Cardiothoracic Surgery Training

Cardiothoracic Surgery

The specialty of cardiothoracic surgery encompasses those conditions affecting:-

  • The heart and intrathoracic great vessels
  • The lungs and trachea
  • The oesophagus
  • Other mediastinal structures
  • The chest wall
  • Subspecialty areas of cardiac surgery include transplantation and congenital cardiac surgery.

The practice of cardiothoracic surgery includes the diagnosis, pre-operative care and assessment, operative treatment and post-operative care of patients affected by the above conditions.

Currently cardiac surgery and thoracic surgery are one training programme. You will be required to decide which direction you want to take after the first 2-3 years of your training.

Recruitment

Recruitment into cardiothoracic surgery is by national recruitment which is organised through Wessex deanery. Recruitment opens around November with interviews in February/March each year.

There are currently one entry points into cardiothoracic surgery: ST1 entry. There is an ST4 entry route into Thoracic surgery

A range of useful information and essential resources for prospective trainees can be found at: https://wessex.hee.nhs.uk/medical-dental-training-recruitment/core-and-specialty/cardiothoracic-surgery-st1-st4-national-recruitment/

Requirements for Entry

  • Demonstrate significant commitment to cardiothoracic surgery
  • Have acquired stage appropriate operative experience
  • Well-rounded CV with experience demonstrated in teaching, research, audit, presentations and publications

 Suggestions for gaining further information/experience

Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery: Medical Student Engagement

Medical students interested in pursuing a career in Cardiothoracic Surgery should join the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery (SCTS). This is free, and provides access to a range of information and events that can help.

There is a range of information on the SCTS website aimed at helping medical students get more experience and information about a career in Cardiothoracic Surgery. This includes a repository of how to arrange medical elective placements at each Cardiothoracic centre in the UK. https://scts.org/medical_students.aspx

A range of activities are organised by the INSINC committee (please find them on social media where events including lecture series and student engagement events are advertised)

Opportunities to become part of the INSINC committee, and regional leads for Cardiothoracic Surgery for your medical school are available and advertised regularly.

For medical students interested in pursuing a career in Cardiothoracic Surgery, I am happy to host medical elective placements at Royal Papworth Hospital.