In this episode, co-hosts Dr. Sara Pereira and Dr. Ian Bostock celebrate the 20th anniversary and impact of the STS Looking to the Future (LTTF) Scholarship Program by speaking with three rising stars pursuing careers in cardiothoracic surgery: Tyler Wilson, MD, a general surgery resident at the University of Chicago; Molly Shields, MD, a general surgery resident at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center; and Tyrone Hill, a medical student at Meharry Medical College.

Reflecting on their unique journeys into medicine, the LTTF scholars share how attending the STS Annual Meeting and participating in the scholarship program provided invaluable access to mentors, expanded their professional networks, and reinforced their confidence in pursuing a highly competitive specialty.

The guests share their perspectives on wellness, family planning, and maintaining outside interests like running, cooking, and camping. They emphasize that success in cardiothoracic surgery isn't a single path, but is built on resilience, community, and mentorship—illustrating how programs like Looking to the Future make the specialty more inclusive and supportive for aspiring surgeons.

Cohosts Dr. Sara Pereira and Dr. Fatima Wilder are joined by guest Dr. J.W. Awori Hayanga—professor of cardiothoracic surgery at West Virginia University, director of the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute ECMO Program, and a nationally recognized leader in transplantation, health policy, and artificial intelligence in medicine—for a wide-ranging conversation about mentorship, resilience, and purpose.

Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. Hayanga reflects on the profound influence of his lawyer parents, especially his mother, whose pioneering work in microfinance and women’s empowerment shaped his worldview and commitment to service. He shares the challenges of immigrating to the United States for medical training, navigating the uncertainty of visa status as an international medical graduate, and learning how relationships, mentorship, and persistence can open doors throughout a surgical career.

The conversation also explores the growing role of artificial intelligence and robotics in cardiothoracic surgery, along with candid insights on leadership, emotional intelligence, failure, and staying grounded through the demands of academic medicine.

In this episode of Same Surgeon, Different Light, cohosts Dr. Cherie Erkmen and Dr. Sara Pereira sit down with guest Dr. Ara Vaporciyan, professor of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, to explore a career dedicated to advancing surgical education and leadership.

Dr. Vaporciyan reflects on his path from an early fascination with heart transplantation to becoming a nationally recognized educator and institutional leader. He discusses the evolution of thoracic surgery, the demands of academic medicine, and his belief that expert surgeons must become “consciously competent” to effectively teach trainees.

Grounded in mentorship, negotiation, and “teaching to the gap,” he offers thoughtful insights on curriculum design, leadership, and preparing the next generation of surgeons.