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The Western Pennsylvania Society of Thoracic Surgeons is a not-for-profit organization representing adult and congenital cardiac surgeons in Western Pennsylvania and the surrounding region.
The mission of the Western Pennsylvania Society of Thoracic Surgeons (WPASTS) is to ensure that patients in communities of Western Pennsylvania and surrounding areas have access to excellent cardiac surgical care defined by optimal clinical outcomes. This is achieved by providing educational opportunities and a forum for WPASTS members to participate in the exchange of clinical best practices and solutions to shared challenges, scholarly and research pursuits, meaningful mentorship, and community engagement for the betterment of the regional patient population and the field of cardiac surgery.
WPASTS aims to provide a supplemental platform for academic, private practice, and community cardiac surgeons to continue to further implement the mission of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons at the local and regional level: Advance cardiothoracic surgeons' delivery of the highest quality patient care through collaboration, education, research, and advocacy.
Target Audience
Nurse Practitioner, Physician, and Physician Assistant.
Learning Objectives
WPASTS aims to achieve similar collective goals regionally as the STS works towards at the national level. Importantly, these goals will be tailored to address opportunities and challenges specific to the
Western Pennsylvania CT surgery patient population.
1. Patients in the Western PA and surrounding areas receive the highest quality of CT surgical care
a. Multi-institutional collaboration and sharing of best practices for challenges specific to the Western Pennsylvania population and stemming from regional cultural and historical circumstances. Examples include the growth of the challenging endocarditis patient population due to the surging opioid epidemic, environmental factors impacting cardiovascular health stemming from the region’s industrial past, COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in rural and minority communities, and inequitable access to care in rural areas outside of Western Pennsylvania urban population hubs.
b. Collaborative problem-solving addressing shared systems process issues in Western Pennsylvania. Examples include impact of staffing shortages and travel agencies on regional nursing and technician workforce.
2. Promote peer to peer education and educational opportunities among CT surgeons in the Western PA region
a. Improve the quality and accessibility of cardiac surgery educational opportunities for all members of the cardiac surgery team by utilizing this forum to implement expanded and improved educational offerings regionally.
b. Increase availability of surgeon development resources to instill a culture of lifelong learning
c. Promote the importance of mentorship of senior surgeon mentors to early career surgeons, trainees, and medical students in the region with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion
3. Promote open exchange of best clinical practices and pathways for patients with cardiovascular disease
a. Collaboration with other Western Pennsylvania organizations that play integral parts in overall healthcare delivery in the region. Organizations include healthcare insurers; physician organizations, advanced practice provider, nursing, perfusion, and technical educational institutions; healthcare worker labor organizations; philanthropic organizations; ancillary healthcare entities such as the local organ procurement organization (CORE); and the increasingly thriving technology development and innovation sector within the regional economy.
Additional Information
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 WPASTS Program 3.28.23_UPDATED WITH CME 3.28.23.pdf | 285.1 KB |
WPASTS Inaugural Meeting (Spring Meeting)
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
6:00—9:00pm
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
455 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Agenda:
I. Introduction to WPASTS Mission, Goals, and 2022-2023 Leadership (6:00—6:30pm)
Ibrahim Sultan, MD
Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Director, UPMC Center for Thoracic Aortic Disease
Surgical Director, UPMC Center for Heart Valve Disease
UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
WPASTS Secretary, 2023-2024
II. Keynote Address (6:30—7pm)
Joseph E. Bavaria, MD
Brooke Roberts – William Maul Measey Professor in Surgery
Founder/Co-Director, Penn Aorta Center
Vice Chief, Division of Cardiovascular Surgery
