RSSCategory: Awards

Compete for the 2022 Hawley H. Seiler Residents Award

Call for Abstracts & Hawley H. Seiler Residents Award Competition
stsa.org/abstracts | April 4, 2022

The Southern Thoracic Surgical Association is currently accepting abstracts for its upcoming 69th Annual Meeting, which will be held November 9-12 at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Cardiothoracic and general surgery residents are invited to submit abstracts to be considered for the 2022 Hawley H. 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 2022 Hawley H. 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 2022 Dinner Gala. Residents participating in the competition are eligible for reduced-price tickets to attend this event.

You may review the STSA 69th Annual Meeting abstract submission guidelines at the beginning of the submission process and prior to selecting your submission type.

The collegiality, fun, and scientific value of the STSA Annual Meeting are unmatched, and the Southern is an exceptional forum for disseminating your work. Oral abstract presentations are to be submitted for publication consideration in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery, which has a circulation of more than 8,000 subscribers. Should your abstract be selected for presentation, details outlining instructions for submitting your manuscript to the Annals of Thoracic Surgery will be provided at a later date.

The deadline to submit abstracts is April 4, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Please direct any support questions regarding abstract submissions and account login credentials to STSA at stsa@stsa.org or call (312) 202-5892.

March 29, 2022 | By More

Robert Cerfolio Named 2019 STSA Mavroudis Urschel Award Recipient

The Mavroudis-Urschel Award was established in 2006 to recognize and honor an STSA member who made important contributions to the STSA scientific program and uniquely personified the social spirit, camaraderie, and fun for which the STSA is famous. The Award is named for STSA Past Presidents Constantine “Gus” Mavroudis and Harold Urschel, who both contributed significantly to STSA.

Robert Cerfolio, MD received the 2019 STSA Mavroudis Urschel Award at the STSA 66th Annual Meeting, in Marco Island, FL.

Dr. Cerfolio has held various leadership positions with STSA, including serving on the Program Committee, the Postgraduate Committee, CME Committee, and the Nominating Committee. Most notably, he has served as Secretary/Treasurer from 2007-2010 and as STSA President in 2013. He has enthusiastically supported the STSA Annual Meeting, year after year, whether it be as a speaker, moderator, or panelist. He has demonstrated to be a dedicated member of STSA, and encouraged others to participate. Through the Mavroudis Urschel Award, STSA recognizes Dr. Cerfolio’s significant contributions to the association.

The Award was presented during the Dinner Gala by the then President, Dr. Jeff Jacobs, at the STSA 66th Annual Meeting on November 8, 2019 at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Marco Island, Florida. View a list of past Mavroudis-Urschel Award recipients at www.stsa.org/awards.

December 19, 2019 | By More

Charles Fraser and Francis Robicsek Named 2019 STSA Inspiration Award Recipients

The STSA Inspiration Award was established in 2007 to recognize the important contribution of mentorship to the specialty and the organization, and to encourage upcoming generations of CT surgeons by helping to cultivate mentors worthy of emulation.

The Award is given to the STSA member who has demonstrated exceptional efforts in motivating, inspiring, and cultivating the clinical and research talents of medical students, residents and/or early career CT surgeons. Nominations are submitted in writing to the President, to be considered for presentation at the STSA 66th Annual Meeting. The award is given at the discretion of the President in consultation with the Council. Drs. Charles Fraser and Francis Robicsek were named the 2019 Inspiration Award recipients at this year’s Dinner Gala.

Dr. Charles Fraser has been a long-time Member of STSA. Dr. Fraser was nominated by an incredibly strong and emotional letter of support signed by eleven pediatric cardiac surgeons. The letter of support stated:

“It is unusual to have the opportunity in life to meet a person that has not only excelled at what he does but has found a way to inspire and mentor students, residents, fellows, and colleagues the way he has done. With his mentorship and inspiration, Dr. Fraser has touched every one of our lives in a very meaningful way. He has successfully trained and mentored many congenital heart surgeons from all around the globe. He has trained surgeons from India, Japan, Mexico, Korea, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Egypt, to name a few. Many of them now lead congenital heart programs in the United States and at their home countries.”

