Board News
ABTS held a successful Fall Board Meeting and congratulates newly elected Board Directors:
Pictured left to right
J. Michael DiMaio, MD
Baylor Scott and White The Heart Hospital
Charles Fraser, Jr., MD
Dell Medical School - University of Texas at Austin / Dell Children's Medical Center
James O’Brien, MD
Children’s Mercy Kansas City
Click here to view a complete list of ABTS Directors.
Continuing Certification 5-Year Milestone Application Extension
The Board has extended the deadline to submit a completed application to October 15, 2025.
The Continuing Certification Exam (CCE) opened on September 30, 2025, and must be completed and submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on December 1, 2025.
Please note:
- Applications submitted between September 20 – October 15 will require approval before the exam can be started.
- No extensions will be granted to complete the exam. The CCE must be submitted by December 1, 2025.
ABTS Rolls Out New Programs
In keeping with the ABTS Mission Statement, the Board has invested in the specialty as a way to ensure high standards for professionalism, lifelong learning, and certification. Click here to read more about new programs the Board recently launched.
ABTS Written Exams
ABTS is pleased to announce that format of the Part I (Written) Qualifying Exam, the Congenital Subspecialty Certification Part I (Written) Exam, the Continuing Certification Written Exam, and the Congenital Subspecialty Continuing Certification Written Exam has been updated in an effort to improve content coverage and validity, and reduce cognitive load. Beginning in 2025, ABTS’s written exams will include multiple choice questions with three answer options, down from four answer options in previous written exams. ABTS written exams will continue to assess a surgeon’s knowledge of clinical knowledge and surgical skills, and evaluate their competency to ensure they meet standards for safe and effective patient care.
Clinical competence in thoracic surgery requires factual knowledge and technical skills in the preoperative evaluation, operative management, and postoperative care of patients, including critical care, with pathologic conditions involving thoracic structures. Precise definition of the scope of thoracic surgery as well as the current methods used to assess education, knowledge and experience have been developed to ensure that an individual who is certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery has met certain standards and qualifications.
Professionalism and Code of Conduct Policy
ABTS approved a new Professionalism and Code of Conduct Policy. ABTS certification requires that the diplomate must respect and adhere to a professionalism code that reflects the ABTS mission to serve the public.
Policy Change for Renewing a Lapsed or Expired Certificate
Starting on January 1, 2026, Diplomates whose certification lapsed or expired and who seek to regain Board certification will be required to fulfill the list of requirements found here.
Continuing Certification Process: CME Credit Now Available
ABTS is pleased to announce that Diplomates who successfully complete the Continuing Certification (CC) process will be awarded 60 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM at the conclusion of their Continuing Certification cycle. Diplomates do not have to individually apply for the credit, and ABTS will cover the expense of electronic CME certificates. Upon successful completion of the CC process, Diplomates will be sent an email to the preferred email on file with the ABTS with a link to download their CME certificate from the AMA Ed Hub. Visit the ABTS Web Portal to confirm your contact information is up to date. This new opportunity is available only to Diplomates who successfully earned a non time-limited certificate and successfully completed the 5-Year Milestone. Click here to learn more about Continuing Certification.
ABTS PULSE 360 Program
ABTS will initiate a new program aimed at supporting professionalism and communication skills in the specialty. As a requirement for application to the Board for certification in the specialty, ABTS will require that residents scheduled to complete their training between June and August 2026 receive feedback from a formal 360 degree review via the PULSE 360 Survey System. Two surveys will be launched, one in March 2025 and a second, follow up survey in Fall 2025. The cost of the program will be underwritten by ABTS. This mandatory activity is widely used across the Harvard-affiliated hospitals and other academic medical centers and will provide a valuable tool for the trainee to receive feedback on their strengths and any opportunities for improvement on their professionalism and communication style. Their participation satisfies ACGME’s professionalism competency requirement.
Each Program Director automatically will receive a copy of their residents’ PULSE 360 Reports, and a PULSE Coach will schedule a debriefing (which you may attend if you wish) with the resident.
To support Program Directors, Program Coordinators, and Residents in this new requirement, ABTS hosted a series of webinars led by Dr. Thor Sundt and Dr. Cameron Wright, both of whom have experience in using this tool. Dr. Larry Harmon from the PULSE 360 team also participated. The webinars were recorded and may be found below.
View the Program Directors & Program Coordinators Orientation
View the Residents Orientation
Click here for a summary of the PULSE 360 Program.
Click here to download a Q&A document which will provide additional information about the PULSE 360 Program.
On January 23, ABTS presented details of the program at the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association General Session. View the presentation slides.