The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Thoracic Surgery Practice and Access Task Force-2019 Workforce Report

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) has intermittently surveyed its workforce, providing isolated accounts of the current state of thoracic surgical practice.

The 70-question survey instrument was received by 3834 STS surgeon members, and responses were gathered between September 16 and November 1, 2019. The return rate was 27.9%.

The median age of the active United States (US) thoracic surgeons is 56 years. Women comprise 8.4% of the responders, constituting 6.2% of adult cardiac, 10.6% of congenital heart, and 12.6% of general thoracic surgeons. Most practicing US surgeons (83.5%) graduated from medical school in the US. Survey respondents had 7 (21.8%), 8 (25.0%), 9 (22.1%) or 10 (29.2%) or more years of post-MD training before entering practice. Educational debt was increased compared with previous years, as were salaries. Overall career satisfaction was 54.1% (very or extremely satisfied), and overall average hours per week worked decreased compared with past surveys. However, 55.7% of surgeons had symptoms of burnout and depression. STS Database participation was high (90.5%), with the most common reason for not participating being cost (32.6%). Operative volume over the past 12 months decreased for 23.7% of surgeons. Of those who responded, 46.9% plan to retire between the age of 66 and 69 years and a further 25.6% at age 70 or older.

These data provide a current, detailed profile of the specialty. Ongoing challenges remain length of training and educational debt. Case volumes, scope of practice, and career satisfaction have remained relatively constant: however, symptoms of burnout or depression or both, are common.