Thoracic Surgery
Contacts
Residency Program Director and Specialty Interest Group Faculty Advisor
Specialty Interest Group Email
Specialty Overview
Thoracic surgery encompasses the operative, perioperative, and surgical critical care of patients with acquired and congenital pathologic conditions within the chest. Thoracic surgeons treat diseased or injured organs in the chest, including the esophagus (muscular tube that passes food to the stomach), trachea (windpipe), pleura (membranes that cover and protect the lung), mediastinum (area separating the left and right lungs that contains the heart), chest wall, diaphragm (separates the chest from the abdomen), pericardium (membrane covering the heart), heart (including the pericardium, coronary arteries, valves and myocardium) and lungs. The most common diseases requiring thoracic surgery include heart lesions, such as coronary artery disease and valve problems, lung cancer, chest trauma, esophageal cancer, emphysema, and heart and lung transplantation.
Thoracic Surgery/Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery | Careers in Medicine (AAMC CiM log in required)
How long is this specialty's residency?
There are three primary pathways:
Traditional — Five years of general surgery plus two to three years of cardiothoracic surgery (one spot is offered each year at IU)
Integrated — Six years of cardiothoracic surgery (one spot is offered each year at IU)
Fast-Track — four years of general surgery plus three years of cardiothoracic surgery, all at one institution (not available at IU)
Websites for Reference
TSRA – Thoracic Surgery Residents Association
Homepage | The American Association for Thoracic Surgery | AATS
Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Network
Away Electives
Away Electives
Required
How many aways should I do?
2-3
Order of Away vs Home
Whatever order student chooses.
Programs where ISMMS students have completed away electives.
MA
Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
1
MI
University of Michigan Medical School
1
NY
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physician and Surgeons
2
NY
New York University
1
NY
NYU Long Island School of Medicine
1
Match Statistics
Information provided by 2025 TexasSTAR Dashboard
Average USMLE Step 2 CK Score
256
Average Number of Research Experiences
6.15
Average Number of Publications Published
6.73
Average Number of Presentations
8.85
Competitiveness
Source: 2025 Match Advanced Data Tables and 2025 ERAS Data
In the 2025 Match there were 54 positions in 40 programs, 92.6% of positions were filled by U.S. MD Seniors.
Application Information
Application System
ERAS
Match System
NRMP
Signaling
Source: ERAS Signaling and 2025 ERAS Data
How Many?
1-2
Signal Home Program?
No
Signal Away Program?
No
Average Number of Applications Submitted
26.41
Letters of Recommendation
Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE)?
Ask program
Departmental/Chair Letter?
Yes
Who should other letters come from?
CT surgery is a small field, most letters should come from faculty in the specialty.
Interviewing and Post Interview Communication
Applications are downloaded by programs...
On the first date they are available- students should submit everything prior to that date
This specialty’s MSH program interviews all ISMMS students who apply.
unknown
Interviews are sent out...
October 21, 2025
Thank You Emails
You can if you’d like, it's a nice thing to do but will not make or break your chances. Thank you note policy varies from program to program - if they explicitly ask that Thank You notes not be sent, do not send a thank you note. Otherwise, a thank you note is helpful.
Letters of Intent
Yes, letters of intent are helpful to programs and applicants but make sure you're only sending to one program if you are telling them they are #1 on your rank list. Consult with an advisor before sending.
ISMMS Match Data 2020-2025
Brigham & Womens Hosp-MA
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
ISMMS Mount Sinai Hospital-NY
1
0
0
2
1
0
4
NYU Grossman School Of Medicine-NY
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
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