Dr. Francis Robicsek, was President of STSA in 1983, and a valued colleague to all members of STSA. Dr. Jeff Jacobs presented the award and said of Dr. Robicsek, “Notable amongst the multiple accomplishments of Dr. Robicsek is his commitment to international humanitarian cardiothoracic surgery dating back to the early 1960s in Honduras, treating surgical tuberculosis patients. For nine decades, Dr. Robicsek has known his WHY and inspired cardiothoracic surgeons around the world.”

The Awards were presented during the Dinner Gala by the then President, Dr. Jeff Jacobs, at the STSA 66th Annual Meeting on November 8, 2019 at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Marco Island, Florida. View a list of past Inspiration Award recipients at www.stsa.org/awards.

December 11, 2019 | By More

Congratulations to STSA’s 2019 Scholarship and Award Winners

At this year’s STSA 66th Annual Meeting, the following individuals were recognized at the Dinner Gala held on Friday, November 8, 2019 at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort. Please join STSA members in congratulating this year’s award and scholarship recipients.

Clifford van Meter President’s Award
Eric Charles, MD |University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Patient-Reported Outcomes at One Year Define Successful Cardiac Surgery

Carolyn Reed President’s Award
Zhizhou Yang, MD | Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Nighttime Operation is Associated With Adverse Outcomes After Lung Transplantation

George R. Daicoff President’s Award
Tom Hoel, MD |Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome – Twenty Years Follow-up in Norway

STSA Inspiration Award
Charles Fraser, MD

Francis Robicsek, MD

Tiki Award
Jeffrey Jacobs, MD | Saint Petersburg, FL

Osler Abbott Award
Carl Backer, MD
| Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Kent Trinkle Education Lectureship
Robert S. D. Higgins, MD |
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

Hawley H. Seiler Resident’s Award
Navin Vigneshwar, MD
| University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO
Clinical Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality in Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients With Refractory Cardiogenic Shock

Harold Urschel History Lectureship
W. Randolph Chitwood, Jr., MD

Mavroudis-Urschel Award
Robert Cerfolio, MD
| NYU Langone Health, New York City, NY

James W. Brooks Medical Student Scholarship
Nicholas Goel
|University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Samantha Halpern | Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
Selena Li | Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA
Phillip Mackie | University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

James W. Brooks Resident Scholarship
Eric Etchill, MD
| Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
C. Corbin Frye, MD | Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Gregory Leya, MD | Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Rodrigo Zea Vera, MD | Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

For a narrative of each award and a list of past recipients, please visit stsa.org/awards.

December 6, 2019 | By More

Read the latest issue: STSA News – Fall 2019

The Fall 2019 issue of STSA News is now available. This issue features:

  • A letter from STSA President, Jeffrey P. Jacobs, MD;
  • Announcement of STSA Brooks Scholarship and WTS Carpenter Scholarship Recipients;
  • STSA 66th Annual Meeting Guest Speakers & Highlights;
  • New! E-Posters at the 66th Annual Meeting;
  • STS to Host Resident Jeopardy Competition;
  • JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort Activities & Entertainment and;
  • 2019 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.

October 9, 2019 | By More

STSA 66th Annual Meeting – Don’t miss the fun social events!

Take note of social activities at the STSA 66th Annual Meeting

The STSA Annual Meeting would not live up to its great reputation without fabulous social events! Here’s the schedule:

  • Postgraduate Program Welcome Reception | Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 6:00 pm. This casual event will kick-off the meeting followed by the Postgraduate Session titled “I Wish I Could Have Done That Case Over: Complex Case Presentations Involving Patients that Required Multiple Operations and Interactive Discussions” at 7:00 pm. A light dinner and refreshments will be served. 
  • All Attendee Luncheon | Thursday, Nov. 7 at 12:00 pm. Dessert will be served in the Exhibit Hall from 1:30 pm-2:00 pm.
  • Residents Reception | Thursday, Nov. 7 from 6:00 pm-7:00 pm. Residents and medical students are encouraged to attend this event and network with leaders in their field.
  • President’s Mixer | Thursday, Nov. 7 from 7:00 pm-9:00 pm. Two complimentary tickets are included with registration. (Additional tickets may be purchased for $25.)
  • Early Practitioner’s Luncheon | Friday, Nov. 8 at 12:00 pm. Cardiothoracic surgeons in practice less than 10 years are invited to attend this luncheon to network with other early practitioners.
  • Dinner Gala* | Friday, Nov. 8 from 7:00-10:00 pm. Advance registration is recommended. A limited number of tickets will be sold on site. (Adult tickets are $125, Children’s tickets (ages 12 and below) are available at a reduced price of $40.)

