Tag: Inspiration Award

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

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

Walter Wolfe and Gordon Murray Named 2018 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 65th Annual Meeting. The award is given at the discretion of the President in consultation with the Council. Drs. Walter Wolfe and Gordon Murray were named the 2018 Inspiration Award recipients at this year’s Dinner Gala.

 

Dr. Judson Williams accepts the award on behalf of Dr. Walter Wolfe.

Dr. Walter Wolfe has been a long-time Member of STSA. Nomination letters regarded his sage advice in or out of the operating room as always profound, and noted that he can always be counted on to “do the right thing”. Unable to accept the award at the Dinner Gala, he sent a kind note remarking that he was honored and humbled by this recognition.

“I am honored and humbled by this recognition. I am so sorry that I cannot be there. My joy in life was training residents in surgery. I was unaware of the impact I had but am so grateful to know this at this stage in my life. I am blessed to have been a small part of the training of so many talented and gifted surgeons while being a faculty member at Duke. It was my privilege and my blessing. Your friendships are treasured.”

 

Dr. Gordon Murray’s family proudly accepted the award on his behalf.

Dr. Gordon Murray who passed on May 21, 2018, was President of STSA in 1993, and a valued colleague to all members of STSA. Dr. Kevin Accola presented the award and said of Dr. Murray, “His recent passing saddened us all as he will be remembered as a sincere friend and a consummate gentlemen. I am humbled to present this award to Dr. Gordon Murray in honor of his memory, and we’re so pleased his family could be with us this evening”. Mrs. Murray attended the Dinner Gala and was escorted by Drs. Vinay Badwar and David Jones to the stage to accept the Award on behalf of her late-husband.

 

The Awards were presented during the Dinner Gala by the then President, Dr. Kevin Accola, at the STSA 65th Annual Meeting on November 9, 2018 at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort in Amelia Island, Florida. View a list of past Inspiration Award recipients at www.stsa.org/awards.

December 4, 2018 | By More

Congratulations to STSA’s 2018 Scholarship and Award Winners

At this year’s STSA 65th Annual Meeting, the following individuals were recognized at the Dinner Gala held on Friday, November 9, 2018 at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort. Please join STSA members in congratulating this year’s award and scholarship recipients.

Clifford van Meter President’s Award
Melissa Levack, MD | Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Permanent Pacemaker Implantation after Aortic Valve Replacement

Carolyn Reed President’s Award
Tamar Nobel, MD | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Optimal Surveillance for Node Negative Early Stage Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Following Esophagectomy

George R. Daicoff President’s Award
Jeff Jacobs, MD | Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Saint Petersburg, FL
The Importance of Noncardiac Congenital Disease: Refining The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Congenital Heart Surgery Database (CHSD) Mortality Risk Model With Enhanced Adjustment for Chromosomal Abnormalities, Syndromes, and Noncardiac Congenital Anatomic Abnormalities

Tiki Award
William A. Baumgartner, MD | Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD

Osler Abbott Award
David R. Jones, MD |Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

Hawley H. Seiler Resident’s Award
Tessa Watt, MD | University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Does Mitral Valve Repair Restore Normal Life Expectancy?

Mavroudis-Urschel Award
Daniel L. Miller, MD | WellStar Health System, Marietta, GA

Robert M. Sade Ethics Lecture
The Ethics Debate is a wonderful component of the STSA Annual Meeting each year. In honor of Dr. Robert M. Sade’s contributions to these outstanding ethics debates, the annual event has been named the Robert M. Sade Ethics Lecture.

STSA Inspiration Award
Walter Wolfe, MD
Gordon Murray, MD

James W. Brooks Medical Student Scholarship
Walker M. Blanding | Medical University of South Carolina, Mt. Pleasant, SC
William C. Frankel | Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Shawn M. Shah | University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA

James W. Brooks Resident Scholarship
Alexander P. Kossar, MD | Upstate University Medical Center, Suffern, NY

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

November 28, 2018 | By More

Hank Edmunds Named 2015 STSA Inspiration Award Recipient

Dr. & Mrs. Edmunds

Dr. Hank Edmunds and his wife, Martha Mel Edmunds, attended the November 2014 STSA Past Presidents Dinner in conjunction with the STSA 61st Annual Meeting in Tucson, AZ.

The STSA Inspiration Award was established in 2007 to recognize the important contribution of mentorship to the cardiothoracic surgery specialty and the Association, 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. L. Henry Edmunds, Jr., MD was named the 2015 Inspiration Award recipient by 2014-15 STSA President, John H. Calhoon, MD.

Dr. Edmunds is an Honorary Member of STSA and served on the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association Executive Council from 2000-2015 as Editor of the Association’s official Journal, The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Edmunds was nominated for the Inspiration Award by a fellow STSA Member, who described his contributions to the Annals in saying:

During his term as Editor, the Annals expanded dramatically. His many innovations to the Annals have, in large part, explained its now global reach. As Editor, Dr. Edmunds insisted on the highest quality of scholarship and rigorous peer review. His insightful commentary and advice on countless manuscripts have has a profound effect on the academic productivity of many members of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association.

– 2015 Inspiration AwardNomination Letter Writer

Dr. Calhoon, announced Dr. Edmunds as the 2015 Inspiration Award recipient during the 62nd Annual Meeting Awards Dinner & Dance on November 7, 2015 in Lake Buena Vista, FL.

STSA members will again have the opportunity to nominate a surgeon mentor for the Inspiration Award in 2016. Nominations should outline the specific merits of the nominee and his or her positive influences on the mentee(s). The recipient must be an STSA member in good standing. Submit nominations in writing to STSA and send via e-mail to stsa@stsa.org or mail to 633 N. Saint Clair St., Floor 23, Chicago, IL 60611. STSA President, Dr. Andrea Carpenter, will announce the 2016 Inspiration Award recipient during the STSA 63rd Annual Meeting Awards Dinner & Dance on November 12, 2016 in Naples, FL.

View a list of past Inspiration Award recipients at www.stsa.org/awards. Contact STSA Headquarters with questions at stsa@stsa.org or 312.202.5892.

November 19, 2015 | By More