Even though an operation or a process has been around for a long time and may seem "normal," an innovative idea can change it all. In his Presidential Address at the 2016 STS Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, Mark S. Allen, MD described five common characteristics shared by innovators inside and outside of medicine and urged cardiothoracic surgeons to embrace innovation and ultimately make the specialty better for themselves and their patients.

Over the last several decades, deaths from noncommunicable diseases—including cardiovascular disease and lung and esophageal cancer—have increased in the developing world. In his Presidential Address at the 2015 STS Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, David A. Fullerton, MD outlined the problem, the Society’s efforts to fund charitable surgical missions in developing nations, and STS members who are making a difference.

Taking it to the limit is what cardiothoracic surgery has done for the past 50 years and what STS has done on behalf of the specialty for that same half century; however, some things that once made CT surgery successful may now be counterproductive. In his Presidential Address at the 2014 STS Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, Douglas E. Wood, MD challenged his colleagues in the male-dominated profession to welcome in more women and transition away from a masculine, autocratic leadership style.

Health care professionals tend to be traditional and conservative when it comes to practice, so incorporating new technologies and innovations into the hospital and the operating room can be a challenge. Four cardiothoracic surgery change drivers—Shanda H. Blackmon, MD, MPH, James D. Luketich, MD, T. Sloan Guy, MD, MBA, and Linda W. Martin, MD, MPH—provide advice on how to get buy-in from hospital administrators, as well as team members.

Two studies presented at the recent STS Annual Meeting showed that surgical therapy is superior to alternative treatment approaches for both esophageal cancer and coronary artery disease in younger patients. In light of these findings, Robbin G. Cohen, MD, MMM, Mark S. Allen, MD, Sebron W. Harrison, MD, and Alan M. Speir, MD discuss why patients refuse surgery, how they respond to patients who opt against surgery, and the obligations of surgeons in an age of patient autonomy.

On average, it takes 17 years before new innovation is disseminated into clinical practice. How can cardiothoracic surgery change that statistic and speed up the process? Juan A. Sanchez, MD moderates a discussion with Michael S. Kent, MD, Kevin W. Lobdell, MD, and W. Chance Conner, MD about why there is a gap, strategies for implementation, and quicker adoption by the end user (hospital, clinician, etc.).

The volumes of two aortic valve replacements (AVR) procedures have changed dramatically over the past few years, with more transcatheter procedures now being performed than open surgical procedures. Four cardiac surgeons discuss the evolving trends in TAVR, why the changes are occurring, and what’s ahead for TAVR and SAVR. Wilson Y. Szeto, MD moderates the discussion that also features Michael J. Mack, MD, John V. Conte, MD, and Thomas E. MacGillivray, MD.

Mentorship is an important component to success for many up-and-coming cardiothoracic surgeons. For established surgeons, being a good mentor is equally as important. Vinay Badhwar, MD moderates a discussion that includes Shanda H. Blackmon, MD, MPH, Melanie A. Edwards, MD, and David D. Odell, MD, MMSc talking about how mentorship is critical to the future of the specialty and what STS is doing to promote mentorship for early career surgeons.

Should patients remain active before, during, and after cardiac surgery? Some surgeons have opposing views. Thomas G. Gleason, MD, from the University of Pittsburgh, and Edward P. Chen, MD, from Emory University, discuss the role of exercise in the treatment and recovery process following surgery for various forms of heart disease, especially among active patients.

The STS National Database recently expanded to include a registry for clinical outcomes of patients who receive a mechanical circulatory support device to treat advanced heart failure. The STS Intermacs Database adds important longitudinal data to an already comprehensive, highly respected clinical outcomes database. David Shahian, Frank Pagani, and Robert Kormos discuss how Intermacs will complement the STS National Database and how the data can be used for research and performance improvement.