*Join fellow meeting attendees and their families for the memorable Dinner Gala, complete with a cocktail reception, dinner, awards and music entertainment. A local band will provide easy listening during the dinner hour. Although black tie is always in fashion, you are welcome to wear cocktail attire.

Register for the Annual Meeting and events online or download a printable registration form.

Reserve your hotel room in one of the following ways:

  • Online via the JW Marriott reservation website
  • Call the hotel reservations department at (800) 438-4373. To qualify for the special meeting rate, be sure to mention that you are attending the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association’s Annual Meeting.

​Visit www.stsa.org/66thannual for additional meeting details.

Contact STSA Headquarters with questions at stsa@stsa.org or 312.202.5892.


​STSA 66th Annual Meeting
This activity will be planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and The Southern Thoracic Surgical Association. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The STS designates this educational activity for a maximum of 17.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

September 12, 2019 | By More

STSA 66th Annual Meeting Registration & Housing Now Available

Register, Reserve Your Room, and Review the Meeting Program Outline

Registration and housing are now available for the STSA 66th Annual Meeting at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Marco Island, FL, November 6-9, 2019. The 66th Annual Meeting is packed with dynamic educational sessions and opportunities to enjoy the fellowship and camaraderie that the Southern Thoracic is known for.

Highlights include:

  • Jeffery P. Jacobs, MD’s Presidential Address, “Y“;
  • President’s Invited Lecture by James A. Quintessenza, MD, “Decision Making in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery…The Rational or Irrational Basis for Why We Do What We Do“;
  • President’s Invited Keynote by Martin J. Elliott, MD, “Why BE a Cardiothoracic Surgeon…Nice Work If You Can Get It; A Life of Privilege”;
  • Kent Trinkle Education Lectureship by Robert S.D. Higgins, MD, “Education and Diversity in Cardiothoracic Surgery”;
  • Scientific oral presentations, debates, history presentations, and STSA/CTSNet surgical videos;
  • New this year, “Rapid Fire” abstract presentations;
  • New this year, electronic scientific posters will be featured in the meeting space foyer during the course of the meeting;
  • Subspecialty-specific breakout sessions including adult cardiac, thoracic, congenital, adult congenital and ECMO/transplant;
  • Attend the Postgraduate Welcome Reception on Wednesday, Nov. 6 which will kick-off the meeting starting at 6:00 p.m. Join in the informal Postgraduate Session titled “I Wish I Could Have Done That Case Over: Complex Case Presentations and Interactive Discussions about Patients Who Required Multiple Operations” to follow at 7:00 p.m. A light dinner and refreshments will be served.
  • The popular Dinner Gala will be held on Friday, Nov. 8 beginning with a reception at 7:00 p.m. followed by dinner, awards and entertainment at 7:30 p.m.;
  • A concluding Postgraduate Breakfast Session on Saturday, Nov. 9 featuring talks on “Charity, Innovation and Quality” 

View the Meeting Program Outline

Register for the Annual Meeting online or download a printable registration form.

Reserve your room at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach ResortA block of discounted hotel rooms is being held until Monday, October 7, 2019, provided rooms are still available in the STSA room block. After this date, room reservations will be accepted based upon availability only. Book early to secure your room at the host resort! Visit www.stsa.org/66thannual and click on the direct link to the Marriott reservation website or call the hotel reservations department at (800) 438-4373. To qualify for the special meeting rate, be sure to mention that you are attending the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association’s annual meeting.

