Tag: residents

Application Deadline Extended until September 24/ Help Recruit New STSA Members

STSA Membership Application Deadline Extended Until September 24

Help Recruit New STSA Members!

STSA is currently accepting applications for Active, Associate, Candidate and Pre-Candidate Membership. The application deadline, previously scheduled for Sunday, September 15, is extended until Tuesday, September 24. 

Please take a few moments to encourage your partners, colleagues, and mentees to apply. If you are a Active or Senior member, offer to act as a member sponsor and write a letter of support. Your encouragement will be an important incentive to attract new members to our Association. 

Here are the available STSA membership categories:

  • Active Membership is available for Board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons who currently practice or have previously practiced in the Southern region for at least one consecutive year, have completed a thoracic surgery or general surgery residency program, or have completed a thoracic or cardiovascular research or clinical fellowship for at least one consecutive year in the Southern region.
  • Associate Membership is available for interdisciplinary care professionals working on a cardiothoracic surgery team in the Southern region.
  • Candidate Membership is available for cardiothoracic surgery residents training at an institution in the Southern region.
  • Pre-Candidate Membership is available for general surgery residents and medical students interested in pursuing cardiothoracic surgery and training at an institution in the Southern region.

Click here to see a map of the STSA region.

Member benefits, eligibility requirements and applications are available at www.stsa.org/becomeamember/.

Please contact the STSA Headquarters office at 312.202.5892 or stsa@stsa.org with questions.

Thank you for your time and efforts to help grow the STSA,

Andrew J. Lodge, MD
STSA Membership Chair

September 12, 2019 | By More

Read the Latest Issue: STSA News – Spring 2018

The Spring 2018 issue of STSA News is now available. This issue features:

  • A letter from STSA President, Kevin D. Accola, MD
  • STSA membership recruitment information
  • Highlights from the STSA 64th Annual Meeting
  • 2018 awards and scholarship opportunities
  • Updates from the Program and Postgraduate Committees and
  • 2018 Schedule of Events

View additional updates from STSA and past issues of STSA News at www.stsa.org/whats-new.

Please contact STSA Headquarters with questions or suggestions regarding STSA News at stsa@stsa.org.

June 20, 2018 | By More

Residents Invited to Compete for 2018 Hawley Seiler Award

Joshua M. Rosenblum, MD accepted his 2017 Hawley Seiler Residents Award at the November 2017 STSA Annual Meeting in San Antonio.

Residents are invited to submit abstracts for the STSA 65th Annual Meeting and participate in the 2018 Hawley Seiler Residents Award Competition.

Named for STSA Past President and Founder, Hawley H. Seiler, MD, this award is presented annually to the resident who most excels in their manuscript and oral presentation at the STSA Annual Meeting.

The 2018 Hawley Seiler Residents Award recipient will receive $500, a personalized plaque, and their name will be engraved on a permanent plaque to be displayed at future STSA Annual Meetings. The recipient will be announced at the 2018 Annual Awards Dinner & Dance. Residents participating in the competition are eligible for reduced-price tickets to attend this event.

The deadline to submit abstracts is April 6, 2018, 11:59 pm, ET.

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.

March 23, 2018 | By More

Residents Invited to Compete for 2017 Hawley Seiler Award

J. Trent Magruder, MD (left) accepted his 2016 Hawley Seiler Residents Award at the November 2016 STSA Annual Meeting in Naples.

Residents are invited to submit abstracts for the STSA 64th Annual Meeting and participate in the 2017 Hawley Seiler Residents Award Competition.

Named for STSA Past President and Founder, Hawley H. Seiler, MD, this award is presented annually to the resident who most excels in their manuscript and oral presentation at the STSA Annual Meeting.

The 2017 Hawley Seiler Residents Award winner will receive $500, a personalized plaque, and their name will be engraved on a permanent plaque to be displayed at future STSA Annual Meetings. The winner will be announced at the 2017 Annual Awards Dinner & Dance. Residents participating in the competition are eligible for reduced-price tickets to attend this event.

The deadline to submit abstracts is Friday April 7, 2017, 11:59 pm, ET. 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.

March 1, 2017 | By More

Residents Invited to Compete for 2016 Hawley Seiler Award

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Emily Downs, MD accepted her 2015 Hawley Seiler Residents Award at the November 2015 STSA Annual Meeting in Orlando.

Residents are invited to submit abstracts for the STSA 63rd Annual Meeting and participate in the 2016 Hawley Seiler Residents Award Competition.

