Pioneer of Cardiothoracic Surgery - Luiz Tavares da Silva.

Luis Tavares revolutionized cardiac surgery, always bringing the most modern instruments and equipment from his travels to England - surgical forceps, scissors, scalpels, etc. He always insisted that he was not just a thoracic surgeon, for his work extended over a wide field and created three important cardiac surgery centers which promoted a great development of cardiology. He carried out the first open heart surgery (atrial septal defect) employing extracorporeal circulation and closure of a ventricular septal defect with deep surface hypothermia of north and northeast Brazil. He promoted an intense scientific exchange program between Recife and England, resulting in significant advances in medicine, and participated directly in the creation of HEMOPE), leading to radical changes and improvements in blood therapy in the whole country. The PROCAPE, inaugurated in 2006, was the result of the cardiac center created by him in early 1970 at Hospital Oswaldo Cruz and can be considered the second largest public-university cardiology center in Brazil. He is thus widely regarded as an outstanding name in medicine in the 20th century and one of the fathers of modern cardiac surgery in Brazil.

Nothing like a good feud to spark competition: First use of the total artificial heart.

As a native Houstonian, the notoriety surrounding Dr. Denton A Cooley's implantation of the total artificial heart on Good Friday, April 4, 1969, was inescapable. At the time, Drs. Cooley and Michael E. DeBakey were the two most famous surgeons in Houston and much of the world. They had worked together professionally for 18 years, revolutionizing cardiothoracic surgery and mastering aortic surgery from beginning to end. However, this working relationship ended abruptly, and one of the most famous feuds in medicine began. Little did I know at the time that I would train with both men, work in both their respective institutions (which are located on the most competitive block of the Texas Medical Center), and play a role four decades later as their relationship rekindled. Here, I recount what I have come to learn about these events.

Nina Braunwald: The First Female Cardiothoracic Surgeon.

Dr Nina Braunwald is celebrated for her work as the first female cardiothoracic surgeon and her key role in the design and implementation of the first prosthetic mitral valve. She began her residency at Bellevue Hospital in 1952, a time in the United States where the scope of women's work was limited. Once her training took her to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), her historic flexible leaflet valve was developed and Dr Braunwald paved an innovative step toward the advanced prostheses of today. Afterward, she was recognized by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery in 1963. Her extensive research and educational passion for cardiothoracic surgery led to numerous publications, a leadership role with the NIH, and associate professorship at University of California San Diego and Harvard; leaving behind a significant legacy to be memorialized in awards and fellowships to women in academic cardiac surgery. Her work inspired continued evolution of the prosthetic valve and countless women to pursue surgery as a career before passing away in 1992, leaving behind a new generation of women surgeons. Despite her successful career, she was never promoted to full professor by her academic institutions.

Ernst Ferdinand Sauerbruch (1875-1951). El cirujano mas influyente de la primera mitad del siglo XX / Ernst Ferdinand Sauerbruch (1875-1951). The Most Influential Surgeon Of The First Half Of The Twentieth Century

Ernst Ferdinand Sauerbruch, se le considera como uno de los cirujanos más relevantes de la primera mitad del siglo XX. De unapersonalidad carismática, desarrolló su actividad en diferentes hospitales universitarios destacando los de Zúrich, Múnich y especialmente el de la Charité de Berlín. Realizo importantes aportaciones en el campo de la cirugía torácica, del tratamiento de lahidrocefalia, de la cirugía tiroidea, de la cirugía oncológica además de otras aportaciones como fue la cámara de vacío para tenerla posibilidad de abrir el tórax e intervenir sus órganos o el desarrollo de una mano protésica fundamentalmente utilizable por losenfermos amputados en la I Guerra Mundial. Fue maestro de numerosos cirujanos alemanes y también de otros países. Su declivecomienza tras terminar la Segunda Guerra Mundial al intentar seguir operando sufriendo un progresivo deterioro mental. El otroaspecto polémico de su figura, se centra al haber participado de forma activa tanto desde el punto de vista social, académico eincluso político durante el régimen nacionalsocialista en Alemania. (AU)

Ernst Ferdinand Sauerbruch is considered as one of the most relevant surgeons of the first half of the twentieth century. With a charismatic personality, he developed his activity in different university hospitals, highlighting those of Zurich, Munich and especiallythat of the Charité in Berlin. I make important contributions in the field of thoracic surgery, the treatment of hydrocephalus, thyroidsurgery, and oncological surgery as well as other contributions such as the vacuum chamber to have the possibility of opening thethorax and intervening its organs or development of a prosthetic hand fundamentally usable by the amputee patients in World WarI. He was a teacher of numerous German surgeons and of other countries. Its decline begins after the end of World War II when tryingto continue operating suffering a progressive mental deterioration. The other controversial aspect of his figure, focuses on havingactively participated both socially, academically and even politically during the National Socialist regime in Germany. (AU)

What is in the Dash? An Examination of the Life and Contributions of John B. Flege, Jr., MD.

It is, indeed, a privilege to stand here before you this morning to give the annual Flege Lecture.  Dr. Sande Starnes has kindly supplied me with a list of prior visiting professors, who previously have had the honor to deliver this talk. When we examine the names of those who have been so honored, and note their many accomplishments, I cannot help but remember the words of Winston Churchill, who, when speaking of another person, could well have been speaking of me, when he described "a modest little person, with much to be modest about."

A historic event: The first female officer of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery.

At the 100th meeting of the AATS, the first woman ever was nominated to be an officer. Dr Yolonda Colson was nominated as Vice President and will be the first female President of the AATS. We celebrate her amazing and inspiring accomplishments.

The Thoracic Surgery Residents Association: Past contributions, current efforts, and future directions.

OBJECTIVE: The Thoracic Surgery Residents Association (TSRA) is a resident-led organization established in 1997 under the guidance of the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association to represent the interests and educational needs of cardiothoracic surgery residents. We aim to describe the past contributions, current efforts, and future directions of the TSRA within a conceptual framework of the TSRA mission. METHODS: Primary review of educational resources was performed to report goals and content of past contributions. TSRA Executive Committee input was used to describe current resources and activities, as well as the future goals of the TSRA. Podcast analytics were performed to report national and global usage. RESULTS: Since 2011, the TSRA has published 3 review textbooks, 5 reference guides, 3 test-preparation textbooks, 1 supplementary publication, and 1 multiple-choice question bank and mobile application, all written and developed by cardiothoracic surgery trainees. In total 108 podcasts have been recorded by mentored trainees, with more than 175,000 unique listens. Most recently, the TSRA has begun facilitating trainee submissions to Young Surgeon's Notes, fostered a trainee mentorship program, developed the monthly TSRA Newsletter, and established a wide-reaching presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to help disseminate educational resources and opportunities for trainees. CONCLUSIONS: The TSRA continues to be the leading cardiothoracic surgery resident organization in North America, providing educational resources and networking opportunities for all trainees. Future directions include development of an integrated disease-based resource and continued collaboration within and beyond our specialty to enhance the educational opportunities and career development of cardiothoracic trainees.

Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB): A Legacy of Innovation, Education, and Contributions.

Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) represents a transformative enterprise whose origins lie in local practice and education in a Southern state with a challenging history, transformed by the visions of a few to become a dominant force in the historical fabric of regional, national, and international cardiothoracic surgery. Throughout its history, numerous individuals have participated in important innovations, education, and contributions to a consistent theme of surgical excellence. This review will recapitulate a sample of relevant historical events and the impact of the leaders of cardiothoracic surgery at UAB.