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The old Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery and the new UEMS-European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery

The old Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery

The old Board of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons (EBTCVS) (renamed as European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery several weeks ago) was founded by three scientific societies, EACTS, ESTS and ESCVS in 1996. This old Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery was never transformed into an official UEMS European Board in accordance with the rules of the UEMS. Nevertheless, during the last 18 years the old Board has successfully organized annual examinations maintaining the highest standards and awarding the successful candidates the diploma of Fellow of the European Board of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons (FEBTCVS). However the UEMS has never recognized the legitimacy of the old Board and therefore the diplomas awarded by the old Board are not official diplomas of the UEMS.

The new official UEMS-Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery

According to the UEMS statutes, a UEMS section has the right to create its own European Board as a working group with the aim to guarantee the highest standards of care in the field of the specialty in the countries of the European Union by ensuring that the training is raised to the highest possible level. In summary, an official UEMS Board is a working group that depends on its respective section.

A new official Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery was approved by the UEMS Council during the  meeting held in 2014. The main goal of this new official Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery  is to organize the UEMS examination.

In an attempt to normalize the situation of the old Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery  and the new official UEMS-Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery, the UEMS Section has decided to offer an automatic recertification to all former graduates of the old Board. For application please see the section UEMS Board Recertification.