Cardiothoracic surgeons are medical professionals who surgically treat organs inside the thoracic cavity (or chest cavity). The thoracic cavity includes the ribs, vertebral column, and the sternum. Cardiothoracic surgeons perform surgery on the heart and major blood vessels (for heart disease), oesophagus, thymus, lungs (for lung disease), and other organs in the chest.  

Cardiothoracic surgeons operate within both public and private facilities, providing emergency and elective surgical procedures, and will be involved in post-operative and outpatient care. Procedures commonly performed by a cardiothoracic surgeon include coronary bypass surgery, aortic surgery, surgery for lung or other thoracic tumours, chest wall surgery as well as heart and lung transplantation surgery.

Cardiothoracic surgeons treat life-threatening diseases and work closely with other health care professionals on diagnosis and treatment. Cardiothoracic surgery is a varied medical field and can be further broken down into cardiovascular surgeons, general thoracic surgeons, and congenital heart surgeons. 

Cardiac or cardiovascular surgery can include treatment of: 

• Blockages in the heart valve(s)
• Leaking heart valve(s)
• Coronary artery disease or blockages of the arteries in the heart
• Heart failure
• Atrial fibrillation
• Abnormal enlargement or aneurysms of the large arteries in the chest
• Endocarditis

Thoracic surgery can include the treatment of: 

• Severe emphysema
• Esophageal cancer 
• Lung cancer
• Hiatal hernias
• Swallowing disorders such as achalasia
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Pulmonary embolisms 

Congenital heart surgery can include the treatment of: 

• Ventricular septal defects
• Coarctation of the aorta
• Hypoplastic left or right heart syndrome
• Atrial septal defects
• Transposition of the great arteries
• Congenital heart defects 

Apart from the obvious educational requirements of cardiothoracic surgery training, cardiothoracic surgeons must have a calm temperament and the ability to work and make decisions under pressure. Surgeons in this field must also have excellent communication and management skills to instruct colleagues in theatre and deal with patients and their families. Surgeons must be highly skilled in performing tasks with their hands, with great hand-eye coordination, vision, and visual-spatial awareness. Additionally, they must be medically fit and capable for standing and holding attention for hours when operating. Lastly, surgeons must have immaculate attention to detail.

While you can break up training into sections, it is not advised to do so. Most cardiothoracic surgery pathway programs are completed in one section. If trainees break for longer than one year, some exams will need to be re-done. Similarly, a break of two years or longer will require the trainee to repeat old content and material. 

The number of applicants selected differs from year to year. In 2019, for example, there were 28 trainees in total with 12 new trainees. In total there are 187 specialists in Australia. 

The northern Queensland region offers a well-balanced mix of quality education and a relaxed or adventurous lifestyle, depending on your preference. With the convenience of cities close by, but the benefit of reasonable housing costs and vast landscapes a stone’s throw away, Northern Queensland is hard to beat.

Each regional centre is small enough to escape the hustle and bustle of big city life, but large enough to boast a range of facilities for socialising and entertainment. You can make the most of the great outdoors through rainforest hikes, mountain biking and snorkelling or scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Living and working in Northern Queensland offers a great balance for all ages and stages, with short commute times putting more hours back into your workday, and plenty to explore on the weekends.

Networking and industry social opportunities are to be found in the tightknit hospital and health communities. Our vision is to improve the health of communities in the northern Queensland region by addressing the shortage of doctors in the area, a passion which unites the students, interns, junior doctors, and specialists training and working here. 

Our training region ensure trainees have access to a wide range of hospital and health settings of varying sizes and capabilities offering diverse case load and case mix. These training areas include the following health service areas: Cairns, Central West, Mackay, North West, Torres and Cape, and Townsville.