In a milestone announcement at the 2026 Annual Meeting held in New Orleans, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) elected Vinay Badhwar, MD, as its 62nd President. This prestigious appointment places Dr. Badhwar at the helm of one of the most influential organizations in cardiothoracic surgery, guiding its more than 8,000 members through a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape dominated by technological advancements and data-driven methodologies. His leadership is set to steer the society with a clear vision rooted in technical excellence, scientific evidence, and impactful patient outcomes worldwide.
Dr. Badhwar’s credentials are formidable, reflecting more than two decades of comprehensive clinical, research, and administrative expertise. His role as Executive Chair of the West Virginia University (WVU) Heart and Vascular Institute and his stewardship as Professor and Chair of the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at WVU underscore his depth in surgical innovation and organizational leadership. His presidency signals a commitment to integrating cutting-edge surgical techniques with multidisciplinary collaboration, harmonizing clinical excellence with emergent scientific discoveries.
The framework guiding Dr. Badhwar’s presidency revolves around three fundamental pillars—Excellence, Evidence, and Impact—each extending beyond mere ideals to encapsulate the core identity and mission of cardiothoracic surgery. “Excellence” spotlights the unyielding demand for technical mastery in the operating room, emphasizing reproducible outcomes that prioritize patient safety and efficacy. Dr. Badhwar envisions a standard where complex and minimally invasive procedures reach unprecedented levels of precision through augmented training and technological incorporation.
Simultaneously, “Evidence” underscores the indispensability of rigorous data acquisition, advanced analytics, and innovative research methodologies to enhance clinical decision-making. STS, under his guidance, aims to propel the use of its comprehensive National Database by advancing machine learning applications and real-world evidence to validate emerging surgical techniques and devices. This integration of empirical science will form the backbone of therapeutic innovation and healthcare policy advancements.
“Impact,” the third pillar, reflects a holistic approach to measurable outcomes extending beyond survival rates to encompass quality of life, functional recovery, and long-term benefits for patients and families. Dr. Badhwar stresses that impact must also be gauged within the broader healthcare system by analyzing cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and interdisciplinary cooperation. His leadership philosophy calls for surgeons to assume active roles in shaping healthcare delivery models that optimize resource utilization without compromising care quality.
Dr. Badhwar’s expertise in robotic cardiac surgery marks him as a pioneer in a field that is revolutionizing surgical practice by leveraging robotic precision, haptics, and enhanced visualization. His extensive scholarly contributions include over 400 peer-reviewed publications and eight patents that signify his commitment to advancing cardiovascular technology through innovation. These innovations have substantially influenced minimally invasive valve reconstruction and replacement procedures, reducing morbidity and hospital stays.
His academic journey through some of North America’s leading institutions, including McGill University, the University of Ottawa, and the University of Michigan, laid the foundation for his surgical and research acumen. His tenure as Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh enriched his leadership experience and clinical expertise, balancing high-volume surgical practice with robust research initiatives.
Since 2016, as head of WVU’s cardiovascular service line, Dr. Badhwar has overseen a complex, large-scale healthcare ecosystem with over 250 providers and 1,500 employees, managing operational budgets surpassing $2 billion. His leadership at WVU illustrates his capacity to integrate cutting-edge clinical programs with expansive academic research and healthcare delivery systems, promoting innovative cardiovascular care including one of the nation’s leading robotic cardiac surgery programs.
Addressing the audience at STS 2026, Dr. Badhwar articulated the necessity for interdisciplinary collaboration across surgical subspecialties, medical disciplines, health system administrators, and policymakers. He projected that the future of cardiothoracic surgery hinges not only on surgical skills but on the capacity to lead integrative, patient-centered teams driving systemic improvement in healthcare quality and outcomes.
Emphasizing the dynamic nature of modern cardiothoracic surgery, Dr. Badhwar called for a culture of continuous learning and adaptability. His vision is to cultivate an environment where surgical innovation aligns with empirical evidence and patient-centered metrics, thus ensuring the specialty remains at the forefront of healthcare innovation.
Beyond his surgical and research accolades, Dr. Badhwar continues to enrich academic discourse as a Senior Editor for The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, shaping the publication of pivotal research that defines surgical standards and emerging trends across the specialty.
His presidency begins at a critical time when cardiothoracic surgery faces transformative changes driven by new biomaterials, robotic platforms, and data science, all converging to expand therapeutic possibilities and improve patient safety. Dr. Badhwar’s leadership promises to catalyze STS’s role as a beacon of innovation, scientific rigor, and compassionate care in the global cardiothoracic surgery community.
At the 2026 Annual Membership Meeting, alongside Dr. Badhwar’s election as President, the organization also elected Vinod Thourani, MD, as First Vice President; Jessica Donington, MD, as Second Vice President; Wilson Szeto, MD, as Secretary (re-elected); Joseph Cleveland Jr., MD, as Secretary-Elect; and John Mitchell, MD, as Treasurer (re-elected). This leadership team is poised to advance the Society’s mission amid ongoing healthcare challenges and technological advancements.
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons itself stands as the largest nonprofit organization globally representing over 8,000 professionals dedicated to advancing cardiothoracic surgery. Its robust STS National Database is among the most comprehensive clinical registries, enabling ongoing research, education, advocacy, and clinical quality improvement efforts that define the highest standards of patient care internationally.
With Dr. Vinay Badhwar’s presidency, the STS is set to reinforce its legacy of surgical excellence while embracing evolved models of evidence-based practice and impactful patient-centered care, ensuring the specialty adapts and thrives in the coming decades.
Subject of Research: Cardiothoracic surgery leadership and clinical innovation
Article Title: Vinay Badhwar, MD, Elected 62nd President of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Champions Excellence and Innovation
News Publication Date: January 31, 2026
Web References: https://mediasvc.eurekalert.org/Api/v1/Multimedia/6c63afeb-fb1a-4145-ad57-de051a3ec26c/Rendition/low-res/Content/Public
Image Credits: STS
Keywords: Health and medicine, Vascular diseases, Cardiovascular disorders, Cancer, Lung cancer
Tags: 2026 Annual Meeting highlightscardiothoracic surgery advancementscardiothoracic surgery educationevidence-based surgical practiceshealthcare technology integrationimpact of surgical leadershipmultidisciplinary collaboration in medicinepatient outcomes in surgerySociety of Thoracic Surgeons leadershipsurgical innovation and excellenceVinay Badhwar appointmentWest Virginia University Heart Institute
