The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Thoracic Surgery Practice and Access Task Force-2019 Workforce Report.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) has intermittently surveyed its workforce, providing isolated accounts of the current state of thoracic surgical practice. METHODS: The 70-question survey instrument was received by 3834 STS surgeon members, and responses were gathered between September 16 and November 1, 2019. The return rate was 27.9%. RESULTS: The median age of the active United States (US) thoracic surgeons is 56 years. Women comprise 8.4% of the responders, constituting 6.2% of adult cardiac, 10.6% of congenital heart, and 12.6% of general thoracic surgeons. Most practicing US surgeons (83.5%) graduated from medical school in the US. Survey respondents had 7 (21.8%), 8 (25.0%), 9 (22.1%) or 10 (29.2%) or more years of post-MD training before entering practice. Educational debt was increased compared with previous years, as were salaries. Overall career satisfaction was 54.1% (very or extremely satisfied), and overall average hours per week worked decreased compared with past surveys. However, 55.7% of surgeons had symptoms of burnout and depression. STS Database participation was high (90.5%), with the most common reason for not participating being cost (32.6%). Operative volume over the past 12 months decreased for 23.7% of surgeons. Of those who responded, 46.9% plan to retire between the age of 66 and 69 years and a further 25.6% at age 70 or older. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide a current, detailed profile of the specialty. Ongoing challenges remain length of training and educational debt. Case volumes, scope of practice, and career satisfaction have remained relatively constant however, symptoms of burnout or depression or both, are common.