JATS’ role in a new era

Abstract

We face a vital turning point in the basic organization of thoracic surgery having a long history of very cooperative relations among three core subgroups—cardiac, general thoracic, and esophageal surgery. The time has come for timely, drastic changes in our mission as a medical professional organization to cope with increasing burdens of quality control and risk management in our practice and in ongoing education including the establishment of reliable residency programs. Because of strong public demands to open up academic data related to quality assessment of institutions and for thoracic surgery specialists, we must make decisions on these issues by exchanging opinions and ideas among members and the Board to decide how to reorganize and restart efforts in a new era. In doing so, we welcome medical graduates and young surgeons to thoracic surgery fields by changing social and medical circumstances surrounding them and our medical profession. As the Director of the Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery Board, I look forward to the cooperation of all members to make a breakthrough and open an exciting new era for thoracic surgery and surgeons.