This site aims to facilitate communication, dissemination of information and discussions among European cardiothoracic trainees and their trainers. The site is indissolubly linked to the EACTS and CTSNet.
The Editorial Board welcomes suggestions and constructive criticism aimed at improving the structure and contents of the site, to make it most useful to all professionals involved in the training process of tomorrow's Cardiothoracic Surgeons.
New! Innovation in Cardiothoracic Training and Health Care
During the last Annual Meetings, our current President, Paul Sergeant, stimulated the delegates with his thoughts on re-engineering training and health care processes, with the ultimate aim to improve surgical outcomes. Professor Sergeant has kindly made available his presentations, which can be accessed here.
EACTS Residents' Meeting 2007
The Resident's meeting in Stockholm was a great success and we are organising this event also in Geneva. For a fourth consecutive year, Maciej Kolowca is planning a very attractive meeting. World-renowned surgeons will share with us their experiences as surgical innovators. Learning from their work and discussing ideas with them will be of great value.
The programme and further details will be posted here soon.
Surgical Training and Manpower Committee Annual Report
It has been a very busy and eventful year for the Surgical Training and Manpower Committee. Members can access the Annual Report by using their CTSNet username and clicking here.
Trainee members applying for Active membership
Trainee (previously "Junior") Members of EACTS who have changed their working position to the one of independently operating surgeon should apply for Active membership of EACTS. This application requires no sponsoring signatures, however some documentation is requested, as explained in the Application Form. Apply before 30th April to become an Active member in September.
Renaming of Junior Membership and EACTS Junior Members' website
The EACTS Council has approved the renaming of the "Junior" Membership to "Trainee" membership to describe more aptly the status of surgeon in training. Hence, the EACTS Junior Members' website has been renamed "EACTS Trainee Members" website. Please, let us know if you find any broken links during your browsing by clicking here .
How to write a paper and survive the peer review process
During the European Residents' Meeting in Leipzig, there were three outstanding presentations on how to speed up a trainee's career in cardiothoracic surgery. Dr Andrew Wechsler, editor of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, educated the audience on "How to write a paper". You can access his presentation here.
Dr L. Henry Edmunds, editor of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery, gave some essential tips on "How to survive the peer review process". You can access his presentation here.
Brainstorm meeting on training
The Trainees Resource Group of the Surgical Training and Manpower Committee organised a “brainstorm” meeting at the School for Cardio-thoracic Surgery in Bergamo. Senior members of EACTS as well as students from one of the Level 2 courses attended this. Also, a representative from the European Commission listened carefully to our concerns with regards to the European Working Time Directive. During this meeting, the results of two recent surveys on training were presented. The one on the Impact of the European Working Time Directive can be accessed here . The second was conducted by the Congenital Heart Disease Committee and offers an insight into the views of trainees and senior surgeons on how to modify Congenital Cardiac Surgery training programmes. Please, access this presentation here and submit any comments here .
Surgical Training and Manpower Committee
The "Junior" and the "Manpower and Education" Committees have been amalgamated to form the new Surgical Training and Manpower Committee . Within it, the smaller Trainees' Resource Group will continue to actively focus on issues close to the heart of those involved in cardiothoracic surgical training. Please, send any comments here .
CME approval for The Bergamo School courses
The European School for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery has received approval for issuing CME credits for participation in its courses. More >>
European Board Electronic Operative Logbook
The EBTCS announces the release of their electronic operative log, which will permit examinees to track their operative experience. The European Board operative log is essential for trainees wishing to sit the Board examination. To access the Operative Log, which is easy to use and will remain your private property, you will need a CTSNet User ID and password.