Social Disparities in Thoracic Surgery Education

Despite an ever-diversifying US population, women, and underrepresented minorities lack proportionate membership in the CT surgery workforce. CT surgery is the surgical specialty practiced by the oldest surgeons as a group. This highlights a deficit within our specialty and foreshadows a shrinking of the CT surgery workforce that will be compounded by a lack of diversity as the workforce ages. If CT surgery is to continue to advance forward and attract the brightest, most skilled, and innovative people, we must invite, encourage, and guide qualified individuals from all races, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, and experiences to join us.