Sandra Starnes was named president-elect of the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association. Thoracic surgeons are doctors who operate on organs in the chest. Dr. Starnes will serve for two years as president-elect and then become president of the association for two years beginning in 2017.
The association, founded in 1976 has had 20 presidents. When she takes office in 2017, Dr. Starnes will be the first woman to hold the post.
Dr. Starnes holds the John B. Fledge Chair in the Division of Thoracic Surgery at the College of Medicine of the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. She also serves as co-director of the Comprehensive Lung Care Center at the university.
Dr. Starnes holds bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of Illinois.