Membership

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP

1. Geography - Active Membership in the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association shall be limited to thoracic surgeons who at the time of acceptance reside, or have previously practiced cardiothoracic surgery for at least two consecutive years, or have completed a thoracic surgery residency program, or have completed a thoracic or cardiovascular research or clinical fellowship for at least twelve consecutive months in one of the following states or regions: 
   1. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, or the US territories and commonwealths in the Caribbean. Such residence must be current at the time of acceptance during the annual meeting of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association.
   2. Applicants who meet the practice requirement above but whose training has been in countries other than the United States of America and who are certified as proficient in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery by appropriate authorities in their home country may apply.
2. Certification - Applicants for Active Membership must be certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Equivalent foreign training and certification may be acceptable following review by the Membership Committee and Council.
3. Practice - 75% of the applicant's practice must be devoted to the field of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery which may include research and peripheral vascular surgery. Applicants for whom thoracic and cardiovascular surgery comprises less than 75% of their practice may be required to submit a list of all cases performed for the previous two years.
4. Annual meeting - Active status will not become effective, nor certificate of membership presented, until the applicant attends one of the next three annual meetings following initial election to the membership. Failure to comply with this procedure will require reapplication for membership.

TO APPLY FOR ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP

1. Review the requirements for membership and complete the application. 

2. Provide a current copy of your Curriculum Vitae and bibliography.

3. Have two members of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association (sponsors) who are familiar with your current practice read the completed application, review the requirements, and submit a letter of recommendation. Only one sponsor may be a partner or associate of the applicant.

4. Mail, e-mail, or fax the completed application (with letters of recommendation if they have been supplied to you) to the address below.

5. The deadline for consideration of any application is September 15. Applications received after September 15 will be deferred to the following year's committee.

Send your application materials to:

Dr. Vinay Badhwar, Membership Committee Chair
Southern Thoracic Surgical Association
633 N. Saint Clair St., Suite 2320
Chicago, IL 60611-3658
Phone: (800) 685-7872 Fax: (312) 202-5829
Email: stsa@stsa.org

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BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR RESIDENT MEMBERSHIP

An applicant for STSA Resident Membership must at the time of acceptance be matched or enrolled in a thoracic surgery educational program accredited by the Residency Review Committee for Thoracic Surgery under the authority of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education in one of the following states or regions: Alabama; Arkansas; Florida; Georgia; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maryland; Mississippi; Missouri; North Carolina; Oklahoma; South Carolina; Tennessee; Texas; Virginia; West Virginia; District of Columbia; the U.S. territories and commonwealths in the Caribbean. Individuals who have completed their education in one of the above programs and are in the process of acquiring certification in thoracic surgery by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery are eligible to apply for Resident Membership.

Resident Members may retain membership up to three years following the completion of their thoracic surgery training. Resident members who have been certified in thoracic surgery by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery may, upon written request to the Association and with approval of the Membership Committee and the Council, transition directly, with no initiation fee applied, to Active Membership. If no such official request is forthcoming, Resident Membership will be terminated and reinstatement will be dependent upon a formal application for Active Membership, with its associated requirements, including initiation fee and approval by the full membership.

Annual membership dues are $50, to be billed after membership application is accepted.

TO APPLY FOR RESIDENT MEMBERSHIP

1. Review the requirements for membership and complete the application. 

2. Have your Program Director sign your application attesting to your eligibility for Resident Membership.

3. Provide a current copy of your Curriculum Vitae and bibliography.

4. Mail, e-mail, or fax the completed application to the address below.

5. The deadline for consideration of any application is September 15. Applications received after September 15 will be deferred to the following year's committee.

Send your application materials to:

Dr. Vinay Badhwar, Membership Committee Chair
Southern Thoracic Surgical Association
633 N. Saint Clair St., Suite 2320
Chicago, IL 60611-3658
Phone: (800) 685-7872 Fax: (312) 202-5829
Email: stsa@stsa.org