Category: Membership
Apply for Active, Associate or Candidate Membership Today!
STSA is currently accepting applications for Active, Associate, and Candidate Membership. Applications and eligibility details are available at https://stsa.org/membership/. The deadline to apply is September 1. For questions, please contact the STSA at stsa@stsa.org
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.
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.
STSA Membership Elects Dr. Vinod H. Thourani as President
STSA members elected Vinod H. Thourani, MD, as the next President of STSA at its annual Business Meeting held on November 8, 2019.
Dr. Thourani has been active with STSA for several years, serving on the Postgraduate Committee, as Chair of the Program Committee, as Chair of the Continuing Medical Education Committee, and as Vice President. Dr. Thourani is Marcus Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery for Piedmont Healthcare and the Marcus Heart Valve Center in Atlanta, GA.
Join your fellow members for the STSA 67th Annual Meeting, November 4-7, 2020 in Orlando, FL, where Dr. Thourani will present his Presidential Address.
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
Upcoming Membership Application Deadline: September 15
New STSA members were recognized and welcomed at the 2018 Annual Business Meeting.
STSA represents more than 1,100 cardiothoracic surgeons throughout the country with a mission of supporting southern and southern-trained members of the cardiothoracic surgery community and their families in the pursuit of the highest quality patient care, education, scientific achievement, collegiality, and life balance. The small, intimate size of STSA and emphasis on collegiality sets it apart from other national organizations.
STSA is currently accepting membership applications for the following membership categories:
- Active Membership
For Board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons who currently practice or have previously practiced cardiothoracic surgery 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
For healthcare professionals working in the Southern region including, but not limited to, physician assistants, perfusionists, nurses, nurse practitioners, practice administrators, data managers and other health care professionals who support and work directly with cardiothoracic surgeons. - Candidate Membership
For cardiothoracic surgery residents and fellows matched or enrolled in a thoracic surgery educational program accredited by the Residency Review Committee for Thoracic Surgery under the authority of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education that is within the Southern region. Individuals who have completed their cardiothoracic surgery residency in the Southern region and are in the process of acquiring certification in thoracic surgery by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery are eligible to apply for Candidate Membership. - Pre-Candidate Membership
For medical students and general surgery residents enrolled at a program in the Southern region and interested in pursuing a career in cardiothoracic surgery.
Member benefits include reduced registration fees to attend the STSA Annual Meeting and leadership opportunities. If you’re already a member, please consider inviting your partners, CT surgery team members, and mentees to apply. If you are not a member yet, visit www.stsa.org/membership to learn more and download an application. The deadline to apply is September 15, 2019.
Contact the STSA Headquarters office at 312.202.5892 or stsa@stsa.org with questions.
2019 Membership Dues Invoices Now Available
2019 STSA membership dues and/or Annals of Thoracic Surgery subscription invoices are now available.
- Login to your STSA user account to pay your 2019 dues/subscription invoice.
- Your username is the primary email listed in your account.
- If you have not yet previously changed your password, it has automatically been set to Password1 (case sensitive). Use the forgot password portal if you cannot remember your password.
Please contact STSA at stsa@stsa.org or 312.202.5892 with questions or to request a printable invoice.
Abstracts are now being accepted for the STSA 66th Annual Meeting which is taking place November 6-9, 2019 at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Marco Island, FL. Please click here to find details regarding the abstract submission site.
The deadline to submit abstracts is Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Thank you for your continued support of STSA!
STSA 65th Annual Meeting Content Available Online
Thank you to everyone who joined STSA at its 65th Annual Meeting in Amelia Island, FL last month. Even if you weren’t able to attend in person, you can now access select 65th Annual Meeting content online.
- View photos from the 65th Annual Meeting;
- Watch Dr. Kevin Accola’s Presidential Address;
- Review the transcript from the STSA Business Meeting;
- Visit www.stsa.org/65thannual for additional content; and
- Follow STSA on Facebook or Twitter to receive notifications about future content – Coach Lou Holtz address will be posted in the coming weeks.
Mark your calendar now for the STSA 66th Annual Meeting, Nov. 6-9, 2019 at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Marco Island, FL!
This activity has been 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 Society of Thoracic Surgeons designates this live activity for a maximum of 17.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
