Society of Thoracic Surgeons Elects New President

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) elected internationally recognized cardiothoracic surgeon Joseph E. Bavaria, M.D., as president during the organization’s 52nd Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Ariz.

“I am honored to follow in the footsteps of some of the greatest cardiothoracic surgeons who have led our specialty and look forward to my tenure as STS president,” said Bavaria, the Brook Roberts-William Maul Measey professor of Surgery and director of the Thoracic Aortic Surgery program in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. “I hope to spend my year as president focusing on expanding the STS National Database to include more cardiothoracic surgery procedures; I also plan to execute educational opportunities globally.”

Raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Bavaria spent much of his adolescence abroad, moving across Europe with his family. He began high school at the American School in Paris, France, before returning to the United States to complete his high school education. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Tulane University in New Orleans, La., where he later earned his medical degree and participated in the Honors Chemical Engineering Exchange Program at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

“Having spent a portion of my life abroad has helped me keep a more global focus,” Bavaria said. “Because of this, one of my goals during my presidency is to increase STS presence internationally and increase our cooperation with other organizations like the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Surgeons, and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.”

Bavaria completed his surgical internship and residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He served for a year as chief resident of surgery before completing additional residencies in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

An STS member since 1996, Bavaria most recently served as the organization’s first vice president. He also particpated on the Operating Board of the Society’s Council on Health Policy and Relationships. Previously, he served as chair of the STS Workflow on New Technology.

“STS is a broad-based membership society open to all cardiothoracic surgeons, and we welcome anyone who wants to join us in helping shape the future of our specialty,” Bavaia said. “I want to encourage all of my colleagues to get involved with the Society and become an advocate for our specialty at all levels.”

Bavaria lives with his wife, Kim, in Philadelphia. The couple has two children.

Founded in 1964, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons is a non-profit organization representing more than 7,100 cardiothoracic surgeons, researchers, and allied healthcare professionals worldwide involved with surgeries of the heart, lung and esophagus as well as other procedures within the chest. The group is based in Chicago, Ill.