Cardiothoracic Surgeons Wanted

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Challenging, interesting, and fulfilling work that includes emerging therapies and new technology. That's how the Society of Thoracic Surgeons describes a career as a cardiothoracic surgeon. Who wouldn't want to climb on that bus? And with more than 50 percent of the current 3,500 U.S. cardiothoracic surgeons expected to retire within the next decade, the STS hopes to attract bright young surgeons to fill the gap.

What They Do

Cardiothoracic (sometimes called CT) surgeons are specialists with training and skills in the surgical management of disorders of the heart, lungs, esophagus and major blood vessels of the chest cavity. Within the specialty of cardiothoracic surgery, some physicians develop special expertise in adult heart surgery, children's heart surgery, and general thoracic surgery (disorders of the lungs and esophagus).

A cardiothoracic surgeon performs open heart surgery, called CABG (coronary artery bypass graft surgery) for coronary artery disease or blockages of the arteries in the heart; blockages in one of the heart valves, leaking heart valve; abnormal enlargement or aneurysms of the large arteries in the chest; and heart failure. All thoracic surgeons have the same general training and are certified by the same specialty board, except for congenital heart surgeons who have a sub-specialty certificate in addition to the American Board of Thoracic Surgery certification.

Qualifications

Cardiothoracic surgeons have to graduate from medical school and most commonly will go on to complete a five-year general surgery residency. After this they must successfully complete an approved cardiothoracic surgery residency program for either two or three years.

Demand and Compensation

The demand is there. In fact, the American Medical Association reports that by 2025, the U.S. could be short 1,500 cardiothoracic surgeons, or 25 percent of the specialists required to meet the projected needs of an aging population.

The median salary for cardiothoracic surgeons is more than $435,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.