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Changes in cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) workforce trends have affected training paradigms to include the establishment of integrated six-year CTS residency (I6) programs. This study aimed to determine commitment of selected I6 program applicants to the specialty.Internal archives at a single institution were accessed to identify applicants interviewed for an I6 position from 2014 to 2016. A systematic internet search of publicly available information was performed to identify the trainee's current specialty. Descriptive analysis was performed.Forty-seven applicants were identified. Successful search results were achieved for 97.9 % of the applicants. One applicant was excluded, resulting in a cohort of 45. 48.9 % of the applicants successfully matched into I6 programs. Of the 23 who did not match into an I6 program, 91.3 % began a General Surgery (GS) residency. When looking solely at the GS trainees, 71.4 % sought and matched into a traditional or 4/3 CTS residency. In total, 77.8 % of the cohort are currently pursuing careers in cardiothoracic surgery.The study identified a strong continued interest in the field of CT Surgery among those interviewed for integrated residency. The methodology used in this study provided an effective way to follow career choice of applicants interviewed and could be applied by additional programs to further elucidate career choice and levels of commitment.

The history, conceptualization, and implementation of the integrated six year cardiothoracic residency paradigm is discussed. Emphasis is placed of critcal logistical points, as well as the challenges associated with obtaining operative case requirements. Strategies for providing and monitoring didactic and technical skills education are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Thoracic Surgery Residents Association (TSRA) is a resident-led organization established in 1997 under the guidance of the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association to represent the interests and educational needs of cardiothoracic surgery residents. We aim to describe the past contributions, current efforts, and future directions of the TSRA within a conceptual framework of the TSRA mission. Primary review of educational resources was performed to report goals and content of past contributions. TSRA Executive Committee input was used to describe current resources and activities, as well as the future goals of the TSRA. Podcast analytics were performed to report national and global usage. Since 2011, the TSRA has published 3 review textbooks, 5 reference guides, 3 test-preparation textbooks, 1 supplementary publication, and 1 multiple-choice question bank and mobile application, all written and developed by cardiothoracic surgery trainees. In total 108 podcasts have been recorded by mentored trainees, with more than 175,000 unique listens. Most recently, the TSRA has begun facilitating trainee submissions to Young Surgeon's Notes, fostered a trainee mentorship program, developed the monthly TSRA Newsletter, and established a wide-reaching presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to help disseminate educational resources and opportunities for trainees. The TSRA continues to be the leading cardiothoracic surgery resident organization in North America, providing educational resources and networking opportunities for all trainees. Future directions include development of an integrated disease-based resource and continued collaboration within and beyond our specialty to enhance the educational opportunities and career development of cardiothoracic trainees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]