Student Handbook
The SCTS Student Education Cardiothoracic Surgery Handbook was created to address an important gap in Cardiothoracic Surgery teaching in medical school. Cardiothoracic surgery can be an exciting but often unfamiliar and intimidating specialty for medical students, particularly when entering the operating theatre for the first time. We wanted to create a resource specifically for students: one that goes beyond textbook knowledge and helps them understand what they are seeing, why it is happening, and how to engage confidently with the specialty.
What makes this handbook distinctive is its student-centered, practical approach. It brings together core cardiothoracic principles, relevant anatomy and physiology, practical theatre etiquette, and introductions to common cardiac, thoracic and congenital procedures within a single accessible resource. Rather than being another comprehensive surgical textbook, it has been designed as a practical companion for the student experience of cardiothoracic surgery: helping students prepare for theatre, follow an operation, understand the principles behind what they observe, and ultimately get more from every clinical opportunity.
Through this handbook, SCTS Student Education aims to make cardiothoracic surgery more accessible to the next generation, giving students an approachable starting point from which to build their knowledge, confidence and interest in the specialty. Click here to view handbook