This 13th edition of Self-Education, Self-Assessment in Thoracic Surgery (SESATS) continues the tradition of providing a completely online educational tool that is available on any internet-accessible device. SESATS XIII features multimedia elements to augment the 400 new questions and critiques. It offers access to the PubMed full text of references, including real-time delivery of abstracts. This assembly of topical information offers students of thoracic and cardiac surgery a rich opportunity for study throughout the assessment, and it becomes a reference after completion. This platform opens the learning opportunity to a worldwide audience. As in the past, SESATS seeks to offer a balanced sampling of advancing knowledge in all areas of cardiac and thoracic surgery.
I would like to thank Dr. Stephen Yang (SESATS Editor-in-Chief, ABTS Director) and the ABTS Board of Directors who provided invaluable leadership and guidance on this project.
Lastly, I would like to personally thank the IT development team at RKO Technology Consulting, LLC (Rob Oberteuffer) and Echo360 (Torsten Koehler and team). Patricia Watson and Aleisha Gardner at the American Board of Thoracic Surgery provided invaluable oversight, input, and editing. Patty Linton in the CME office of Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center continues to manage CME-related inquiries. It has been my great good fortune to enjoy the help of these individuals.
David A. Fullerton, M.D.