Newswise — Medical specialists and Congress will unite at a briefing titled, "A Shortage of Heart and Lung Surgeons: A Crisis in Care" to confront a deadly national trend. The National Residency Match Program will announce their matches shortly and approximately one-third of the residency programs for cardiothoracic surgeons will go unfilled. Since 1995, the number of applicants has dropped 51 percent. Compounding the problem is survey research showing that 50 percent of cardiothoracic surgeons are planning to retire within 10 years, and more than 70 percent within 13 years. Cardiothoracic surgeons train a combined 12 years (medical school and residency training), resulting in an access crisis for the country's most seriously ill patients.
With 78 million Baby Boomers in the United States turning 60 this year, seniors will be forced to delay treatment for the top killers of this age group—heart disease and lung cancer—diseases that won't wait.
Hear from leading cardiothoracic surgeons and Congress on this problem and the solutions:
"¢ Douglas Mathisen, MD, Professor of Thoracic Surgery, Harvard Medical School and Head of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital
"¢ Blair Marshall, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery, Chief, Division of Thoracic Oncology, Georgetown University Hospital
"¢ Representative Charles Boustany, Jr., MD, (R-LA)
"¢ Sandeep Khandhar MD, cardiothoracic surgery resident at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
When: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at 10:30 a.m.Where: U.S. Capitol, Room HC-6
Please RSVP to Sandra Remey at (301) 929-3554 by Monday, June 19, to be included in the complimentary refreshments and to be added to the security list for admittance into the U.S. Capitol for this important event.
RSS