Surgical Hot Topics

In this episode, host Dr. Melanie Edwards speaks with Dr. Donna Hicks, associate at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University, conflict resolution expert, and author of Leading with Dignity. Drawing on decades of work in international conflict resolution and healthcare, Dr. Hicks explores how dignity, the inherent value and worth of every person, underpins psychological safety, effective leadership, and stronger teams. As she explains, “We may differ in status, but we’re equal in dignity."

Dr. Hicks discusses the 10 elements of dignity, why dignity violations are so common in hierarchical environments, and how surgeons can recognize and address behaviors that undermine trust and collaboration. She also shares practical strategies for giving feedback without causing harm, taking accountability for mistakes, and cultivating greater awareness of how our actions affect others to create a culture where healthcare professionals can learn, thrive, and deliver better patient care.

In this second special joint episode of Thinking Thoracic and the American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (AABIP), Dr. Erin Gillaspie is joined by interventional pulmonologist Dr. Sameer Avasarala of Case Western Reserve University and infectious disease specialist Dr. Renuga Vivekanandan of Creighton University to discuss the multidisciplinary management of pleural space infections.

The conversation emphasizes early recognition, prompt source control, and seamless multidisciplinary collaboration.

Following the clinical course, the panel discusses diagnosis, fluid sampling, targeted antimicrobials, drainage, intrapleural fibrinolytics, and risk stratification. They also explore when to pivot to surgical intervention, including VATS decortication, as well as the management of complex cases such as bronchopleural fistulas.

As cardiothoracic surgery becomes increasingly specialized, trainees have more choices to make about the direction of their careers. This article explores the evolving landscape of subspecialization, the continued role of generalist practice, and what additional training may mean as you consider the skills you want to develop and the career path you want to pursue.

What does the path to a career in cardiothoracic surgery look like today? Host Dr. Jane Yanagawa is joined by Dr. Varun Puri, Chief of Thoracic Surgery and CT Surgery Program Director at Washington University in St. Louis, to break down the evolving training pathways available to medical students and general surgery residents. They explore traditional 5+2/5+3 fellowships, fast-track 4+3 programs, and integrated I-6 tracks, highlighting key differences in clinical exposure, training timelines, board certification, and leadership development.

The conversation also explores current match dynamics and common applicant misconceptions around applying to multiple tracks, while emphasizing the importance of early mentorship, scholarly research, and professional society resources such as TSMA, TSDA and TSRA in building a successful surgical career.

STS member Dr. Sean Jordan, chief of thoracic surgery and director of lung cancer screening at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, saw firsthand the barriers rural patients in East Tennessee faced in accessing lung cancer screening. In this episode, Jordan shares how a two-year effort—supported by collaboration, funding, and STS Advocacy—led to the creation of a 45-foot mobile CT lung cancer screening unit serving 21 counties. He'll discuss the challenges of bringing screening directly to underserved communities, the potential to detect lung cancer earlier and improve outcomes, and why thoracic surgeons have a unique opportunity to lead and advocate for stronger lung cancer screening programs nationwide.