Los Angeles — The Society of Thoracic Surgeons presented its Distinguished Service Award to Michael J. Mack, MD and posthumously to Carolyn E. Reed, MD during its Business Meeting on Monday evening at the STS 49th Annual Meeting.

Established in 1969, the Distinguished Service Award recognizes those who have made significant and far-reaching contributions to the Society and the specialty.

Michael J. Mack, MDDr. Mack is currently the Medical Director of Cardiovascular Surgery for the Baylor Health Care System and Chairman of The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano Research Center. He served as STS President from 2011 to 2012 and has a long history of volunteer leadership within the organization. In the past year, Dr. Mack has served on the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Nominating Committee, Workforce on Media Relations and Communications, and as an Editorial Board Member for The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. Additionally, he is Chair of the STS/ACC Transcatheter Valve Therapy (TVT) Registry Steering Committee.

Dr. Mack graduated from Boston College with degrees in philosophy and biology. He received his medical degree from St. Louis University, earned his board certification in internal medicine at the University of Minnesota, and continued his surgical training at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas.

“Dr. Mack was chosen to receive the Distinguished Service Award for his endless contributions to The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, particularly regarding innovative technology, the reengineering of our workforce to include catheter-based skills, and his boundless energy for leadership,” said 2012–2013 STS President Jeffrey B. Rich, MD. “Mike’s involvement in bringing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to our specialty and the creation of the STS/ACC TVT Registry has proven to be enormously beneficial to STS. His leadership with regard to collaboration with the American College of Cardiology and FDA/CMS has positioned STS for incredible future opportunities.”

Carolyn E. Reed, MDPrior to her death in November 2012, Dr. Reed held several positions at the Medical University of South Carolina, including Professor of Surgery; Alice Ruth Reeves Folk Endowed Chair of Clinical Oncology; Chief, Section of General Thoracic Surgery; and Deputy Director of Clinical Affairs at the Hollings Cancer Center, where the Carolyn E. Reed Pavilion was dedicated during a memorial service earlier this month.

Dr. Reed received her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine in 1977, where she was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, and completed her surgical residency at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. After a surgical oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, she returned to New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center to complete a cardiothoracic surgery residency.

In addition to serving as STS Treasurer from 2007 to 2012, Dr. Reed was Chair of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery from 2005 to 2007 and President of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association from 2006 to 2007—the first woman to hold both of those positions. She also served on the editorial board of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery from 1996 to 2005.

“Dr. Reed’s vision for women in cardiothoracic surgery changed the face of our specialty. She also donated countless hours serving STS, particularly as our Treasurer. She was an incredibly dedicated individual, both as a leader within the Society and as a teacher within her own institution. All of these qualities made her a clear choice to receive the Distinguished Service Award,” Dr. Rich said.

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Founded in 1964, STS is a not-for-profit organization representing more than 6,600 cardiothoracic surgeons, researchers, and allied health professionals worldwide who are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lung, and esophagus, as well as other surgical procedures within the chest. The Society’s mission is to enhance the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest quality care through education, research and advocacy.

The STS Annual Meeting is one of the largest cardiothoracic surgery meetings in the world. The 2012 STS Annual Meeting attracted 4,700 registrants, including 2,300 cardiothoracic surgery professionals.

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