Education and Professional Development OPPORTUNITY
Resident Research Competition
Established in 1992, the MSTCVS Resident Research Competition provides a platform for surgical trainees to present research in adult cardiac surgery, general thoracic surgery, education, and critical care.
Now supported by the Midland-MSTCVS Educational and Quality Fund created through a generous donation made in 2017 by John and Sandy Bartos of Midland, Michigan, this program covers lodging, registration, and travel expenses for up to four residents selected annually through a national call for abstracts. The fund also helps pay for the expenses of the annual meeting of the society.
Finalists present their work during a dedicated session at the MSTCVS Annual Meeting, engaging directly with surgeons from Michigan and across North America. This session remains a highlight of the conference, offering attendees insight into innovative research and giving residents a unique opportunity to network with state, national, and international leaders in the field.
Medical students interested in the field of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery are also invivited to submit poster presentations and attend the annual meeting at no cost. This expansion further strengthens the pipeline of talent entering cardiothoracic surgery in Michigan.
The program is overseen by an MSTCVS Educational Committee, chaired by Dr. Raed AlNajjar.
Important Information
Submission Deadline
04/08/2026
Contact information
Raed AlNajjar, MD
MSTCVS Education & Quality Committee Chairperson
raednajjar@yahoo.com
Submission Criteria
The MSTCVS Abstract Competition is now open, and cardiothoracic trainees are warmly invited to submit their research for consideration at the 2026 Michigan Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (MSTCVS) Annual Meeting, taking place August 13–16, 2026, at the Westin Book Cadillac Detroit.
This competition reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting trainee scholarship and highlighting exceptional thoracic and cardiovascular research. Through the support of the MSTCVS–Midland Educational and Quality Fund, we will award 3–4 scholarships to selected trainees to cover meeting registration, travel, and lodging.
Our goal is to showcase outstanding research at the MSTCVS Annual Meeting and to attract talented future cardiothoracic surgeons to practice in Michigan. Prior presentation at a national meeting within the past six months is permitted, and we especially welcome work that is currently unpublished.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Trainees currently enrolled in an ACGME-accredited cardiothoracic training program (Fellowship, 4/3, or I-6), or those who have matched into a CT training program anywhere in the U.S.
- Trainees in the State of Michigan (CT, General Surgery, or Vascular Surgery) who are conducting cardiothoracic-related research, working with a CT mentor, and planning a career in CT surgery.
Application Requirements (due by Wednesday, April 8, 2026):
Please submit the following materials via email to Raed AlNajjar, MD:
- Name
- Current institution
- CT mentor/senior author
- CT training pathway, training institution (if different), and expected completion date
- Prior presentation of this work (if applicable)
- Submission for publication (if applicable, but not yet published)
- Abstract (maximum 350 words) submitted as a separate PDF or Word document
Annual Resident Competition
Midland residents John and Sandy Bartos donated a substantial amount of money to support the Michigan Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons’ (MSTCVS) efforts to bring the country’s best and brightest cardiothoracic residents and medical students to present their research at our annual meeting.
The residents’ presentation session has always been an important part of our yearly meeting. The session represents an opportunity to bring inspired research to our members by talented, young trainees who represent the future of our specialty. The fund is now also used as a way to attract medical students to our meeting through poster presentations of their research.
With this donation, the Midland-MSTCVS Educational and Quality Fund was created to pay for up to four surgical trainees to present their research in adult cardiac surgery, general thoracic surgery, education and critical care. Lodging registration, and travel expenses, are provided to each resident to honor their work. The same is true with the medical students chosen to present their work. Additionally, these young investigators are given the opportunity to present their research to state, national, and international surgeons with whom they might interact during the course of the meeting. It represents a unique opportunity for these young aspiring professionals.
An educational committee was formed from existing members, including Drs. Rishi Reddy, Tomaz Timek, Alan Silbergleit, Richard Prager, and Robert Jones, with Dr. Reddy serving as the first chairman of the committee. The mission of the committee is to offer the best in surgical research to our members and attendees and to attract new surgical talent to work in the state of Michigan. In addition, it is our hope that through the resident and medical student engagement, more talented individuals will enter our specialty.
In late Winter, a request for abstracts is made to all of the cardiac and thoracic surgery programs in the US and Canada, and by late Spring 3-4 are chosen. Since the creation of the fund, the MSTCVS has been able to support some of the best and brightest general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery trainees from across North America.
Finally, the fund is structured in a way which allows donors to make charitable contributions which may also be used for quality initiatives deemed necessary by the MSTCVS. The Fund therefore holds much promise for the MSTCVS, and it will hopefully grow to become something even greater than its originally intended use.
RECENT COMPETITION WINNERS
2025 Resident Abstract Presenters
The MSTCVS Research Resident Competition highlights the next generation of leaders in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery by recognizing outstanding resident research.
Winners of the competition are invited to attend the MSTCVS Annual Meeting as our guests, where they have the unique opportunity to present their abstract to our membership and engage directly with established surgeons and educators. This program reflects our commitment to academic excellence, mentorship, and fostering innovation within our specialty.
Jenny Bui, MD
Henry Ford Health System, MI
CoC-Compliant (3+1) Lymph Node Sampling Yields Similar Upstaging Rates in Segmentectomies and Wedge Resections
Adam Chalek, MD
Montefiore Health System, Mount Vernon, NY
Predicting ECMO Success – An Analysis of Predictors of Survival to Hospital Discharge
Gardner Yost, MD
University of Michigan
Biomechanical Analysis of a Novel Sternal Closure Device
Past Winners
2024
Antonela Muca, MD
University of Michigan
Syed Sikandar Raza, MD
University of Michigan
Aakash Shah, MD
University of Maryland
2023
Haneen Aqleh, MD
Henry Ford Health System, MI
Chi Chi Do-Nguyen, DO
University of Michigan
Aakash Shah, MD
University of Maryland
Melanie Subramanian, MD, MPHS
Washington University SOM
2022
Sarah Khalil, MD
Western Michigan, Stryker SOM
Jarred R. Mondonedo, MD, PhD
University of Michigan
Felix Orelaru, MD
Trinity Health St. Joseph Mercy, Ann Arbor, MI
Raymond J. Strobel, MD, MSc
University of Virginia
2021
Austin Airhart, MD
University of Michigan
Karishma Kodia, MD
University of Miami
Michael Pienta, MD
University of Michigan
Holliann Willekes, JS
Michigan State University, Grand Rapids Campus
2020
Linda Jin, MD
Washington University
Pouya Hemmati, MD
Mayo Clinic
Ruchi Thanawala, MD, MS
University of Iowa
Aaron Williams, MD
Duke University Medical Center
2019
Chase Brown, MD
University of Pennsylvania
Rhami Khorfan, MD, MS
Northwestern University
Derrick Tam, MD
University of Toronto
Tessa Watt, MD
University of Michigan
2018
Alex Brescia, MD
University of Michigan
Mehradad Ghoreiski, MD
University of Maryland
Matthew C. Henn, MD
Washington University
Kimberly Ann Holst, MD
Mayo Clinic