Location

Please check the individual session for location or broadcast availability.  

Frequency

Quarterly

Series Director

Alexander Schutz, MD

Target Audience

Needs Statement

Trainees and faculty require a curriculum that blends guideline-based instruction with hands-on learning and self-directed study. Evidence supports that self-study and presentation programs significantly enhance in-service exam scores compared to passive lecture formats. Independent reading and faculty-guided discussions are more effective than cardiac-specific didactic sessions alone. Learners also need exposure to real-world case reviews to reinforce procedural knowledge and decision-making. The journal club curriculum is designed to address these needs by engaging trainees in realistic patient scenarios, requiring them to apply seminal literature to clinical decision-making, and fostering skills in critical appraisal and evidence-based practice. The format encourages preparation, active participation, and accountability, with structured feedback and objective assessment of knowledge acquisition and retention. The series incorporates milestone tracking and exam preparation strategies, including review of exam questions and guideline updates, to meet both educational and clinical competency goals.

Educational Methods

Educational methods will include literature review.

Objectives

At the conclusion of the sessions, the participants should be able to:

• Improve performance on the Thoracic Surgery In-Training Examination (TSITE) and other standardized assessments by strengthening foundational knowledge and test-taking skills through structured review sessions, discussions, and milestone tracking.
• Identify, critically appraise, and integrate the latest clinical guidelines and literature to inform decision-making and improve patient care in cardiothoracic surgery.
• Evaluate the benefits, limitations, and complications of various cardiothoracic procedures by engaging in case-based and collaborative discussions.

Evaluation

Participants may be asked to complete a session evaluation.

Accreditation/Credit Designation

Baylor College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Baylor College of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Series Coordinator