Meetings & Webinars

TSDA Program Coordinator Meeting — Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 3:00pm-5:00pm

St. Charles Ballroom, Hilton New Orleans Riverside (Two Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130)

Audience: Program Coordinators

Tentative Agenda:

  • Introduction of the committee to new coordinators
  • Goals, objectives, and progress for the year
  • Panel Discussion on certain scenarios
  • Breakout sessions to complete/teach SOPs for online access.

TSDA Congenital Cardiac Surgery Fellowship Committee
Room TBD, Hilton New Orleans Riverside (Two Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130)

Audience: Representation is considered mandatory for Congenital Program Directors

Tentative Agenda:

  • The Congenital Match and Subspeciality Educational Needs
  • Current issues in Congenital Cardiac Surgery education

TSDA General Session (Winter 2026) — Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 5:30pm-7:00pm

St. Charles Ballroom, Hilton New Orleans Riverside (Two Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130)

Audience: Mandatory for Program Directors, encouraged for APDs, Faculty, and PCs

Agenda


Welcome Stephen Yang, TSDA President

State of CT-Surgery Education Stephen Yang, TSDA President

ACGME Report Chris Fox, Executive Director, Review Committee for Thoracic Surgery
• Review Committee Update
• Question & Answer

TSDA In-Training Exam Cherie P. Erkmen, TSITE Chair

TECoG Report/Presentation Kirsten Freeman, TECoG Chair

TSDA Strategic Priorities David Tom Cooke, Immediate Past TSDA President

ACS Report David Tom Cooke, TSDA
• ACS-RAS Membership Representative to ACS

ABTS Report Stephen Yang, TSDA President
• I-6 Case Requirements David Tom Cooke, ABTS Director
• Feedback on Pulse360
• Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs)
• Question & Answer

STS Report TBD

Business Meeting Ahmet Kilic, Secretary/Treasurer
(only PDs or their designates may vote—one vote per institution)
• Updates
• Proposed Revised TSDA Bylaws
o Executive Committee Composition
o General Session Attendance
o Quorum
o Other Revisions
• 2026-2027 Self-Nomination Process
• Open Forum
o Skills Assessment
o Future Webinars (Faculty Development, Early Specialization, etc.)
Other Revisions

New Business Stephen Yang, TSDA President

Benson R. Wilcox Resident Award Stephen Yang, TSDA President

Adjourn Stephen Yang, TSDA President

Presentations and related information and reports will be posted on the General Session page of TSDA.org.

TSDA 50th Anniversary Celebration — Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 7:00pm-8:00pm

St. Charles Ballroom, Hilton New Orleans Riverside (Two Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130)

Audience: Program Directors, APDs, Faculty, PCs, former TSDA leaders

Agenda

Welcome & Remarks Stephen Yang, TSDA President

History of the TSDA Jeffrey Gold, Past TSDA President

Recognition of Past TSDA Leaders Stephen Yang, TSDA President

          Remembrance of Dr. John Benfield

Reception

TSDA Direct the Director Program
August 20-22, 2026
Chicago, IL
Audience: PDs, APDs, Faculty, and PCs (Registration will open in the spring)