Purpose (Desired Learning Outcome) 

• Competence: This CME activity will improve learners' ability to critically analyze evidence, integrate it into scholarly manuscripts, and reflect on their clinical practices through the process of scientific publication.
• Performance: Learners will be more likely to apply evidence-based principles and quality improvement findings in their clinical work because of the knowledge gained during research and manuscript development.
• Patient Outcomes: By translating clinical observations into peer-reviewed literature, learners support broader improvements in surgical decision-making and patient care protocols across the specialty.

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 enduring material for a maximum of 3.0 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

None