As The House of Surgery®, the ACS is committed to supporting surgeons across all disciplines, career stages, practice settings, and geographic locations. In recent months, I have used this column to highlight how some surgical specialties engage with and are supported by the ACS.
This month, I consider cardiothoracic surgery, a discipline that has made, and continues to make, enduring contributions to the ACS and one for which we are proud to offer a wide range of resources.
Resources for Cardiothoracic Surgeons
Across our extensive cancer care portfolio, several resources are directly relevant to thoracic malignancies. Our Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery address 15 disease sites, including lung and esophageal cancers. In addition, updated operative standards within Optimal Resources for Cancer Care provide guidance on pulmonary resection.
Cardiothoracic surgeons caring for injured patients may find value in our latest Best Practices Guidelines: Management of Chest Wall Injuries, released at the ACS Trauma Quality Improvement Program Annual Conference in November 2025.
Supporting the financial sustainability of surgical practice remains a key priority for the ACS. We provide coding and billing resources across specialties. The January 2026 issue of the Bulletin outlines recent updates to Current Procedural Terminology codes, including those relevant to thoracic aortic aneurysm and diaphragmatic hernia repair, an operation performed by several surgical specialties.
In addition, the ACS website features a dedicated page highlighting recent Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS) articles on cardiovascular procedures.
Tailored Education
Each year at Clinical Congress, we curate a robust slate of educational programming designed specifically for cardiothoracic surgeons, including the distinguished John H. Gibbon Jr. Lecture, established in honor of the pioneer of modern open-heart surgery. Recent Gibbon Lectures have explored a breadth of transformative topics, from re-envisioning morbidity and mortality conferences to advances in lung cancer care, as well as the evolving promise of xenotransplantation.
Last year’s I. S. Ravdin Lecture was delivered by William E. Cohn, MD, FACS, who examined “The Past, Present, and Future of the Total Artificial Heart.” Both this presentation and recent Gibbon Lectures are available through The House of Surgery podcast.
Recognizing Cardiothoracic Innovators
Through our various communications, we recognize the contributions of cardiothoracic surgeons whose innovations continue to advance the field. Recent examples include Stephanie H. Chang, MD, FACS, who led a team performing the first full robotic double lung transplant in 2024; Vinay Badhwar, MD, FACS, who performed a world-first robotic transcatheter aortic valve explant and aortic valve replacement in 2025; and Sameh Said, MD, FACS, who in 2025 performed the first successful operation on a mid-delivery infant to correct hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
Additionally, we have partnered with colleagues at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, to share videos highlighting the Michael E. DeBakey Library & Museum, a testament to the innovations of this legendary cardiac surgeon.
Our prestigious Jacobson Innovation Award, which honors lifetime achievement in surgical innovation, has had several cardiothoracic surgeon recipients: James L. Cox, MD, FACS (2020), for his work on atrial fibrillation; William S. Pierce, MD, FACS (2007), who developed the first pneumatic heart assist pump; and Joel D. Cooper, MD, FACS (1996), who achieved the first successful lung transplant and double lung transplant.
Similarly, we have awarded numerous Honorary Fellowships to cardiothoracic surgeons, reflecting the specialty’s global impact on surgical advancement. Sir Rickman J. Godlee, 1st Baronet, KCVO, FACS(Hon) (1849-1925), received this honor in 1913 as an early innovator in thoracic surgery and the biographer (and nephew) of antiseptics pioneer Dr. Joseph Lister. Swedish cardiovascular surgeon Clarence Crafoord, MD, FACS(Hon) (1899-1984), was honored in 1948 for his work introducing heparin as thrombosis prophylaxis and performing the first successful aortic coarctation repair.
Cardiothoracic Leadership within the ACS
Cardiothoracic surgeons continue to serve in prominent leadership roles within the ACS.
Douglas E. Wood, MD, FACS, FRCSEd, serves as Vice-Chair of the ACS Board of Regents. Thomas K. Varghese Jr., MD, MS, MBA, FACS, serves as Editor-in-Chief of JACS. Richard I. Whyte, MD, FACS, chairs the Advisory Council for Cardiothoracic Surgery.
The specialty also has a distinguished history of presidential leadership within the ACS, underscoring its longstanding influence on the direction of the organization. Past Presidents include Evarts A. Graham, MD, FACS (1940–1941), who cofounded the American Board of Surgery and helped establish smoking as a cause of lung disease; James D. Hardy, MD, FACS (1980–1981), performed the first lung transplant in 1963 and the first heart transplant (a xenotransplant of a chimpanzee heart) in 1964; and Valerie W. Rusch, MD, FACS (2019-2020), a prominent surgeon-scientist researching mesothelioma and lung cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, New York, who helped lead development of the American Joint Committee on Cancer’s Cancer Staging Manual (6th through 9th editions).
Resources for Patients and the Public
Building on this legacy, the ACS continues to develop resources that support patients and the broader public. These include smoking cessation initiatives, as well as “Your Lung Operation,” which features an online course, a video, and additional patient tools. In addition, Dr. Varghese helped develop the Strong for Surgery program, which supports hospitals and care teams in integrating preoperative checklists for elective procedures.
Supporting All Surgeons
No matter your specialty, the ACS remains committed to ensuring that you have access to the resources, leadership opportunities, and education needed to thrive and provide excellent patient care. We welcome your continued engagement and feedback as we advance this work together.
Join Us at QSCC
I encourage you to join us at the Quality, Safety & Cancer Conference (QSCC), which continues to expand its offerings, including a dedicated focus on cancer quality improvement. This year’s meeting will take place in Orlando, Florida, July 30–August 2. Registration opens this week at facs.org/qscc2026.
Clinical Congress Registration Opens Soon
In addition, please mark your calendars for this year’s Clinical Congress, which we will hold in Washington, DC, from September 26 to 29. Registration will open soon at facs.org/clincon2026.
