Adult Cardiac Surgery     by Edward D. Verrier, MD   Thoracic Surgery     by Douglas J. Mathisen, MD  Congenital Heart Surgery     by William G. Williams, MD

American Association for Thoracic Surgery has recognized the growing crisis in attracting qualified young professionals to our specialty, as there is certainly a sense of cardiothoracic surgery as a "dying specialty" within the medical community. Although the majority of current cardiothoracic surgeons see the potential in the field, each sub-specialty has been cited by recent graduates of surgical residencies as troubled.

As part of our outreach projects, AATS would like to stimulate students and residents interested in a Cardiothoracic Surgery career. The AATS web committee was first to establish a website that is addressed specifically to this group. Besides some practical information on the early career of cardiothoracic surgery, there are many web pages to nourish the academic growth of the potential candidates of Thoracic Surgery residency.

Today, we asked three Thoracic Surgeons, well-known for their leadership and commitment to resident education/mentorship, to address the potential candidates of Thoracic Surgery residency in a letter about the corresponding specialties (Adult cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery, congenital heart surgery). The enclosed editorial letters are meant to assist with the decision-making, and to provide guidance and an insightful view into the corresponding sub-specialties of Thoracic Surgery.

Ali Khoynezhad, MD, PhD
for the AATS Web Committee