Named for STSA Past President and Founder, Hawley H. Seiler, MD, this award is presented annually to the resident who most excels in their manuscript and oral presentation at the STSA Annual Meeting.

The 2016 Hawley Seiler Residents Award winner will receive $500, a personalized plaque, and their name will be engraved on a permanent plaque to be displayed at future STSA Annual Meetings. The winner will be announced at the 2016 Annual Awards Dinner & Dance. Residents participating in the competition are eligible for reduced-price tickets to attend this event.

Washington University resident, Matthew Bott, MD, presented two abstracts at the 2014 STSA Annual Meeting. Matt described the STSA Annual Meeting as “an excellent forum for residents to disseminate their work. It is generally well-attended and discussions are very enlightening, yet amicable. The meeting is very academic and publication in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery makes submitting abstracts very worthwhile.” Matt went on to say, “The small group feel of the STSA meeting makes for a more relaxed atmosphere. This in turn, fosters energetic, yet light-hearted discussion.”

The deadline to submit abstracts is April 4, 2016, 11:59 pm, ET. 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.

February 26, 2016 | By More

STSA Resident Scholar Profile: Mansi Shah, MD

The STSA Resident Scholarship was established in 2014 to sponsor a general or thoracic surgery resident to travel to the STSA Annual Meeting. Mansi Shah, MD received the 2015 STSA Resident Scholarship and attended the STSA 62nd Annual Meeting – held November 4-7, 2015 in Lake Buena Vista, FL – where she was mentored by STSA Brooks Scholarship Committee Member, Stephen Yang, MD.

Dr. Shah is a general surgery resident at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill. STSA Member and University of North Carolina Hospitals’ Thoracic Surgery Residency Program Director, Benjamin Haithcock, MD, nominated Dr. Shah for the 2015 Resident Scholarship, describing her as a “phenomenal candidate.”

While attending the STSA 62nd Annual Meeting as a Resident Scholar, Dr. Shah also served as a Resident Moderator; she assisted STSA President, Andrea J. Carpenter, MD and STSA Past President, Richard Prager, MD in moderating the final plenary session of the meeting.

2015 Resident Scholar, Mansi Shah, MD

2015 STSA Resident Scholar, Mansi Shah, MD (center) moderated a plenary session with A.J. Carpenter, MD and Rich Prager, MD during the STSA 62nd Annual Meeting in Lake Buena Vista, FL on November 7, 2015.

STSA recently solicited Dr. Shah’s feedback about her experience at the STSA 62nd Annual Meeting.

What did you enjoy most about the STSA 62nd Annual Meeting and/or STSA Scholarship Program?
I thought being set up with a mentor was the greatest benefit of the meeting. Dr. Yang was a fantastic resource, and was able to introduce me to other meeting attendees. It really made me feel like a true member of the meeting. The opportunity to co-moderate a session at the meeting also was fantastic. I was able to meet more practicing CT surgeons and it provided a unique way for me to be an active member of the meeting.

Did the STSA Scholarship Program affect your level of interest in pursuing cardiothoracic surgery?
I have been undecided for a long time on a career in thoracic surgery, although interested. The meeting provided absolute confirmation that I am making the right decision.

If you were encouraged by an STSA member to apply for the Resident Scholarship, please describe how that encouragement affected your decision to apply.
I was unaware of the scholarship opportunity until I was encouraged by an STSA member to apply. Without the encouragement, I wouldn’t have even been aware of this fantastic opportunity, so I feel very fortunate.

Was there anything about the STSA Annual Meeting that surprised you or that stands out as different from your experiences at other national medical meetings?
I was pleasantly surprised as to how welcoming the members were. I think the smaller scale of this meeting compared to other national medical meetings made me feel more like an active participant of the meeting, as opposed to an observing outsider, while still exposing me to many leaders of the CT surgery field.

Have you included your Resident Scholarship award on your CV, and if so, do you believe the designation adds value to your resume?
Absolutely! Undeniably so.

What was your overall impression of the STSA Scholarship Program?
I cannot say enough great things about the STSA Scholarship Program. I am so honored to have been chosen as a recipient. Everyone involved in the process was extremely helpful and welcoming. The mentorship was one of the best parts, and absolutely should be continued. I think the Scholarship Program is a great way to expose residents interested in CT surgery to the CT surgery field outside of the clinical hospital setting. I can’t thank everyone enough for the wonderful experience I had!

