Faculty and trainees from Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Surgery played a prominent role at the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) 2026 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, contributing to scientific programming, education, and professional development across the conference.
Led by Marc Pelletier, MD, chief of cardiac surgery at Yale School of Medicine and program director for the 2026 meeting, Yale’s cardiac and thoracic surgery teams were deeply engaged in shaping the meeting’s agenda and advancing the specialty’s clinical and academic missions. The annual STS meeting is the premier international forum for cardiothoracic surgeons, bringing together nearly 4,000 clinicians, researchers, and trainees.
Pelletier helped guide the development of the meeting’s scientific and educational content and served in multiple high-profile roles, including opening and closing plenary sessions and leading clinical presentations.
“Our goal is to bring the entire community together around the most important science, best practices, and training opportunities in our field,” Pelletier says. “This meeting reflects the strength and collaboration of our specialty.”
Yale faculty and residents participated in a wide range of sessions, presenting original research, clinical case studies, surgical videos, and educational programming spanning major clinical and academic domains, including:
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Coronary and aortic surgery
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Structural heart disease
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Advanced valve and ablation techniques
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Thoracic and transplant surgery
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Perioperative and APP-led care
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Surgical education and workforce development
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Training and mentorship for early-career surgeons
Notable presentations included research on failure-to-rescue after coronary artery bypass grafting, financial literacy among trainees, and the development of CORGI, a custom GPT model for automated operative reporting.
“STS 2026 highlighted the depth of talent, innovation, and collaboration within our department,” Pelletier says. “Our faculty and trainees are helping advance the field through outstanding clinical care, rigorous research, and a strong commitment to education—and that ultimately benefits patients everywhere.”