In this episode, co-hosts Dr. Sara Pereira and Dr. Ian Bostock celebrate the 20th anniversary and impact of the STS Looking to the Future (LTTF) Scholarship Program by speaking with three rising stars pursuing careers in cardiothoracic surgery: Tyler Wilson, MD, a general surgery resident at the University of Chicago; Molly Shields, MD, a general surgery resident at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center; and Tyrone Hill, a medical student at Meharry Medical College.

Reflecting on their unique journeys into medicine, the LTTF scholars share how attending the STS Annual Meeting and participating in the scholarship program provided invaluable access to mentors, expanded their professional networks, and reinforced their confidence in pursuing a highly competitive specialty.

The guests share their perspectives on wellness, family planning, and maintaining outside interests like running, cooking, and camping. They emphasize that success in cardiothoracic surgery isn’t a single path, but is built on resilience, community, and mentorship—illustrating how programs like Looking to the Future make the specialty more inclusive and supportive for aspiring surgeons.