Women in Thoracic Surgery (WTS)

Women in Thoracic Surgery (WTS) To provide quality care, to mentor young women interested in cardiothoracic surgery, to provide educational opportunities for members, & educate the public

WTS was formed when Leslie J. Kohman, MD, of the Department of Surgery at SUNY Upstate Medical University in New York and the first woman elected to the Residency Review Committee for Thoracic Surgery, organized an informal breakfast for women thoracic surgeons at the STS 24th Annual Meeting. Only eight women were in attendance but their enthusiasm resulted in future annual breakfast and luncheon meetings during subsequent meetings of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Membership increased steadily when the association began outreach efforts to include residents and set goals to provide support to women in training, disseminate information about thoracic surgery residencies, faculty positions and research opportunities, and interact with other groups of professional women. The first Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery newsletter was published in 1988, and was titled Oracle in 1994. WTS first drafted its bylaws in 1992. In 1996, the association officially changed its name to Women in Thoracic Surgery. In 2000, WTS and STS jointly produced The Women in Thoracic Surgery Symposium, which celebrated the achievements of the first 100 women certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. At that time, WTS became an incorporated nonprofit organization and a member organization of CTSNet. The WTS organization could not have been established without industry support, including that of Baxter-Edwards, Medtronic, Inc. and Scanlan International Inc. In June 2007, WTS began to operate under management services provided by STS and established its headquarters in Chicago. At the end of 2021, WTS management was transitioned to Inventures, a SmithBucklin Company, and established its headquarters in San Ramon, California.

Happy belated National Women Physicians Day from the Women in Thoracic Surgery. We recognize the women physicians whose ...
02/04/2026

Happy belated National Women Physicians Day from the Women in Thoracic Surgery. We recognize the women physicians whose dedication strengthens our specialty every day.

Congratulations to Dr. Jessica Donington of , past president of Women in Thoracic Surgery, on her recent election as sec...
02/03/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Jessica Donington of , past president of Women in Thoracic Surgery, on her recent election as second Vice-President of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons . She will assume her role as STS President in January 2028.

Join us this Saturday for the WTS Membership Meeting & Reception, held in conjunction with the 62nd STS Annual Meeting. ...
01/29/2026

Join us this Saturday for the WTS Membership Meeting & Reception, held in conjunction with the 62nd STS Annual Meeting. The event will take place on January 31, 2026, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM in the St. James Ballroom at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans. This gathering is open to all WTS Members and Supporters, and we look forward to seeing you there.



We extend our appreciation to our Platinum Sponsor, Edwards Lifesciences, and our Silver Sponsor, Terumo Aortic, for their generous support.

Join us at the following events happening in conjunction with the STS 62nd Annual Meeting, including the Extraordinary W...
01/13/2026

Join us at the following events happening in conjunction with the STS 62nd Annual Meeting, including the Extraordinary Women in CT Surgery Awards Breakfast and the WTS Membership Meeting & Reception.

Today is Giving Tuesday! Join us in empowering women in thoracic surgery through scholarships, mentorship, and career de...
12/02/2025

Today is Giving Tuesday! Join us in empowering women in thoracic surgery through scholarships, mentorship, and career development programs. Every gift makes a difference!

Donate now to WTS: https://bit.ly/3Z1Mgd5

Thank you for helping us shape the future of thoracic surgery

Giving Tuesday is almost here! Your support of WTS helps us provide scholarships, mentorship, and leadership opportuniti...
11/29/2025

Giving Tuesday is almost here! Your support of WTS helps us provide scholarships, mentorship, and leadership opportunities for the next generation of thoracic surgeons. Support WTS this Giving Tuesday by donating here: https://bit.ly/3Z1Mgd5

Happy Thanksgiving from Women in Thoracic Surgery! We are grateful for our incredible community and your continued suppo...
11/29/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from Women in Thoracic Surgery! We are grateful for our incredible community and your continued support in advancing opportunities for women in thoracic surgery. Wishing you a day filled with joy, gratitude, and connection.

offering the opportunity to attend the 72nd STSA Annual Meeting, and to be mentored throughout the meeting by a WTS/STSA...
07/10/2025

offering the opportunity to attend the 72nd STSA Annual Meeting, and to be mentored throughout the meeting by a WTS/STSA Member.
 
The deadline to apply is August 6, 2025, 11:59 p.m. PDT. on the WTS Website:http://bit.ly/44k3y7L

Register now for the WTS 2nd Annual Conference November 5-6, 2024 at the Omni Amelia Island Resort! Early bird registrat...
06/03/2025

Register now for the WTS 2nd Annual Conference November 5-6, 2024 at the Omni Amelia Island Resort! Early bird registration is open now through September 1, 2025. Sign up now to take advantage of exclusive pricing!



Learn more & register now: https://bit.ly/3ZunVfw

Don’t miss the chance to share your work! Abstract submissions are OPEN for the 2025 WTS 2nd Annual Conference.We invite...
05/29/2025

Don’t miss the chance to share your work!
Abstract submissions are OPEN for the 2025 WTS 2nd Annual Conference.
We invite abstracts showcasing impactful research in cardiothoracic surgery and supporting the advancement of women in the specialty.
➡️ bit.ly/4cBfsMr

Abstract submissions open May 1, 2025, for the WTS 2nd Annual Conference, taking place November 5-6, 2025, at the Omni A...
04/22/2025

Abstract submissions open May 1, 2025, for the WTS 2nd Annual Conference, taking place November 5-6, 2025, at the Omni Amelia Island Hotel in Fernandina Beach, FL. Stay tuned for more details.

Reminder! Applications are still open for the Thistlethwaite Scholarship! This award allows a woman in residency or fe...
04/22/2025

Reminder! Applications are still open for the Thistlethwaite Scholarship! This award allows a woman in residency or fellowship training in the U.S. interested in cardiothoracic surgery to attend the WTSA Annual Meeting and be mentored through the meeting by a WTS/WTSA member. The deadline to apply is Midnight, PDT, April 27, 2025.



Thank you to Zimmer Biomet for your support of this scholarship and WTS!



Learn more and apply at wtsnet.org.

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5000 Executive Parkway, Suite 302
San Ramon, CA
94583

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