STSA is pleased to announce that funding has been secured for two Resident Scholars to attend the STSA 63rd Annual Meeting, November 9-12, 2016 in Naples, FL. Learn more about STSA Scholarship Programs at www.stsa.org/awards. The 2016 Resident and Brooks Scholarship applications will be available in May 2016. Contact STSA Headquarters with questions or to request additional information by e-mailing stsa@stsa.org or calling 312.202.5892.

January 5, 2016 | By More

2015 Scholarship Recipients & Finalists Announced

The STSA Brooks Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the following 2015 medical student and resident Scholarship recipients.

2015 STSA Brooks Scholarship Recipients:

  • Bogdan Kindzelski, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University
  • Graham Ungerleider, Wake Forest School of Medicine

Bogdan was nominated by STSA member, Keith Horvath, MD. A 2014 Brooks Scholarship Finalist, Bogdan is currently a fourth year medical student, and his surgical areas of interest include adult cardiac surgery, transplant surgery, and aortic surgery.

Graham was nominated by STSA member and Past President, Ross Ungerleider, MD. He is currently in his third year of medical school and his surgical area of interest is congenital heart surgery.

2015 STSA Resident Scholarship Recipients:

  • Erin Schumer, MD, MPH, University of Louisville
  • Mansi Shah, MD, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

Dr. Schumer was nominated by STSA member, Mark Slaughter, MD. She is a PGY 5 general surgery resident interested in general thoracic surgery and transplant surgery.

Dr. Shah was nominated by STSA member, Benjamin Haithcock, MD. She is a PGY 5 general surgery resident interested in general thoracic surgery.

The Scholarship Committee also named the following 2015 Scholarship Finalists:

2015 STSA Brooks Scholarship Finalists:

  • K. Candice Jones, Wake Forest School of Medicine
  • Brendan Lovasik, Emory University School of Medicine
  • Ryan Meyerhoff, Duke University School of Medicine
  • Parth Patel, Indiana University School of Medicine
  • Matthew Terwelp, University of Texas Medical School at Houston

2015 STSA Resident Scholarship Finalists:

  • James Mehaffey, MD, University of Virginia
  • Vivekkumar Patel, MD, Baylor College of Medicine
  • Eden Payabyab, MD, Virginia Commonwealth University/National Institutes of Health
  • William Ragalie, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Walter Wakwe, MD, Emory University School of Medicine
  • Judson Williams, MD, Duke University Medical Center

Thank you to everyone who applied or wrote a letter of nomination! Both Scholarship Programs will be offered again in 2016. The 2016 Scholarship application process will open in late-May 2016, and the deadline to apply will be July 15, 2016.

Introduce yourself to the 2015 Scholarship recipients during the STSA 62nd Annual Meeting. Scholarship recipients will have an orange scholar ribbon affixed to their name badge. Register for the STSA 62nd Annual Meeting, secure your tickets to the Annual Awards Dinner & Dance, and make hotel reservations at www.stsa.org/62ndannual.

Contact STSA Headquarters at stsa@stsa.org or 800.685.7872 with questions.

September 1, 2015 | By More

Residents Invited to Compete in JCTSE Jeopardy at STSA

The Joint Council on Thoracic Surgery Education (JCTSE) will host a Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident Jeopardy Competition during the STSA 62nd Annual Meeting. Eligible residents (all residents enrolled in an ACGME- and/or a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada-approved thoracic surgery residency program are eligible to participate) can now enter to compete in the live Competition by taking an individual online screening exam. The exam will be available until September 1 on the Thoracic Surgical Curriculum website.

Residents will have 20 minutes to answer 60 questions, and the top six two-member teams will be invited to compete during the STSA 62nd Annual Meeting for what is sure to be a lively, exciting live event.

The STSA 62nd Annual Meeting Jeopardy Resident Competition schedule is as follows:

  • Round #1: Friday, November 6, 1:00 pm-1:30 pm in the Exhibit Hall
  • Round #2: Friday, November 6, 1:30 pm-2:00 pm in the Exhibit Hall
  • Round #3: Friday, November 6, 3:30 pm-4:00 pm in the Exhibit Hall
  • Final: Saturday, November 7, 9:00 am-9:15 am in the General Session Room

The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) will also hold its first Jeopardy Competition at their upcoming Annual Meeting in October. The North American team that wins the Competition held during the STSA 62nd Annual Meeting will face off with the EACTS winning team during the Jeopardy Championship at the STS 52nd Annual Meeting, January 23-27, 2016.

