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J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2008;136:812-813
© 2008 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery

Editorial

Mission Critical: Thoracic Surgery Education Reform

President (WRC), The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Chicago, Illinois; President (TLS), The American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Beverly, Massachusetts; Chair (RHF), American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Chicago, Illinois; President (MJM), Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education, Beverly, Massachusetts

^_* Address for correspondence: W. Randolph Chitwood, Jr, MD, Department of Cardiovascular Science, East Carolina Heart Institute, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Blvd, Greenville, NC 27835. (Email: chitwoodw@ecu.edu).

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During the last 50 years, education of cardiothoracic surgical residents and practicing surgeons has proven effective and has met the needs of our patients. However, today significantly fewer medical students and surgery residents are seeking cardiothoracic surgical training. During the last four years up to 55% of residency programs have gone unfilled and women continue to be underrepresented in our residency programs. This decreasing applicant pool portends a looming crisis, which has resulted from a combination of factors. With an increase in demand for cardiothoracic procedures due to an increasing and aging population, combined with a diminishing thoracic surgical workforce, the United States will soon be unable to provide adequate access for those needing cardiothoracic surgery. In addition to a shrinking thoracic surgical workforce, many residents are finishing programs lacking technology skills critical to the modern cardiothoracic surgeon, and some are not able to handle increasingly complex yet common clinical practice scenarios. This year alone 22% of residents failed the qualifying (oral) examination of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Combined, all of these issues could form a perfect storm for our specialty, if not addressed soon.

Over the last 10 years new technology for treating cardiovascular and . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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