Cardiothoracic Surgery
Representative Adam Boettcher- boet0061@umn.edu
Contact Dr. R Morton (Chip) Bolman- bolma001@umn.edu
Description: Cardiothoracic surgery involves the care and treatment of organs and structures of the thoracic cavity. This includes the heart, great vessels, lungs, the chest wall, the esophagus, and other thoracic structures. Both pediatric and adult cardiothoracic procedures are performed. Interesting fact: this field of surgery actually began here at the University of Minnesota years ago.
Top 5 Surgeries
1. Coronary Bypass (single -> quadruple)
2. Valve Repair
3. Aneurysms of the Thoracic Aorta
4. Lung resections/biopsies
5. Transplants
Subspecialties: Most specialize in either pulmonary or cardiac surgery, some will do both. Both pulmonary and cardiac require the same training surgery residency then cardiothoracic fellowship. Pediatric cardiothoracic surgery is also an extended (1 year) fellowship that can be done after general surgery and CT surgery.
Final average salary: Depends on location, type of practice (private vs. academic), and on workload. However, an average salary can begin anywhere from $200,000 - $300,000 per year.
Workload: Depends on type of practice, academic surgeons will have more diverse responsibilities, whereas community surgeons will spend more time on direct patient care.
Clinic: 5 6 hrs. per week
OR: the rest of the time (up to 40 50 hrs. per week)
Boards: Not extremely important here. They are important, but are only a piece of the whole applicant. Letters of recommendation and the interview are both extremely important. Shadowing experiences, as well as a demonstrated interest in the field through experience and perhaps research are also key.
Good Residencies (fellowships in CT surgery)
Midwest
1.University of Minnesota
2.Northwestern (Chicago)
3.Washington University (St. Louis)
West Coast
1.UCLA
2.USC
3.Oregon
East Coast
1.Harvard Mass. General & Brigham and Womens
2.Johns Hopkins
3.Duke
Others: Emory, Texas Southwestern
Residency Length: General Surgery 5 yrs.
Fellowship Length: Cardiothoracic surgery 2 or 3 yrs. (3 @ UofM)
Resident Salary: approx. $40,000 - $45,000 per year
Dr. Bolman mentioned that he and others in the field are trying to reform the training requirements. They would like to try to reduce the time required by up to 3 years. He mentioned that hopefully in the near future training will consist of 3 years of preliminary general surgery followed by 2-3 years of cardiothoracic surgery. This could help attract more applicants to the field, as numbers have been lower in recent years.
Also, CT surgery is a field that is progressing very quickly. Many of the procedures that used to be performed by surgeons are now done less invasively by cardiologists, pulmonologists, and interventional radiologists. For example, coronary bypass surgery will eventually become less common due to much improved stenting technology. Therefore, CT surgery is rapidly evolving and is constantly utilizing new technology to do new procedures less invasively. Robotic surgery is an example of an amazing technology that will potentially allow more patients to benefit from cardiothoracic surgery. CT surgery is a field in which technology plays an integral role. It will continue to drive the field down new paths toward safer and more effective procedures.