSA attendees that book within the STSA room block provide complimentary in-room Wi-Fi and fitness center access;
- On-property restaurants and a full-service spa (STSA attendees and guests receive a 10% discount on all spa services);
- A Kid’s Club available daily for children ages 4-11, and baby-sitting options are offered through a certified service.
Mark your calendar now and plan to reserve early. E-mail stsa@stsa.org to join STSA’s mailing list and be notified as soon as 63rd Annual Meeting registration and hotel reservations are available.
The STSA 2016 abstract submission deadline is less than one week away on April 4. Review submission guidelines and access the submission site.
Contact STSA Headquarters with questions at stsa@stsa.org or 312.202.5892.
Robert Bartlett’s STSA 2015 ECMO Talk Deemed Superb by Meeting Attendees
Robert Bartlett, MD presented the talk “ECMO: Past, Present and Future” at STSA 2015 on Nov. 5, 2015 in Orlando, FL.
Robert Bartlett, MD, Emeritus Professor of Surgery at the University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, presented an informative talk on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during the STSA 62nd Annual Meeting in Orlando on November 5, 2015.
Dr. Bartlett’s 2015 Postgraduate Program talk was one of the highest rated presentations of the entire STSA 62nd Annual Meeting. Meeting attendees provided the following comments on their meeting evaluations:
- “Bartlett offers excellent insight into the past and future of ECMO applications.”
- “Dr. Bartlett was superb!”
- “Loved the addition of Dr. Bartlett to the program.”
- “Dr. Bartlett is a wonderful pioneer.”
Video of this talk is now available on CTSNet.
ECMO: Past, Present, and Future
The 2016 STSA Postgraduate Program will take place on Thursday, November 10, 2016 in conjunction with the 63rd Annual Meeting. An agenda will be available in the coming weeks.
Nearly 75% of STSA Annual Meeting Manuscripts Published in The Annals
The primary objectives of STSA are to disseminate knowledge and stimulate progress in the field of cardiothoracic surgery, and to promote fellowship among southern and southern-trained thoracic surgeons. STSA accomplishes these objectives through its Annual Meeting, making the meeting a uniquely rich and dynamic learning environment where attendees can enjoy the company of their colleagues.
A majority of STSA Annual Meeting educational content is derived through the abstract submission process. STSA is currently accepting video and oral abstract submissions in the categories of adult cardiac, general thoracic, congenital, and transplant surgery, as well as history, surgical education, simulations and team-based learning, patient safety, and lessons learned from intraoperative complications for its STSA 63rd Annual Meeting. The 63rd Annual Meeting will be held November 9-12, 2016 at the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples, FL.
Among the many reasons to submit work for presentation at STSA is the opportunity to be published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, the official journal of STSA and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Authors selected to present at an STSA Annual Meeting are required to submit their manuscript to The Annals for consideration for publication.
In 2013 and 2014, nearly 75% of STSA Annual Meeting abstract manuscripts were accepted for publication in The Annals, which has a circulation of more than 8,000 subscribers. The STSA Annual Meeting an exceptional forum for disseminating your work to the entire specialty.
Plus the intimate size and focus on collegiality makes STSA a uniquely energetic and open environment where you are sure to find a lively exchange of ideas.
Review the 2016 abstracts submission guidelines and access the abstract submission website at www.stsa.org/abstracts. Contact STSA Headquarters with questions at stsa@stsa.org or 312.202.5892. The deadline to submit abstracts is April 4, 2016.
Stream STSA Annual Meeting Surgical Videos Online
STSA partnered with CTSNet to share 62nd Annual Meeting video abstract presentations online. Three video abstracts have been submitted to date, and additional videos will be released throughout the coming weeks.
Watch available videos and read the related abstracts:
Aortic Valve Reconstruction for Endocarditis Using Tissue-Engineered Bovine Pericardium by Domenico Mazzitelli, J.Scott Rankin, Christian Schreiber, and Ruediger Lange:
Repair of Transposition With Absent Pulmonary Valve Using Pulmonary Artery Retrenchment Technique by Yoshio Otaki (Ootaki) and Ross Ungerleider:
When the Bidirectional Glenn is an Unfavorable Option: Primary Extracardiac Inferior Cavopulmonary Connection as an Alternative Palliation by Ali Dodge-Khatami and Jorge Salazar:
The STSA Annual Meeting is an excellent forum to disseminate your work to the entire specialty. Not only is STSA is increasingly partnering with organizations like CTSNet to share surgical video abstract presentations, oral presentations are considered for publication in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, which has a circulation of approximately 8,000 subscribers.
The deadline to submit STSA 63rd Annual Meeting abstracts is April 4. Learn more and submit your work at www.stsa.org/abstracts. Contact STSA Headquarters with questions at stsa@stsa.org or 312.202.5864.
