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The University of Colorado

Applications are now open for the Looking to the Future Scholarship Program, sponsored by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. The scholarship seeks to identify general surgery residents in the United States and Canada who are considering, but are not yet committed to, a career in cardiothoracic surgery.

Scholarships will be awarded to cover registration fees for the STS 46th Annual Meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Jan. 25-27, 2010 and will also include up to a three-night hotel stay at an STS-designated hotel with reimbursement of up to $500 in related travel expenses. Each scholarship winner will be assigned a mentor in cardiothoracic surgery to assist in planning a schedule of educational programming, answer questions and facilitate introductions. In addition, special events will be available for scholarship recipients throughout the Annual Meeting. Scholarship recipients will also have the opportunity to participate in STS/AATS Tech-Con 2010, January 23-24, at no cost.

If you know a resident with an interest in CT surgery, please encourage him/her to apply. Only one scholarship is allowed per institution.  Applicants must complete an online application form. CVs are required and can be e-mailed to residents@sts.org. In addition, application materials must include a letter from the applicant’s Program Director (either general surgery or thoracic surgery). The letter should be on university letterhead and give a brief description of the candidate’s strengths. Recommendations from the Program Directors should be e-mailed to residents@sts.org or faxed to Sharon Porta at (312) 202-5829. 

Please have residents submit the appropriate materials (application form, CV and letter of recommendation) by Oct. 1. Scholarship awardees will be announced by Nov. 16. If you have questions, please contact Sharon Porta at (312) 202-5844 or sporta@sts.org.

All application materials are due Oct. 15, 2009

European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) 23rd EACTS Annual Meeting Vienna, Austria 17-21 October 2009.

Complete Scientific Programme

“Special Topics”

Advanced Techniques in Cardiothoracic Surgery
How to Publish in a Scientific Journal
What is the place of homografts in the present day of cardiac surgery?
The two year SYNTAX trial data in perspective
The 2009 Guidelines for Resuscitation after Cardiac Surgery
Surgical Spectrum of Rheumatic Heart Valve Disease
Anatomical Exhibition
Breakfast Sessions

Second Quarter 2009

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Summer Intern Scholarship program introduces the field of cardiothoracic surgery to first and second year medical students from North American medical institutions.  By providing an opportunity to spend 8 weeks during the summer working in an AATS member’s cardiothoracic surgery department, the summer intern scholarship provides medical students with insight into the scientific investigation and study of cardiothoracic surgery. For more information and to submit an application please visit www.aats.org

Application Deadline: January 15, 2010

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
The AATS is now accepting abstracts for the 90th Annual Meeting to be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from May 1 - 5, 2010.  You and your colleagues are strongly encouraged to submit abstracts of original work for consideration as part of the scientific program. ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE OCTOBER 5, 2009. 
Submissions will be accepted within the following areas:
• Regular Session, including:
• Adult Cardiac
• General Thoracic
• Congenital
• Other
• Laboratory Research Forum
• Emerging Technologies Forum
• C. Walton Lillehei Resident Forum
Abstracts must be submitted electronically at this site.  Specific instructions for abstract submission are located on the website, including how to submit graphics and charts. Manuscripts are due in advance of the meeting for all accepted abstracts.

Call for Abstracts for the 13th Annual C. Walton Lillehei Resident Forum
Residents are encouraged to submit abstracts, based on basic science, for the 13th Annual C. Walton Lillehei Resident Forum which will consist of presentations of original work by North American thoracic surgical residents and/or residents in general surgical training programs who are working in a cardiothoracic surgical laboratory or clinical rotation. The presentations are selected by the AATS CT Residents’ Committee: Training Program Directors must acknowledge that the material presented is original work and that of the resident.

Target Audience
The AATS Annual Meeting is specifically designed to meet the educational needs of:
• Cardiothoracic Surgeons
• Physicians in related specialties including Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, Cardiology, Pulmonology, Radiology, Gastroenterology and Thoracic Oncology
• Fellows and Residents in Cardiothoracic and General Surgical training programs
• Allied Health Professionals involved in the care of cardiothoracic surgical patients
• Medical students with an interest in Cardiothoracic Surgery

Annual Meeting Accreditation
The American Association for Thoracic Surgery is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

Registration & Housing Information
Registration and housing will open during the fall of 2009. Take advantage of the early registration discount and register by April 2, 2010. For more information about the meeting.         