Contact STSA Headquarters with questions at stsa@stsa.org or 312.202.5892.


STSA 66th Annual Meeting
This activity will be planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and The Southern Thoracic Surgical Association. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The STS designates this educational activity for a maximum of 17.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

August 15, 2019 | By More

Read the latest issue: STSA News – Summer 2019

The Summer 2019 issue of STSA News is now available. This issue features:

  • A letter from STSA President, Jeffrey P. Jacobs, MD;
  • STSA membership recruitment information;
  • Highlights from the STSA 65th Annual Meeting;
  • Updates from the Program and Postgraduate Committees and;
  • 2019 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.

July 19, 2019 | By More

STSA Medical Student and Resident Scholarships Available

Applications Now Being Accepted

STSA is currently accepting applications for two scholarships available for medical students and general 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 a STSA member (Active or Senior) will also be considered.

Second, third, and fourth year medical students interested in pursuing a career in cardiothoracic surgery can apply for the STSA James W. Brooks Medical Student Scholarship.

General surgery residents pursuing a career in cardiothoracic surgery can apply for the STSA James W. Brooks Resident Scholarship.

Both awards are named for Jim Brooks, past president of the STSA and a great mentor to countless residents and students.

Scholarship recipients will receive:

  • Complimentary registration to attend the STSA 66th Annual Meeting at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Marco Island, FL, November 6-9, 2019;
  • A three-night hotel stay at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort;
  • Round-trip coach-class airfare to the Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Meyers, FL;
  • Tickets to the President’s Mixer and Dinner Gala, where they will be recognized; and
  • An assigned STSA mentor to assist in planning a schedule of educational programming, answer questions, and facilitate introductions.

Interested applicants must apply online. In addition to completing an application form, applicants will be asked to upload a current CV, a letter of nomination from a STSA member (Active or Senior), and a letter of support from his or her medical institution dean or program director confirming permission to travel to the meeting in Florida. Visit www.stsa.org/awards to learn more and access the online applications.

The application deadline is July 15, 2019. Applicants will be notified of the Scholarship Committee’s decision in early September.


Medical students and general surgery residents are eligible for STSA Pre-Candidate
membership. Learn more and download an application at www.stsa.org/membership.

June 11, 2019 | By More

Compete for the 2019 Hawley H. Seiler Residents Award

Call for Abstracts & Hawley H. Seiler Residents Award Competition
stsa.org/abstracts | April 7 Deadline

The Southern Thoracic Surgical Association is currently accepting abstracts for its upcoming 66th Annual Meeting, which will be held November 6-9, 2019 at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Marco Island, FL. Cardiothoracic and general surgery residents are invited to submit abstracts to be considered for the 2019 Hawley H. 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 2019 Hawley H. 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 2019 Dinner Gala. Residents participating in the competition are eligible for reduced-price tickets to attend this event.

You may review the STSA 66th Annual Meeting abstract submission guidelines at the beginning of the submission process and prior to selecting your submission type. This website will appear different than the submission site from previous STSA Annual Meetings as STSA has migrated to a new submission module. The company now hosting the STSA abstract submission site also manages the STSA Annual Meeting CME evaluations and mobile application. If you have attended an STSA Annual Meeting in the past four years and/or have claimed CME credits, it is highly likely that you already have an account in the system. All existing account credentials have been reset. You may login with your e-mail address as the username and as the password. Passwords may be changed upon logging in. If you have changed institutions and no longer have access to your former e-mail address used for previous CME evaluations, you may create a new account.

The collegiality, fun, and scientific value of the STSA Annual Meeting are unmatched, and the Southern is an exceptional forum for disseminating your work. Oral abstract presentations are to be submitted for publication consideration in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery, which has a circulation of more than 8,000 subscribers. Should your abstract be selected for presentation, details outlining instructions for submitting your manuscript to the Annals of Thoracic Surgery will be provided at a later date.

The deadline to submit abstracts is April 7, 2019, 11:59 p.m. ET.

Please direct any support questions regarding abstract submissions and account login credentials to STSA at stsa@stsa.org or call (312) 202-5892.

March 15, 2019 | By More