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Ann Thorac Surg 2003;76:S1
© 2003 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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Supplement

Introduction

^a Division of Cardiac Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

It is a real pleasure to introduce the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association 50th Anniversary supplement to The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. The Southern Thoracic Surgical Association (STSA) was founded in 1953 to provide an organization for thoracic surgeons in the Southern states to present and discuss their scientific and academic work. At that time, the American Association for Thoracic Surgery was the only organization that provided the opportunity for presentation of scientific issues dealing in the field of thoracic surgery.

Doctor Hawley Seiler, a cardiothoracic surgeon from Tampa, Florida, conceived the initial idea regarding a regional organization. He believed that a number of young thoracic surgeons would attend who after World War II, were being trained in various centers, many of them in the South. A regional association would allow these young surgeons to present their scientific work. After a number of preliminary meetings, the association was finally established as a stand-alone organization.

The first meeting of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association was in 1954 in Hollywood Beach, Florida, where the program consisted of 18 scientific presentations, of which only two were cardiovascular. Since that time adult and congenital cardiac surgery have evolved and general thoracic surgery has changed in a number of ways leading to the present robust specialty that we are experiencing today.

For the anniversary celebration several prominent surgeons within the STSA were asked to summarize the history of this Association in a number of specialty areas.

Doctor Hal Urschel, President of the Association in 1979, kicks off the supplement with a history of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association. Doctors Carolyn Reed (STSA Secretary, 1999–2002) and Hal Urschel then summarize the important abstracts that were presented in the field of general thoracic surgery over the past 50 years. Doctors Kit Arom (STSA President, 1997) and Fred Grover (STSA President, 1995) have provided a similar analysis of abstracts dealing with adult cardiac surgery and Doctors Gus Mavroudis (STSA President, 2002) and Bob Sade (STSA President, 1991) have contributed a section on congenital heart surgery and its important advances in the previous half century.

Mrs. Betsey Urschel then summarizes the importance of spouses in this association. One of the goals of this organization was to promote and encourage fellowship not only among its members but also between the spouses and families.

The supplement finishes with a summary by Doctor Joe Miller (STSA President, 2003) of each Presidential Address. The Southern Thoracic Surgical Association has clearly changed since 1953. Its meeting now encompasses all subspecialty areas within cardiothoracic surgery in a variety of formats including video sessions, scientific presentations, and postgraduate courses.

The STSA membership has steadily increased to a current level of approximately 900 surgeons. In addition to providing a forum for the dissemination of knowledge and information, the organization has always promoted fellowship within the thoracic surgical community including that of the spouses and families. The success of the meetings and these core values will insure the well-being of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association through the next 50 years.

The Southern Thoracic Surgical Association expresses its sincere gratitude to Elsevier, Inc, and The Annals of Thoracic Surgery Editorial Office for their contributions and efforts in the publication of this special STSA 50th anniversary supplement.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Baumgartner, W. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Baumgartner, W. A. Related Collections Professional affairs