The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) has named Joanna Chikwe, MD, editor-in-chief of Annals of Thoracic Surgery and a soon-to-be-launched open access journal, Annals Short Reports.

Chikwe, the cardiac surgery chair at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, is the first woman to hold the post.

The move is effective January 1, 2022.

“This is an exhilarating time to run a journal of this caliber, because of the exciting science and technology transforming our specialty and the untapped potential of digital content,” said Chikwe in a prepared statement. “STS is the most widely recognized organization in cardiothoracic surgery, so the potential global impact is huge.”

“Dr. Chikwe is an accomplished cardiac surgeon with an impressive record of academic scholarship, effective leadership and clinical achievement,” said STS President Sean C. Grondin, MD, MPH, in the same statement. “With her significant editorial experience, she has proposed exciting strategies to make The Annals the most impactful and engaging journal in cardiothoracic surgery. We are thrilled to welcome her to the leadership team and are looking forward to continuing our work together in providing a high-quality journal for our specialty.”

Chikwe held previous positions  as associate editor and deputy editor for The Annals, and as a section editor for specialty journals such as the European Heart Journal and Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Watch an interview with Chikwe in the VIDEO: MitraClip vs. surgical mitral valve replacement.