Hosted by Thomas K. Varghese Jr., MD, MS, the “Beyond the Abstract” program explores the “whys” behind articles in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery and discusses next steps with authors and thought leaders. In the latest episode—which was recorded approximately 400 days into the COVID-19 global pandemic—Mara B. Antonoff, MD, joins Dr. Varghese to discuss how the pandemic has disrupted every aspect of personal and professional life, including the ability to recruit the best and brightest to the field of cardiothoracic surgery. During the last year, many departments, divisions, and programs have had to quickly transition and “robustly” implement novel techniques and technology as travel restrictions remained the norm. What best practices have emerged? Dr. Antonoff shares what the authors uncovered in a literature review and offers advice on how programs should embrace the opportunities to innovate and engage in the virtual domain. Read the related Annals article online: Showcasing Your Cardiothoracic Training Program in the Virtual Era.