This session contains the Welcome and Meeting Preview, hosted by Dr. Tom Nguyen and featuring interviews with Drs. Rodrigo Ribeiro de Souza and STS President Joe Dearani, followed by the Earl Bakken Scientific Award presentation. The Friday Highlights/Saturday Preview was hosted by Dr. Jenna Romano and featured an interview with Dr. Juan Crestanello, Chair of the STS Workforce on Annual Meeting, followed by the President's Award presentation. The Saturday Highlights/Sunday Preview was hosted by Dr. David Tom Cooke and featured an interview with Dr. Joe Bavaria, STS Past President and current President of The Thoracic Surgery Foundation, the Society's charitable arm, followed by the Wilcox Award presentation.

Unless otherwise noted, speakers have nothing to disclose. 

Presentations

1. Welcome and Meeting Preview - Tom Nguyen and Joseph Dearani
2. Friday Highlights & Saturday Preview - Jennifer Romano and Juan Crestanello
3. Saturday Highlights & Sunday Preview - David Cooke and Joseph Bavaria (Commercial Relationships: CytoSorbents: Research Grant; Edwards Lifesciences: Consultant/Advisory, Research Grant, Speaker/Honoraria; Medtronic: Research Grant, Speaker/Honoraria; St. Jude/Abbott: Consultant/Advisory Board, Research Grant, Speaker/Honoraria, DSMB Chairman; Terumo: Research Grant, Speaker/Honoraria; W.L. Gore: Consultant/Advisory Board, Research Grant, Speaker/Honoraria)
4. Meeting Wrap Up - Sean Grondin