STS Responds to the COVID-19 Crisis
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VOL 25 · ISSUE 2 SPRING 2020 THE SOCIETY OF THORACIC SURGEONS STS News “A moderated webinar series … will address the realities and challenges facing cardiothoracic surgeons in COVID hotspots.” Joseph A. Dearani, MD ⊲ STS President Joseph A. Dearani, MD, updated members via video on the COVID-19 pandemic. STS Responds to the COVID-19 Crisis hospitals in need and increase availability of STS President Joseph A. Dearani, MD, Fortunately, decision-making is now being medical supplies such as Lasix, heparin, delivered an important message on March 31 driven more by science, not conjecture. This ventilators, and ECMO equipment (see page 14). about how the Society is responding to the message will focus on five important COVID-19 crisis and supporting members questions and answers about what the STS Our efforts are paying off. The Washington DC during this pandemic. The following is a is doing for you. Administration responded by calling on industry transcript of his remarks; you can view the to produce more ventilators, and there are signs video at sts.org/COVID-messages-president. What is STS doing to help us get that more supplies are reaching hospitals—not enough, but improvement in response to the STS applauds surgeons, providers, and the supplies we need – PPEs, medical community outreach. hospitals performing lifesaving surgery on ventilators, ECMO supplies, etc.? patients that are COVID positive or turn COVID STS has been in direct communication with positive immediately after surgery. STS also high-level officials at HHS, FDA, CDC, Congress, recognizes that front line workers and hospital and NIH and called for increased medical administration are struggling to manage supplies, greater availability of testing, and valuable resources such as PPE and ventilators. removal of barriers interfering with the supply ⊲⊲ chain to ensure these products reach the CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 STS.ORG The Society’s mission is to enhance the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest quality patient care through education, research, and advocacy. ⊲ Front row, from left: James S. Tweddell, MD, Joseph F. Sabik III, MD, John H. Calhoon, MD, Joseph A. Dearani, MD, Robert S.D. Higgins, MD, MSHA, Sean C. Grondin, MD, MPH, FRCSC, and Thomas E. MacGillivray, MD. Back IN THIS ISSUE row, from left: Jennifer C. Romano, MD, MS, Gregory P. Fontana, MD, Marc Ruel, MD, MPH, Ara A. Vaporciyan, MD, Vinod H. Thourani, MD, Domenico Pagano, MD, FRCS(C-Th), FETSC, Douglas J. Mathisen, MD, Kevin D. 1 COVID-19 Response Accola, MD, and Joseph C. Cleveland Jr., MD. Not pictured: Leah M. Backhus, MD, MPH, Andrew B. Goldstone, MD, PhD, Roger Newton, PhD, MS, G. Alexander Patterson, MD, FRCS(C), and Alan D. Sihoe, MD, MA, FRCSEd. 2 New Board Members 3 Member News STS Board Expands, New Leaders Elected 4 President’s Column Several important Bylaws changes were approved and STS officers and directors were 6 Burnout elected or reelected during the Annual Membership (Business) Meeting in New Orleans, 9 News Briefs Louisiana. The meeting was held in conjunction with the STS 56th Annual Meeting. 11 Database Rollout One Bylaws change was to the makeup of the Board of Directors. The Society’s membership voted to increase the number of directors-at-large on the Board 12 The Thoracic from six to eight. This change will allow for greater diversity and a wider variety of perspectives on the Board, as well as provide more opportunities for promising Surgery Foundation leaders to obtain Board experience. 13 STS-PAC Contributors Leading the Board and the Society for 2020-2021 is Joseph A. Dearani, MD, from 14 Washington Scene Rochester, Minnesota, who was elected STS President. Sean C. Grondin, MD, MPH, FRCSC, from Calgary, Canada, was elected First Vice President, and John H. Calhoon, 16 Annual Meeting Recap MD, from San Antonio, Texas, was elected Second Vice President. The following also were elected or reelected: ⊲ Secretary ⊲ Directors-at-Large Joseph F. Sabik III, MD Joseph C. Cleveland Jr., MD Cleveland, Ohio Aurora, Colorado ⊲ Treasurer Gregory P. Fontana, MD Thomas E. MacGillivray, MD Thousand Oaks, California Houston, Texas Jennifer C. Romano, MD, MS Ann Arbor, Michigan STS News is a quarterly publication for ⊲ International Director members of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Domenico Pagano, MD, FRCS(C-Th), FETSC James S. Tweddell, MD If you have a comment regarding the content Birmingham, United Kingdom Cincinnati, Ohio of this publication or story ideas for future issues, please contact us. STS is not respon- ⊲ Canadian Director ⊲ Editor sible for the opinions expressed by its writers Marc Ruel, MD, MPH G. Alexander Patterson, MD, FRCS(C) and/or editors. Ottawa, Canada St. Louis, Missouri © Copyright 2020. It is acceptable to duplicate ⊲ Public Director and distribute STS News for personal use. Roger Newton, PhD, MS Maple City, Michigan Managing Editor STS News New Membership Approval Process Heather Watkins 633 N. Saint Clair St. Also approved at the membership meeting was a Bylaws change to the admission Suite 2100 process for Active and International Members. Previously, applicants for Active and Editorial Advisors Chicago, IL 60611 International Membership were voted upon by the full Board three times per year at Jennifer Bagley, MA Phone in-person meetings. Now, the Executive Committee will vote to admit new members Natalie Boden, MBA 312-202-5800 throughout the year. This means that applicants can be approved and begin receiving Grahame Rush, PhD Email member benefits sooner. ■ Elaine Weiss, JD [email protected] See a complete listing of 2020-2021 Board members on page 20. Learn more about the Society’s governance structure at sts.org/governance. 