TSDA Policies and Procedures

The policies and procedures manual is to outline specific recurring committee appointments, assignments and tasks that must be performed to ensure smooth function and communication of the TSDA on behalf of its members to the various organizations and groups it interacts with and/or represents.

Chairpersons and members of standing committees are appointed for terms of specific duration by the President. Any incoming President may, at the beginning of his/her Presidency, conclude the service of any Committee Chairperson or member after the first year of his/her term and appoint a new Committee Chairperson or Committee Member subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. The chairpersons of these committees will be appointed by the President. They will report the actions of their committees to the Executive Committee and the TSDA at regular meetings of these bodies. Committee members are appointed by the President on advice of the committee Chair and with input from the executive committee. Terms are for two years and are renewable. These committees will operate by guidelines established below.

The Standing Committees will be as follows:

1. Curriculum Development and Editorial Board – charged with ongoing development and refinement of the multiple curriculum projects of the TSDA. It is responsible for editorial and creative development and keeping the requisite and prerequisite curriculum current in compliance with the needs of the entire thoracic surgery specialty. It is composed of the leadership of the Prerequisite Curriculum Committee, and the Requisite Curriculum Committee. This committee shall also have a liaison representative of the ABTS and Thoracic Surgery RRC to maintain current regulatory knowledge and parallel curricular programs. It should include one of the three Councilors and an ex-officio member appointed by the Presidents of the TSRA and the TSDA Coordinators groups.
2. Professional Issues Committee – charged with maintaining the integrity of the TSDA standards, including the match progress, interview process, etc. Recommending actions to the executive committee and making initial recommendations to the Executive Committee regarding any resident or program related concerns directed to the TSDA. The committee shall serve as a liaison to the AATS/STS standard and ethics committee for purposes of joint management of potential individual and programmatic ethical concerns. It shall include one of the three Councilors and an ex-officio member appointed by the President of the TSRA and the TSDA Coordinators groups.
3. Program Resource Committee – Serves to provide support to new programs or programs that encounter difficulty with meeting RRC or ABTS requirements. In addition, to develop and distribute additional program aides such as program evaluation instruments or future MOC related documents. The committee shall also plan future plenary sessions and free standing meetings of the TSDA and propose specific meeting programs to the executive committee. It shall include one of the three Councilors and an ex-officio member appointed by the Presidents of the TSRA and the TSDA Coordinators groups.
4. Evaluations, Outcomes and Technology Committee – serves to refine our web based outcomes tools, new technology, our interactions with CTSnet, the development of the Education Universe and the Resident Dashboard as well as any competency tracking systems that are developed.
5. Ad Hoc Committees. Ad Hoc committees may be established from time to time by the President or the Executive Committee, to accomplish specific and limited goals.

It is expected that all candidates for thoracic surgery residency will participate in the Match. Registration information is sent to Program Directors in the Fall, early in October and the closing date for enrollment of Programs in the Match is in February (see schedule of the Match - next page). Residents may enroll in the Match before the closing date for registration each year either by calling the NRMP - Thoracic Surgery Specialty Match Office at (202) 828-0676 or writing to the NRMP office at 2501 M Street, NW, Suite 1, Washington, DC 20037-1037. Interviews occur in the spring of the year before the start of residency. A Universal Thoracic Surgery Electronic Residency Application System has been developed and endorsed by the TSDA. Applicants and Program Directors are informed each year of the date by which they must submit their Rank Order Lists. Program Directors receive the results of the Match via Federal Express approximately one month later. Applicants receive the results of the Match by First Class Mail.

The matching plan algorithm penalizes neither resident nor program for ranking choices at a level that exceeds their expectation; applicants and programs each match with their highest choice they make provided that choice wants them. Resident selection should take into consideration the fact that the ABTS requires prior ABS qualified residency, prior to certifying candidates in thoracic surgery.

Committee appointments –
The President of the TSDA with input from the executive committee shall make recommendations to the other organizations for which we provide representation. Individual requirements and timelines for each groups appointment are outlined as follows:

• ABTS – provide a slate as requested when a TSDA appointed ABTS officers term is to expire as per their interests and directions
• American College of Surgeons Advisory Council on Cardiothoracic Surgery –
• Council of Academic Specialties -
• Coordinating Committee on the Continuing Education of Thoracic Surgery -
• Joint Council on Thoracic Education – President and Past-President are TSDA reps
• Residency Review Committee – no current TSDA representation
• Council of Medical Specialty Societies – President of TSDA to attend this during their tenure

• Arrange for reasonable size room for TSDA general session with good acoustics, podium of adequate size, snacks, sodas, coffee 3-4 months in advance of meeting – contact is STS or AATS support team
• Arrange for TSDA exec comm. meeting room (approximately 12-16 persons), similar time frame
• Arrange for TSRA exec meeting room, (approx 12 persons) similar issues
• Arrange for TSRCA meeting room (20-30 persons) at STS meeting, need to check with President to ensure adequate program and support
• Financials need to review quarterly or more with TSDA exec director
• Must have financial picture from TSDA exec director one month in advance of major meetings
• Maintain contact list – send test email no less than every quarter to keep updated
• Arrange rooms for committee meetings to occur at AATS and STS meetings annually
• Ensure committee members are kept up to date on website
• Develop system to update website
• Work with TSRA to ensure faculty awards are decided on and awards are procured, letters to awardees well in advance of meeting to ensure their attendance or a proxy
• Communication to our benefactors, and ensure recognition at annual meetings and exec committee