Thoracic surgery board recertification

As the largest scientific organisation world-wide exclusively dedicated to general thoracic surgery (GTS), the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) recognized that one of its priorities is education. The educational platform designed ESTS addresses not only trainees, but also confirmed thoracic surgeons. The two main aims are (I) to prepare trainees to graduation and to the certification by the European Board of Thoracic Surgery and (II) to offer opportunities for continuous medical education in the perspective of life-long learning and continuous professional development to certified thoracic surgeons...

As we enter the 21st century, thoracic surgeons can look back with pride and gratitude to their predecessors who placed a high premium on clinical practice and certification. Thoracic surgery, however, is dynamic, not static. So, too, should be thoracic surgery recertification. In recent years, considerable effort has been expended to move thoracic surgery recertification from a 10-year reexamination cycle to a dynamic, multiyear cycle in an effort to ensure the public that board-certified thoracic surgeons remain current with evolving knowledge and technology...

Vascular surgery has established a clear clinical and scientific profile in Europe over the last decade, but it presents a highly complex, disorganized, and unplanned pattern. It is a specialty in the majority of the present member states of the European Union (EU), but in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden this is not the case. With the current expansion of the EU with 13 countries, mainly from the former Eastern Bloc, it will be even more necessary to ensure at least some level of convergence in the standards of training, certification, quality assured practice, continuing medical education, recertification, access to and quality of care, etc, because free migration of doctors, and patients, is a derivative of the cornerstones of the EU treaties, namely free movement of the citizens (and capital)...

This article describes the history and process of credentialing: accreditation of programs and certification of individual practitioners. Under accreditation, general (institutional) and discipline-specific requirements, both for residencies and fellowships, are considered, along with possible outcomes and the appeals mechanism for an unfavorable review. Under certification, the relationship between individual specialty boards and the American Board of Medical Specialties is defined, followed by a consideration of the principles underlying subspecialty certification and recertification...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons was created for practicing thoracic surgeons, but the response to recertification indicates there has been a breakdown in communication between practicing thoracic surgeons and the leadership of this Society and other decision-making organizations of our specialty. To provide greater input and participation by members, it is suggested that regional representatives be elected to the Council, open discussion of issues important to thoracic surgeons be held at the Annual Meetings, small-group clinical workshops be added to the Scientific Sessions to increase opportunity for participation, and more nonacademic surgeons be included as members of working committees of the Society...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.