A new generation

Nabil Hussein

Chair of the EACTS Residents Committee

I’m humbled and privileged to be elected Chair of the EACTS Residents Committee. We have a fantastic opportunity to take the committee to new heights, championing the work of residents and inspiring the next generation.

I am passionate about education and training - and the Residents Committee provides an excellent platform to continue this passion. The committee is made up of an amazing group of people. Each member brings a different quality to the team, but we are all driven by the same goal to improve education and training for residents.

Committee goals

Across Europe there are significant variations in the fundamental structure and content of cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) training programmes. We want to see standardised training for residents across Europe, ensuring we all have access to the same high-quality training. Our recently published position paper sets out how we can achieve this vision, based on the experiences of current residents.

In addition to publishing more position papers, we also have exciting plans to develop a National Training Summit, bringing together representatives at a resident level from all European countries to discuss training needs and explore ways to work collaboratively.

Working for all residents

Being a resident can be daunting and challenging at times, but it is important to remember that we are not alone. The Residents Committee aims to bring residents together and ensure that our needs and concerns are addressed. We encourage residents to get in touch with ideas on how we can best support them.

I would also urge residents to get involved in the Academy programme’s Case Corner. These sessions are a fantastic opportunity to present at an international level and discuss a complex case with colleagues, future friends and experts. The EJCTS and ICVTS journals have also introduced the Residents Corner article type, which is a place for residents to publish their scientific work and articles related to education and training. We want to champion the great work residents do!

The committee is in a great position thanks to the great work delivered by my predecessor Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü. With the support of my fellow committee members, including our two newest committee members – Soi Avgeridou and Polina Danchenko – we look forward to driving the committee forward and delivering for residents across Europe and beyond.