The Jeopardy Competition is among a host of exciting educational and social activities that STSA has planned for the 62nd Annual Meeting, November 4-7, at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts in Lake Buena Vista, FL.

Contact Rebecca Mark, JCTSE Administration and Education Manager, at rmark@jctse.org with questions about the Jeopardy Competition. Contact STSA Headquarters at stsa@stsa.org or 800.685.7872 with questions about the STSA 62nd Annual Meeting.

JCTSE Jeopardy Held During the AATS Annual Meeting, April 2015

STSA Past President, Dr. Robert Cerfolio, moderated the inaugural Jeopardy Competition held during the AATS Annual Meeting in Seattle, April 2015.

August 25, 2015 | By More

JCTSE to Host Resident Jeopardy Competition in STSA Exhibit Hall

STSA is pleased to announce that the Joint Council on Thoracic Surgery Education (JCTSE) will host a Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident “Jeopardy” Competition during the STSA 62nd Annual Meeting. Three rounds of the Competition will be held inside of the STSA 62nd Annual Meeting Exhibit Hall on Friday, November 6, and the final will be held during the Saturday morning break on November 7 in the General Session room. The full Competition schedule is as follows:

  • Round #1: Friday, November 6, 1:00 pm-1:30 pm in the Exhibit Hall
  • Round #2: Friday, November 6, 1:30 pm-2:00 pm in the Exhibit Hall
  • Round #3: Friday, November 6, 3:30 pm-4:00 pm in the Exhibit Hall
  • Final: Saturday, November 7, 9:00 am-9:15 am in the General Session Room

JCTSE hosted an inaugural “Jeopardy” Competition during the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) 95th Annual Meeting in April 2015. The Competition was a huge success, drawing large crowds of spectators into the AATS Exhibit Hall. The November Competition to be held during the STSA Annual Meeting is sure to another must-attend event!

JCTSE Jeopardy Competition at AATS 2015 Annual Meeting.

The JCTSE Residents Jeopardy Competition held during the 2015 AATS Annual Meeting was a huge success. STSA is pleased to announce that JCTSE will host a second Jeopardy Competition in the STSA Exhibit Hall on November 6.

Additional details about participating in the Competition will be available at www.jctse.org as they become available. Please contact JCTSE Administration & Education Manager, Rebecca Mark, MA, MBA, with questions at rmark@jctse.org.

The STSA 62nd Annual Meeting will take place November 4-7 at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Visit www.stsa.org/62ndannual to register, make housing reservations, and review the full educational program.

Companies interested in exhibiting at the STSA 62nd Annual Meeting should visit www.stsa.org/exhibits to review the Exhibitor Prospectus and download an application. Please contact Angel Law, STSA Exhibits Manager, at alaw@sts.org with questions about exhibiting.

July 22, 2015 | By More

2015 Medical Student & Resident Scholarship Applications Now Being Accepted

STSA is currently accepting applications for two scholarships available for medical students, general surgery residents, and cardiothoracic surgery residents training at an institution in the STSA region. Applications from students and residents training outside of the STSA region but who are nominated by an STSA member will also be considered.

Second, third, and fourth year medical students interested in pursuing a career in cardiothoracic surgery can apply for the James W. Brooks Medical Student Scholarship. This award is named for Jim Brooks, past president of the STSA and a great mentor to countless residents and students.

General surgery and cardiothoracic surgery residents pursuing a career in cardiothoracic surgery can apply for the Resident Scholarship.

Scholarship recipients will receive:

  • Round-trip, coach-class airfare to attend the 2015 STSA Annual Meeting in Lake Buena Vista, FL, November 5-8 and reimbursement for travel-related expenses;
  • A three-night hotel stay at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort;
  • A ticket to the President’s Mixer and Awards Dinner; and
  • An assigned STSA mentor to assist in planning a schedule of educational programming, answering questions, and facilitating introductions.

An interested applicant must complete an online application, as well as submit a current CV, a letter of nomination from an STSA member, and a letter of support from his or her medical institution dean or program director confirming permission for the applicant to travel to the meeting in Florida.

Applications are due July 15. Applicants will be notified of the scholarship committee’s decision in early September. Contact STSA Headquarters with questions at stsa@stsa.org or 800.685.7872.

May 29, 2015 | By More