Purpose (Desired Learning Outcome) 

At the end of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Identify the latest techniques and current research specifically related to adult cardiac surgery, structural heart disease, congenital heart disease, thoracic surgery, and perioperative care;
• Select appropriate surgical procedures and other interventions for their own patients based upon results presented;
• Incorporate the basic science developments and emerging technologies and techniques across the spectrum of cardiothoracic surgery;
• Communicate current practice management necessary for the effective and safe delivery of patient care;
• Translate expanded knowledge into practice for the improvement of patient outcomes and satisfaction.

ACCME Accreditation Statement

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AMA Credit Designation Statement 

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 30.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Maintenance of Certification 

Successful completion of this CME activity enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME requirement of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

Successful completion of this CME activity enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME requirements of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery’s Continuing Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABTS credit.

**American Board of Surgery (ABS) Update**
In February 2023, The American Board of Surgery (ABS) announced that, as of July 1, 2023, all CME will be automatically transferred to the ABS through the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME®) PARS system. This is part of their ongoing commitment to reduce the administrative burden on diplomates and enhance the value of the ABS Continuous Certification Program. As part of this improvement, the manual reporting feature (the ability to individually input CME information) in the ABS portal will no longer be necessary and is now retired. Another change in process is the AATS must report the CME you claim for activities within 30 days.

**American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) Update**
The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and the ABTS are pleased to announce its collaboration to streamline physicians CME reporting requirements for Continuing Certification. Starting in November 2023, all accredited CME providers in the ACCME system are welcome to register CME activities that meet ABTS Continuing Certification requirements and to submit learner completion data in the Program and Activity Reporting System (PARS). Physicians can now browse activities registered for ABTS Continuing Certification credit in the CME Passport, an online CME search tool. The ABTS joins nine other ABMS member boards who have transition to PARS for Continuing Certification. This collaboration should minimize the amount of time Diplomates spend on CME record-keeping for Continuing Certification.

Disclosure of Commercial Support

The AATS received commercial support from:

• Abbott
• Johnson & Johnson MedTech
• Merck & Co., Inc.
• W.L. Gore & Associates