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Ann Thorac Surg 2002;74:1-2
© 2002 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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President’s page

Take advantage of changes in STS structure and membership

^a The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, USA

* Address reprint requests to Dr Baumgartner, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N Wolfe St, Blalock 618, Baltimore, MD, USA
e-mail: wbaumgar{at}csurg.jhmi.jhu.edu

In January The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) membership overwhelmingly approved the leadership’s recommended changes to the governance structure of the Society as well as changes to membership eligibility requirements. Both enhancements to the Society’s operations have provided for a more inclusive society that encourages member participation in the advancement of the mission of the STS—Help Cardiothoracic Surgeons Serve Patients Better.

An inclusive membership

The Society and its members have always encouraged cardiothoracic surgeons interested in benefiting from the many products and services the STS has to offer to apply for membership. The Society’s membership categories of Active, International, Senior, and Candidate allow thoracic surgeons to take advantage of the STS’ strength in the legislature and continue their medical education no matter at what point he or she is in his/her medical career. Past membership requirements such as an American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) certified surgeon needing to have been in practice for 3 years before being eligible to apply, did restrict a prospective member’s ability to join the STS. However, at this year’s Annual Business Meeting, several changes to the membership requirements were approved by the STS membership that ultimately opened the door for new and established thoracic surgeons alike to join the STS.

Cardiothoracic Surgeons can now make application to the STS for membership immediately after receiving their ABTS certification, American Osteopathic Board of Surgery certification, or certification as a fellow of the Royal College of Surgery or its equivalency. The 3-year practice requirement has been eliminated. Applications are reviewed annually by the STS Membership Committee and approved by the STS during its Annual Business Meeting held in January. Membership applications must be received by the STS offices by September 15 of the year preceding the Annual Business Meeting.

Candidate members, previously only able to apply for Active status 3 years after achieving their ABTS certification, can now make application immediately after their certification. A Candidate member’s eligibility has also been extended to 10 years versus 5 years as under the previous bylaws. This offers a thoracic surgeon who is preparing for his/her certification the opportunity to continue the membership at a reduced membership fee for up to 10 years. Candidate members who obtain their certification may retain their Candidate status for up to 2 years after certification. Candidate members are restricted from holding elected office and serving on Workforces and do not have voting privileges. All other Active member benefits are available to Candidate members.

A governance structure that promotes involvement

In the months leading up to the STS Annual Business Meeting as well as the months immediately after the meeting, much had been communicated about the STS’ new governance structure. What does it really mean for the STS?

Although the new structure has reduced the number of committees in the Society it has increased the opportunity for Society members to become involved in Society activities. Workforces have been established and are comprised of members who have been appointed to address the issues facing the Society and its members. Within each Workforce is a Resource Group consisting of individuals with an expressed interest in the initiatives, projects, research, etc. assigned to a particular Workforce. The Resource Groups were specifically created to provide the Workforces with a pool of extremely qualified and knowledgeable STS members from which to draw on to assist in completing projects and initiatives identified by the Workforce or assigned by the Board of Directors. The Resource Groups offer a new member or a member who may not have the time to devote to serving on a Workforce the opportunity to be involved in the Society’s activities on a project-by-project basis. Being part of a Resource Group also serves as a "first look" into the role of volunteer leader of the Society that can eventually lead to a more expanded role in the decisions being made to advance the Society and its members. If you are interested in being part of any of the Workforces and would like to be considered as a Resource Group member, I encourage you to contact the Workforce Chair to learn more about how you can be involved and contribute. The 2002 membership directory, which was recently mailed to you, has all the Workforces and their respective chairs listed.

Council on education and member services
Workforce on Clinical Education

Areas of responsibility will include education and educational resources; emerging new technology; aging/geriatrics.

Workforce on Practice Education

Areas of responsibility will include practice management issues; industry relations with exhibitors; and medicolegal issues.

Workforce on Graduate Medical Education

Area of responsibility will be the Joint Council on Thoracic Surgery Education.

Workforce on Publications

Areas of responsibility will be liaison with The Annals of Thoracic Surgery and Editorial Board, and oversight of publications such as the STS Newsletter and the publication of articles that use STS data.

Workforce on the Annual Meeting Program

Areas of responsibility will include the Annual Meeting program; Post-Graduate Course program; CME preparation; and other educational program requests.

Workforce on Aging

Areas of responsibility will include evaluating and educating the specialty about the unique clinical issues facing geriatric patients undergoing thoracic surgery, and educating the specialty on issues related to the thoracic surgeon who is approaching retirement from active practice.

Council on quality assurance and patient advocacy
Workforce on Clinical Pathways

Area of responsibility will be the development of patient management protocols and guidelines.

Workforce on Clinical Trials

Area of responsibility will be the development of methodology to use the National Databases to establish evidence-based support for thoracic surgery.

Workforce on National Databases

Areas of responsibility will include the development and enhancement of the adult cardiac, general thoracic, and congenital heart databases.

Workforce on Patient Advocacy, Communications, and Patient Safety

Areas of responsibility will include review and enhancement of guidelines to address patient safety concerns; development of information for patients on the Web; and working with the media to enhance the public image of the Society and its members.

Council on health policy and relationships
Workforce on Internet Applications and Communication

Areas of responsibility will include the further development of STS.org; potentially working with CTSNet and MedBiquitous on applications that the Society can use; and coordinating the efforts of the other Councils and Workforces that will need Web applications for their activities.

Workforce on Health Policy, Practice, and Reform

Areas of responsibility will include developing responses to industry, other specialties, and the government on issues that affect the practice of medicine/thoracic surgery; maintaining interaction with other organizations that will provide coalition support or information that will help the Society maintain its position of strength in the area of health policy.

Workforce on Nomenclature and Coding

Areas of responsibility will include CPT coding; RUC recommendations, and support of other national database efforts that will enhance the data defending the work of the specialty.

Workforce on International Relationships

Areas of responsibility will include acting as a clearing house for information on thoracic surgery activities, programs and work being done in other countries, and disseminating that information to the appropriate Workforces and individuals in the Society.

As you have read, there have been some significant changes in the STS during the past several months, not the least of which has been the organizational shift and physical move from our management firm of Smith, Bucklin and Associates to the Society’s new self-managed model. The move to our new headquarters offices is complete. Please make a note of the new office address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address:

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

633 N. St. Clair Street, Suite 2320

Chicago, IL 60611–3658

Phone: 312-202-5800

Fax: 312-202-5801

e-mail: sts@sts.org

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): William A. Baumgartner Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Baumgartner, W. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Baumgartner, W. A. Related Collections Professional affairs