2 STS NEWS · SPRING 2020 ⊲ As the Society remains proactive in helping its members navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, MEMBER NEWS it also is important to share news about members, activities, and the specialty. Member News Backer Takes Position in Kentucky Guleserian Heads to Dallas In May, Carl L. Backer, MD, will become chief of Kristine J. Guleserian, MD, is the new director of the pediatric cardiothoracic surgery at Kentucky Children’s congenital heart surgery program at Medical City Hospital (KCH) in Lexington. He also will lead the KCH Children’s Hospital Heart Center in Dallas, Texas— Division of the Joint Pediatric Heart Care Program, a and the only woman to lead such a program in the collaboration with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. United States. She previously was director of the heart Currently, Dr. Backer is the A.C. Buehler Professor of failure and transplant program at Nicklaus Children’s Surgery and chief medical philanthropy officer at Ann & Hospital in Miami. Dr. Guleserian, who has been an STS Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. He has member since 2007, chairs the Society’s Workforce been an STS member since 1993 and serves on the on Congenital Heart Surgery and also serves on the Society’s Workforce on Surgical Treatment of Adults Workforce on Coding and Reimbursement and with Congenital Heart Disease. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery Editorial Board. Marshall Oversees Quality Efforts at BWH Bhama Is Chief at Arkansas M. Blair Marshall, MD, is now the associate chief for Jay K. Bhama, MD, is now professor and chief of the quality and safety and the Michael A. Bell Family Division of Cardiovascular Surgery at the University of Distinguished Chair in Healthcare Innovation in the Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. He also Division of Thoracic Surgery at Brigham and serves as surgical director for heart transplantation and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in co-director for the mechanical circulatory support and Boston. Most recently, she was chief of thoracic left ventricular assist device programs at Baptist Health surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Medical Center-Little Rock’s Heart Failure and Trans- in Washington, DC. An STS member since 2003, plant Institute. Previously, Dr. Bhama was chief of adult Dr. Marshall serves on the STS Workforce on General cardiac surgery at the University of Iowa Health Care in Thoracic Surgery. Iowa City. He has been an STS member since 2008. Wallace Becomes Director Tieu Directs Thoracic Surgery in Salem Africa F. Wallace, MD, has been appointed director Brandon H. Tieu, MD, has become director of thoracic of thoracic surgery at Capital Health Medical Center surgery at Salem Health Medical Group in Oregon. in Pennington, New Jersey. Previously, Dr. Wallace Prior to this role, he was an associate professor of worked at Piedmont Heart Institute in Atlanta. She surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at serves on the STS Workforce on Diversity and Inclusion Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. and has been an STS member since 2010. Dr. Tieu has been an STS member since 2009. Perry Named Division Chief Sakwa Appointed System Chief Yaron Perry, MD, was named chief of the Division Marc P. Sakwa, MD, was named system chief of of Thoracic Surgery at the University at Buffalo cardiovascular surgery at MemorialCare Heart & Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Vascular Institute in Long Beach, California, and medical Sciences in New York. Dr. Perry, who has been an director of adult cardiovascular surgery at Long Beach STS member since 2012, previously was director of Medical Center. He moved to California from Beaumont thoracic robotic surgery and minimally invasive Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, where he was chief of esophageal surgery at University Hospitals cardiovascular surgery. Dr. Sakwa has been an STS Cleveland Medical Center in Ohio. member for nearly 30 years, joining in 1991. Additional Member News Send news about yourself or a items are available online at colleague to [email protected]. sts.org/membernews. Submissions will be printed based on content, membership status, and space available. STS.ORG 3 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Making a Difference Joseph A.