Feedback

Pathways to a Career in Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Maureen A. McKiernan, MD, Subhadra Shashidharan, MD, Paul J. Chai, MD, Joshua M. Rosenblum, MD

Key Points

  • The pathway to certification in congenital cardiac surgery (CCS) is now standardized, following the creation of an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) two-year fellowship and American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) subspecialty certification.
  • To be eligible for a CCS fellowship, one must be certified in thoracic surgery via one of the formal ABTS training pathways.
  • This chapter provides a summary of available pathways, but all formal up-to-date training and board certification requirements should be referenced on the ABTS website and official rules booklet.[1]
  • Regardless of which specific pathway, the training for congenital cardiac surgeons is long and challenging, including additional exams and operative requirements.
  • Overall, individuals who can progress beyond the early years in practice experience high levels of career satisfaction. However, ensuring adequate mentorship of junior faculty within a competitive job market remains an area of focus among those in the field.

There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.

Last updated: December 30, 2025