Surgical Societies Issue Policies on Professional Conduct

Be it bullying, offensive language, or misuse of power, the cardiovascular community took a stand against disruptive behaviors this year, with some cardiovascular societies proactively issuing policies addressing such lapses in professionalism.

Both the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) released new guidance, in August and October, respectively, covering professional behavior related to meetings or other organization-specific functions.

“The idea here was to have something that’s positive, that gives an idea of . . . what the issue is but also to especially motivate members to behave in a professional way,” Patrick Myers, MD (Lausanne University Hospitals, Switzerland), secretary general of EACTS, told TCTMD. “Because it’s usually the most vulnerable people who are the victims of unprofessional behavior.”

Myers said the genesis of EACTS’ policy came after he heard about a situation where a young female physician faced retaliation after presenting research at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in 2022.

“We came to the conclusion none of the surgical societies had any actual policy on how to handle professional behavior,” he explained. A team of staff, members, and a professional trainer then worked together to draft the EACTS guide on professional behavior, which defines disruptive conduct, offers protocols for members to report such behaviors, and outlines potential consequences. This anonymous group also organized a 1-hour training for EACTS leadership and annual meeting program committee on the new policy.

“Inherently, people want to behave professionally,” Myers said. “They want to have a good time at our educational activities, at our meetings, and the activities that they have within EACTS. And so we want to really stress the positive sides of saying, these are the unprofessional behaviors, this is what we can do about it. We want to empower each and every one of our members to call it out and to correct it live as it’s happening. I think that’s the best way to avoid it.”

Likewise, the STS’ new policy was designed to “promote respectful, inclusive, and unbiased scholarly discourse at its meetings,” according to a statement from the organization. Its policy covers specific examples of how participants at meetings should be addressed—Dr. for attendees with doctorates and Mr. or Ms. for others—and places an emphasis on using gender-neutral and patient-respectful language in presentations.

“Creating a welcoming, respectful atmosphere at our events is essential to advancing knowledge and collaboration within cardiothoracic surgery,” said a spokesperson from STS. “This policy reaffirms our dedication to setting a standard of professionalism that respects and includes every member of our diverse community.”

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF)— publisher of TCTMD and organizer of TCT, THT, and other meetings—does not yet have a formal policy in place but plans to establish one in 2025.

Tricia S. Rawh, the Executive Director for CRF’s Center for Education, told TCTMD that while professionalism has always been promoted at the organization’s events, “we see the benefit of having a formal policy to clearly outline expectations and accountability for everyone—attendees, faculty, and vendors. This will help create a respectful, inclusive environment and provide a consistent approach to addressing any issues that might arise.”

The forthcoming policy will enable CRF “to be more clear and consistent about what’s expected, which we believe will enhance the experience for all participants,” she added.

Codes of Conduct Enough For Some

Not all organizations in the cardiovascular space have joined this trend, however. Sources from both the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) pointed to their organizations’ codes of conduct as providing overall rules for behavior in general.

“The SCCT does have a Code of Conduct in place, which outlines expectations for professional behavior and discourse among its members, event participants, and affiliates,” a spokesperson from the organization said in an email. “This policy emphasizes fostering a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative environment, both in person and online. It addresses issues such as harassment, discrimination, and inappropriate behavior, ensuring that all individuals feel welcomed and valued in SCCT-related activities.”

Similarly, a spokesperson from the ESC told TCTMD the organization has no plans to implement a policy specific to professional behavior. “Our strategic plan is our guiding principle where desired behaviors are reflected through our values, and drive our management culture,” according to the ESC spokesperson.

‘We Can Work Together Peacefully’

Julia Grapsa, MD, PhD (Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust, London, England), told TCTMD she was pleased to see policies at several organizations, to promote respect not only between men and women, but also between senior and junior colleagues. Scientific meetings are a place to exchange ideas and promote creativity, she said. “You don’t want to go in order to be intimidated by someone or to have imposter syndrome afterwards.”

It might seem obvious to some, but for societies to spell out “what is being expected as excellent professional behavior is fundamental because many people see the workplace, or of course the scientific meeting, as a reflection of their character,” Grapsa said. “An organization should not tolerate in any way anyone who is insulting this image, anyone who is rude, anyone who is not believing in diversity, inclusion, and equity between a group of people.”

The fact that STS and EACTS announced professional behavior policies this year is notable, but not unexpected to Grapsa. “We know traditionally that the world of surgery is very tough,” she said, adding that this has led some to behave poorly due to increased pressure. But bad behavior is not limited to the realm of surgery, and Grapsa added that she’d like to see more cardiology societies enact policies of their own.

Beyond preventing harmful conduct, she would also like to see positive reinforcement of good examples of people serving as role models in the field, especially when it comes to scientific meetings. “By having such an environment, this is actually acting as a great example for the younger generation,” Grapsa said.

“We are all colleagues, and we work in the same places,” she continued. “Work is actually 50% of our lives. It’s not worth too much drama, it’s not worth the insults, it’s not worth feeling harassed. All that is in vain. We can work together peacefully.”