General surgery residents and medical students can get hands-on experience and learn more about the exciting specialty of cardiothoracic surgery at the upcoming American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress in Chicago. On Oct. 12, ACS, STS, and AATS will collaborate to present a special interest course, Cardiothoracic Surgery in the Future: Technology Overview for Residents and Medical Students.

This course, taught by leaders in minimally invasive cardiac and general thoracic surgery procedures, will introduce attendees to the specialty’s current and future technology. Participants will have the opportunity to experience cardiac procedures for percutaneous valves and OPCAB, as well as vessel suturing and mitral valve repair. General thoracic hands-on procedures include VATS lobectomy, endoluminal esophageal surgery, EBUS, and pulmonary RFA. The course will also provide timely information about plans for a six-year integrated cardiothoracic surgery training program.

If you know of a general surgery resident or medical student with a possible interest in CT surgery, please pass on this information. The cost of the course, which will run from 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. on Oct. 12, is $25, and includes dinner. For additional information, contact Damon Marquis, STS Director of Education & Member Services, at dmarquis@sts.org or (312) 202-5813. To register, residents and medical students must complete the ACS registration form and fax to (800)-682-0252 or mail to: American College of Surgeons, Attn: Registration Services, PO Box 92340, Chicago, IL 60675-2340.

Women in Thoracic Surgery (WTS) is again offering scholarships for attendance at the STS 46th Annual Meeting. Scholarships will be awarded to woman medical students or resident physicians in training in an accredited thoracic surgery program or residents in an accredited general surgery program interested in a career in thoracic/cardiac surgery. International residents are eligible to apply. The scholarship covers meeting registration fees, hotel accommodations, and up to $500 in related travel expenses to be used to attend the STS 46th Annual Meeting in January 2010. The application deadline is Oct. 1, 2009. Winners will be notified by the end of Nov. 2009.
If you know a resident physician in training at an accredited thoracic surgery or general surgery program, or a medical student, who is interested in a career in thoracic or cardiac surgery, please encourage them to apply. Applications are available on the WTS website.

2009 Heart Valve Summit: Medical, Surgical, and Interventional Decision Making
September 10 – 12, 2009
Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
Chicago, Illinois, USA

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) and the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) present the Scientific Program for the 2009 Heart Valve Summit: Medical, Surgical, and Interventional Decision-Making taking place September 10 – 12, 2009 in Chicago, IL. 

This two and one half day interactive program, with the world’s leading cardiac surgeons and cardiologists, offers an integrative approach to managing the medical, surgical and interventional challenges in valvular heart disease. The expert faculty will provide evidence-based strategies that will impact your practice performance and improve outcomes for your patients with valvular heart disease. For full program information, click here.  

Highlights include:

• Distinguished Honored Lecture on the Past and Future of Valvular Heart Disease given by Dr. Eugene Braunwald;
• Special Lectures including:
o The History, Techniques and Outcomes of Aortic Valve Sparing given by Dr. Tirone David;
o The Asymptomatic Patient with Severe Valve Disease given by Dr. Robert Bonow;
o and Why the Guidelines Do Not Go Far Enough given by Dr. Steven Bolling.
• Individual Case Presentations on:
o Clinical Scenarios of Mitral Valve and Aortic Valve Disease   
o Mitral Valve Regurgitation
o Aortic Valve Stenosis
o Mitral Stenosis and Tricuspid Regurgitation
• Physician Breakout Sessions focusing on:
o Echo: Advanced Cardiac Valve Imaging
o Decision Making: Where Management Guidelines Do Not Go
o Surgical Video: Complex Mitral Repair and Aortic Root Surgery
• Nursing and Physician Assistant Breakout Sessions focusing on:
o Caring for the Patient with Valvular Heart Disease
 
REGISTRATION
Space is limited, register today at www.aats.org/valve.

ACCREDITATION

Physicians
The American Association for Thoracic Surgery is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The AATS designates this educational activity for a maximum of 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credits commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses
The American College of Cardiology Foundation is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
The ACCF designates this educational activity for a maximum of 20 continuing education hours. Requirements for successful completion are attendance in a session in its entirety and completing the evaluation tool. Each attendee should only claim credits commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. While offering credits noted above, the program is not intended to provide extensive training or certification in the field.

Ebstein's Anomaly - Joseph A Dearani, MD