Trainee Hub

Overview

Training is a critical skill set in itself. STS offers training resources to help you launch and advance your career in cardiothoracic surgery. Explore this curated collection focused on innovation and technology, skills development, best practices, teamwork, mentorship, and career planning.
 

STS Membership

Resident/Fellow and Medical Student Membership in STS offer access to complimentary subscriptions to The Annals of Thoracic Surgery and other publications, mentoring connections, discounts on educational offerings, free registration to the STS Annual Meeting, and more. If you're not already a member, apply today. 
 

Mentorship

Designed for STS members at any career level, the Mentorship Program connects professionals seeking career advice and other guidance.

For Medical Students and Residents/Fellows
Designed for medical students, the Mentorship Program connects medical students seeking training, career and other advice from cardiothoracic surgery residents/fellows. Apply to be matched with a resident/fellow mentor or apply to mentor a medical student seeking guidance. Provide your contact information and notate your level of training and areas of interest (e.g., residency application process, residency interviews, rotations, awards and scholarships) to assist in creating the best mentor/mentee match. This program is in partnership with the Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association.
 

Find a mentor     Become a mentor 
 

For Residents/Fellows
CT surgery trainees and early career surgeons can request mentorship from a more seasoned professional–as well as apply to mentor. Provide your contact information and notate your practice type and areas of interest (e.g., practice building, clinical research, contract negotiations) to assist in creating the best mentor/mentee match.
 

Find a mentor     Become a mentor 
 

Residency is a social as much as a technical experience. During training, some of your most important lessons come from conversations among peers. The Aspiring CT Surgeons Blog features posts written for trainees, by trainees, with topics ranging from optimizing technical performance in the operating room, to balancing childcare or exercise with training, to navigating both successful and unsuccessful mentor relationships. The blog provides a forum for frank discussion of the challenges residents face, as well as the rewards of caring for the cardiothoracic patient while training amongst an elite cohort of peers. View selections from the blog and other STS publications: 

If you are interested in writing an article for the Aspiring CT Surgeons Blog, email Dr. Jason Han or Dr. Linda Schulte at communications@sts.org.

Education

Explore a full range of educational offerings designed to encourage both individual and collaborative learning and provide expertise and guidance. These include resident symposia and Boot Camps, the Thoracic Surgical Curriculum, webinars, and the STS Cardiothoracic Surgery E-Book. 

Scholarships & Awards

The Thoracic Surgery Foundation (TSF), the charitable arm of STS, provides research awards and grants aimed at developing the skills of surgeon-scientists during residency. Award submissions open on July 1, 2023. 

Several other scholarship opportunities are available, including the Looking to the Future Scholarship, which fund participation in the STS Annual Meeting for the best and brightest medical students or general surgery residents in hopes of encouraging them to pursue careers in cardiothoracic surgery.

The Society's podcast, Surgical Hot Topics, features leaders in cardiothoracic surgery discussing important issues in the field. Listen to the episodes on your favorite podcast app or on the website. Check out these two popular series produced by STS: