Report of the 2010 society of thoracic surgeons congenital heart surgery practice and manpower survey

Marshall L. Jacobs, Megan Daniel, Constantine Mavroudis, David L.S. Morales, Jeffrey P. Jacobs, Charles D. Fraser, Joseph W. Turek, John E. Mayer, Christo Tchervenkov, John Conte

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Workforce on Congenital Heart Surgery undertook a second subspecialty Practice and Manpower Survey (2005, 2010) to obtain contemporary data. Methods: Preliminary research suggested a potential target group of 273 congenital heart surgeons, including 258 at 125 US centers and 15 at 8 Canadian centers. The web-based survey was sent to these surgeons, plus all individuals listing pediatric cardiac surgery on CTSNet. Results: Two hundred forty-six responders included 213 active congenital heart surgeons, 16 retired congenital heart surgeons, and 17 surgeons in training. Retirement age was 63.5 ± 7.5 years. Two hundred thirteen active congenital heart surgeon responders represent 78% of the original estimate. Their responses generated the following data: The mean age was 49.2 ± 8.5 (range, 35 to 75 years). American medical school graduates included 159 of 201 respondents (79%). Years of postgraduate training was 9.7 ± 1.7. One hundred ninety-seven (92%) respondents were certified in thoracic surgery by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS). Twenty-eight of 200 (14%) received their congenital heart surgery training outside the United States or Canada. One hundred forty-three of 190 respondents (75%) perform exclusively congenital heart operations; 31 (16%) perform exclusively pediatric heart operations. Of 186 respondents, 54 (29%) perform fewer than 100 major congenital heart operations per year, 78 (42%) perform 100 to 199 procedures, and 54 (29%) perform 200 procedures or more. Active congenital heart surgeons have been in their current positions for 9.3 ± 8.6 years. Eight respondents are in their first year of practice. For 203 respondents, mean anticipated years to retirement is 16.1 ± 7.6. Twenty-eight anticipate retirement within 5 years; 31 in 6 to 10 years. Conclusions: These data should help facilitate rational plans to meet workforce needs for an expanding patient population.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)762-769
Number of pages8
JournalAnnals of Thoracic Surgery
Volume92
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2011

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Surgery
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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