Dr. Ghanta Appointed ITE Chair for TSDA

Dr. Ravi K. Ghanta, associate professor of surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, associate director of for the Thoracic Surgery Residency Program at Baylor College of Medicine and chief of cardiac surgery at Ben Taub Hospital, has been appointed National In-Training Exam Committee chair for the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association. Dr. Ghanta will serve from May 2021 – May 2023 and during his term, lead development of the 2022 and 2023 exams.

Dr. Ghanta will lead a team of 35 cardiothoracic surgeons from academic institutions across the United States to develop new questions to assess residents and construct the annual examination. The exam aims to equipped cardiothoracic residents in the United States with the tools to best prepare for the written portion of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery certifying exam. By completing the in-training exam, it allows residency directors to measure the knowledge and skill base of their current residents, and to determine if the examinee possess the information and cognitive skills for a well-rounded effective tenure within cardiothoracic surgery.

There are roughly 450 examinees annually, ranging from 90 training programs nationwide. The TSDA was established in 1978, whose goal was to be a membership organization for cardiothoracic surgery residency program directors and to be advocates for residents continued education.