WTS 2nd Annual Conference

The Women in Thoracic Surgery are excited to be hosting their 2nd Annual Conference, from November 5 to 6, 2025, in Fernandina Beach, FL.

WTS Conference Program Detailed- Updated 09.22.25.pdf by Allie Romero

Join us after the Conference for the 2025 STSA/WTS 5K Fun Run taking place on Friday, November 7, 2025, at the Omni Amelia Island Hotel.

Featuring a Keynote Presentation from Dr. Josh Makower

Josh Makower is the Yock Family Professor of Medicine and Bioengineering at the Stanford University Schools of Medicine and Engineering, and is the Byers Family Director and Co-Founder of the Stanford Mussallem Center for Biodesign. Josh is the Founder and Executive Chairman of ExploraMed, a medical device incubator that has created 10 companies over the past 20 years. He is also a Senior Advisor to Patient Square Capital, and an Advisory Venture Partner with Sofinnova Partners. Josh currently serves on the boards of Elevage, ExploraMed, Moximed, Willow, X9, Coravin, SetPoint Medical and VentureWell.

Josh holds over 300 patents and patent applications for various medical devices in the fields of cardiology, ENT, general surgery, drug delivery, plastic surgery, dermatology, aesthetics, obesity, orthopedics, women’s health, and urology. He received an MBA from Columbia University, an MD from the NYU School of Medicine, and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from MIT. Josh is a Member of the National Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of The National Academy of Inventors and The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, was awarded the Coulter Award for Healthcare Innovation by the Biomedical Engineering Society in 2018 and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Galway in 2024 for his work supporting and inspiring the creation of BioInnovate Ireland which has had a profound impact on the Irish Medtech Innovation Ecosystem.

Thank you to the WTS Leadership and Committees for your efforts in planning the conference.

WTS Leadership:
Dr. Mara Antonoff, President
Dr. Leah Backhus, Vice President
Dr. Sara Pereira, Secretary
Dr. Lana Schumacher, Treasurer
Dr. Daniela Molena, Immediate Past President
Dr. Lauren Kane, Past President
Dr. Stephanie Worrell, Director-at-Large
Dr. Mimi Ceppa, Director-at-Large
Dr. Tara Karamlou, Director-at-Large
Dr. Lisa Brown, Director-at-Large
Dr. Brittany Zwischenberger, Director-at-Large

Communications Co-Chairs:
Dr. Susana Fortich and Dr. Busra Cangut

Program Committee:
Dr. Stephanie Chang (Co-Chair), Dr. Amy Fiedler (Co-Chair), Dr. Mara Antonoff, Dr. Tara Karamlou, Dr. Elizabeth Norton, Dr. Jenalee Coster, Dr. Lauren Barron, Dr. Christina Glenn, Dr. Gavitt Woodard, Dr. Kelly Fairbairn, and Dr. Allison Weiderhold

Research Committee:
Dr. Mara Antonoff (Co-Chair), Dr. Stephanie Worrell (Co-Chair), Dr. Ammara Watkins, Dr. Busra Cangut, Dr. Laura DiChiacchio, Dr. Marianna Papageorge, Dr. Rebekah Boyd, Dr. Nicole Lin, Dr. Sara Sakowitz, Dr. Madigan Stanley, Dr. Nimrat Grewal, Dr. Rajika Jindani, Dr. Kaitlin Bevers, Dr. Mariya Leonidovna Samoylova, and Dr. Tanisha Rajah

Mentorship Co-Chairs:
Dr. Alicia Bonanno and Dr. Tessa Watt

Venue

The Conference will be held at the Omni Amelia Island Resort and Spa in Fernandina Beach, FL.

Omni Amelia Island Resort and Spa
39 Beach Lagoon Road, Fernandina Beach, Florida, 32034, United States
Phone: 1-904-261-6161
Group rate: $269/night plus tax
Rates available: November 4 & November 5, 2025
Cutoff date: October 15, 2025

Please use this reservation link to access the WTS group rate.

Support the WTS Inaugural Annual Conference

To become a sponsor of the WTS Inaugural Annual Conference, please email our Program Manager, Allie Romero, alromero@inventures.com for inquiries.

Thank You Medela & Mamava

Excited to share that Medela and Mamava are sponsoring the pumping space at the upcoming The Women in Thoracic Surgery Conference! This partnership ensures attendees have access to private, comfortable pumping spaces while attending The Women in Thoracic Surgery Conference so they don’t have to miss a thing. Medela, a leader in chest drainage and breast pump innovation, and Mamava, renowned for their convenient lactation pods, are committed to supporting breastfeeding families. We are grateful for The Women in Thoracic Surgery Conference’s support to make this exciting event inclusive and accommodating for all attendees.