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Past President, Society of Thoracic Surgeons
III. The Global Impact of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (7:15 – 7:30pm)
Wilson Szeto, MD
Professor and Julian Johnson Chair in Surgery
Surgical Director, Cardio-Aortic Therapies
Chief, Cardiovascular Surgery, Pennsylvania Presbyterian Hospital
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Secretary, Society of Thoracic Surgeons
IV. Current Challenges and Opportunities Facing WPASTS Members (7:45—8:15pm)
Andy Kiser, MD
Chief, Cardiac Surgery
St. Clair Health System
WPASTS President, 2023-2024
V. Review of Fall Meeting Content Requests; Potential Dates; and WPASTS Engagement
Opportunitie (8:15—8:45pm)
Steve Bailey, MD
Magovern Endowed Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery
Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Drexel University College of Medicine
Chair, Allegheny Health Network Cardiovascular Institute
System Chair, AHN Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Allegheny Health Network
WPASTS Vice President, 2023-2024
VI. Closing Remarks and Adjournment (9:00pm)
Ibrahim Sultan, MD
Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Director, UPMC Center for Thoracic Aortic Disease
Surgical Director, UPMC Center for Heart Valve Disease
UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
WPASTS Secretary, 2023-2024
Inaugural WPASTS Leadership for 2023-2024:
President:
Andy Kiser, MD
St. Clair Health System
Vice President:
Steven Bailey, MD
Allegheny Health Network
Member At Large:
Hiroyui Tsukui, MD, PhD
Excela Health
Secretary:
Ibrahim Sultan, MD
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
WPASTS Executive Director:
Angela E. Kinnunen, MPA
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Faculty Disclosure:
All individuals in a position to control the content of this education activity have disclosed all financial relationships with any companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All of the relevant financial relationships for the individuals listed below have been mitigated:
Andy Kiser, MD, MBA: Abbott: Consultant
Andy Kiser, MD, MBA: Edwards Life Sciences: Consultant
Andy Kiser, MD, MBA: Atricure: Consultant
Andy Kiser, MD, MBA: Philips: Consultant
Andy Kiser, MD, MBA: Spectranetics: Consultant
Andy Kiser, MD, MBA: Foldax: Consultant
Andy Kiser, MD, MBA: Neptune Medical: Consultant
Andy Kiser, MD, MBA: Edwards Life Sciences: Speakers’ Bureau
Andy Kiser, MD, MBA: Atricure: Speakers’ Bureau
Andy Kiser, MD, MBA: Spectranetics: Speakers’ Bureau
Ibrahim Sultan, MD: Abbott: Grant/Research Support
Ibrahim Sultan, MD: Atricure: Grant/Research Support
Ibrahim Sultan, MD: Artivion: Grant/Research Support
Ibrahim Sultan, MD: Boston Scientific: Grant/Research Support
Ibrahim Sultan, MD: Edwards Life Sciences: Grant/Research Support
Ibrahim Sultan, MD: Medtronic: Grant/Research Support
Ibrahim Sultan, MD: Z MEDICA: Grant/Research Support
Wilson Y. Szeto, MD: Edwards Life Sciences: Grant/Research Support
Wilson Y. Szeto, MD: Medtronic: Grant/Research Support
Wilson Y. Szeto, MD: Terumo Aortic: Grant/Research Support
Wilson Y. Szeto, MD: Artivion: Grant/Research Support
Wilson Y. Szeto, MD: Microinterventional Device: Consultant
Wilson Y. Szeto, MD: Aquedeon: Consultant
Wilson Y. Szeto, MD: Edwards Life Sciences: Speakers’ Bureau
Wilson Y. Szeto, MD: Medtronic: Speakers’ Bureau
Wilson Y. Szeto, MD: Terumo Aortic: Speakers’ Bureau
Wilson Y. Szeto, MD: Artivion: Speakers’ Bureau
Wilson Y. Szeto, MD: Abbott: Speakers’ Bureau
No other members of the planning committee, speakers, presenters, authors, content reviewers and/or anyone else in a position to control the content of this education activity have relevant financial relationships with any companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the University of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania Society of Thoracic Surgeons (WPASTS). The University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physician (CME)
The University of Pittsburgh designates this live activity for a maximum of 2.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nursing (CNE)
The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 2.25 contact hours.
Physician Assistant (AAPA)
The University of Pittsburgh has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 2.25 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity.
Available Credit
- 2.25 AAPA Category I CME
- 2.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
- 2.25 ANCCUPMC Provider Unit is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation
- 2.25 Attendance