Changing the Perceptions of Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery

Filmed at the STS 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas, Emily Farkas of ThedaCare Appleton Heart Institute in Wisconsin moderates a discussion on changing the perception of women in cardiothoracic surgery. Dr Farkas is joined by Mara Antonoff of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, Meghana Helder of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and Melanie Edwards of St Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri. They talk about the gains that have been made, the gains still to be made, and their own experiences. They emphasize the importance of showing bright young trainees that their passion, not their background, is the primary factor influencing whether they can succeed in cardiothoracic surgery.