Showcasing Stanford Excellence in Cardiothoracic Surgery
at the 2025 STS 61st Annual Meeting
by Roxanna Van Norman
January 28, 2025
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) hosted its 61st Annual Meeting from January 24–26, 2025, at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. The event brought together STS members and global experts to showcase groundbreaking research, highlight innovative science and techniques, and foster valuable connections within the cardiothoracic surgery community.
Several faculty and trainees from the Stanford Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery were present throughout the conference, serving as moderators and speakers, as well as faculty participants in hands-on courses that provided an immersive learning experience in various surgical procedures for residents and early career surgeons. View the STS 2025 program.
Department highlights included:
Thursday, January 23, 2025 (Pre-Conference Program)
- A. Claire Watkins, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery (Adult Cardiac Surgery); Invited Speaker for TEVAR 101 for Aneurysm and TEVAR 201 for Dissection
Friday, January 24, 2025
- Leah Backhus, MD, MPH, Professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery (Thoracic Surgery); Co-moderator for The Vivien T. Thomas Symposium - Achieving Equity in Clinical Care and Education Summit; Invited Speaker for Growing an Adult Pectus Program; Invited Speaker for The Importance of Finding a Mentor
- Dr. A. Claire Watkins, Invited Speaker for Chronic Type B Aortic Dissection with Aneurysm: Endovascular Approach
- Lillian Tsai, MD, General Thoracic Surgery Fellow; Presentation for DOTATATE-PET has Low Sensitivity in Preoperative Nodal Staging of Carcinoid Tumors of the Lung
- Nicole Lin, MD, MPH, Postdoctoral Scholar, Cardiothoracic Surgery; Presentation for Assessment of Postoperative Chylothorax Volume Threshold Associated with Failed Conservative Management
Saturday, January 25, 2025
- Dr. Leah Backhus, Co-moderator for Challenges and Successes of Parental Policies for Cardiothoracic Trainees
- Elisabeth Martin, MD, MPH, Clinical Assistant Professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery (Pediatric Cardiac Surgery); Co-moderator for Triumphant Advances in Truncal Valve Surgery: Pioneering Techniques and Outcomes
- Douglas Liou, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery (Thoracic Surgery); Invited Speaker for 2025 Updates for Best Practices in General Thoracic Surgery - Existing Guidelines: Thymoma
- Natalie Lui, MD, Assistant Professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery (Thoracic Surgery); Invited Speaker for Lung Cancer and Lung Cancer Screening in Individuals Without a Smoking History
- Dr. A. Claire Watkins, Faculty participant for the Hands-on Course: TEVAR 101 for Aneurysm and 201 for Dissection
Sunday, January 26, 2025
- Maria Currie, MD, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery (Adult Cardiac Surgery); Invited Speaker for Beyond the Implant: Acquiring Skills in Candidate Selection, Donor Management, and Donor Recipient Matching
- Dr. Natalie Lui, Faculty participant for the Hands-on Course: Complex Central Airway Reconstruction
Event Photos
Photos courtesy of Carolyn Chang
