This year, the CSCS joined forces with the Canadian Society of Clinical Perfusion and the Western Canadian Cardiac Anesthesia Society to host Beyond Boundaries: A Cardiac Convergence of Surgeons, Anesthesia and Perfusion. It was held from May 23-25, 2025 in Calgary, Alberta and was attended by over 160 people from all disciplines.  It was truly a unique program, with each session highlighting experts from cardiac surgery, cardiac anesthesia and clinical perfusion. The result was a testament to the collaboration that the three specialties demonstrate on a daily basis and one that I will always be proud of. Of course, the Spring Meeting would not be complete without our 3rd Annual Women in Cardiac Surgery Dinner with special guest speaker Dr. Patricia Houston from the University of Toronto, the highly successful annual job fair organized by outgoing workforce committee chair Dr. Saurabh Gupta and our trainee representative Dr. Kenza Rahmouni, and the first ever Shark Tank competition which gave us a chance to showcase innovation and our incredible relationship with our industry partners. Thank you to everyone who attended and to our industry sponsors for their support.

The 10th annual CSCS PGY-1 bootcamp was hosted in Halifax through Dalhousie University division of cardiac surgery July 26-29, 2024. Fourteen PGY-1 cardiac surgery residents from all the training programs attended. The event was supported by 14 industry sponsorships with Edwards being the Platinum and Medtronic the Gold sponsors. Ms. Lindsay Anderson (Bootcamp coordinator in Halifax) and CCS staff created the first online platform for the course attendees and faculty. Five co-directors planned and executed the Bootcamp.

By popular demand in the past, this was the first year extending the Bootcamp from 3 to 4 days. Despite long days (8 AM - 6 PM program daily), this year’s feedback already had residents ask for it to be extended to 5 days! Highlights included the first full day of cadaver dissections and operating, half day of high fidelity CVICU simulation, 2 full days of didactics, virtual coronary anastomosis course completion, multiple guest speakers including a local PGY-6 female resident addressing attendees about how to balance life in cardiac surgery residency. The 3 cadavers could only offer so many surgical skills, and residents had to earn fake American dollars during the Thursday social evening, after which the inaugural Cardiac Surgery PGY-1 surgical skills auction provided faculty with much entertainment. Dr. Brandon L won the info scavenger hunt (CCC 2024 registration fee sponsored by CCS) visiting sponsors’ booths and getting all the questions correct.

The CSCS Achievement Award was created in 2023 to recognize a member who has made significant contributions to the academic, research, or clinical scopes of cardiac surgery. We are pleased to announce this years' recipient, Dr. François Dagenais.

François Dagenais, MD, FRCSC

Dr. Francois Dagenais is a graduate from University of Montreal and Stanford University. He started his career at Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et Pneumologie de Quebec in 2000. Dr. Dagenais' career is a testament to his unwavering dedication to advancing cardiac surgery. He has held several prominent leadership roles, including, Chief of Cardiac Surgery at the IUCPQ from 2012 to 2020, Head of the Division of Cardiac Surgery at Laval University since 2012, and Head of Thoracic Aortic Surgery at IUCPQ since 2001.

He has concentrated his clinical work in the field of aortic surgery; innovating in stent-grafting and complex repair of the thoracic aorta. His other clinical expertise are in mitral surgery and emerging percutaneous platforms. His research interests are in aortic surgery with over 250 peer review publications.

Please join us at our AGM to honor Dr. Dagenais. 

This year, the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress (CCC) will be held in Vancouver, BC, and the CSCS is very excited to be a part of the amazing program that is being put together. In the coming days, we will be highlighting the numerous sessions and the amazing speakers that have agreed to come and be a part of the event, but suffice it to say, our program chair, Dr. Subodh Verma, could not be any more excited. Of note, on Friday, October 25, 2024, we will be hosting CSCS President’s Dinner at the lavish Levantine Restaurant and Skybar, so when registering for the CCC, please make sure to register for the dinner as well as it is sure to be a can’t miss event!

Please plan to join us for the CSCS Annual General Meeting (AGM) taking place at CCC 2024. This meeting will highlight the activities and accomplishments of the CSCS and its members and honor the CSCS Achievement Award recipient.

CSCS AGM

Friday October 25, 2024

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM PT 

Vancouver Convention Centre

We welcome your voice and participation. Meeting material will follow.