These guidelines apply to all submissions for TSRAWeb’s public educational articles. Our format is designed to deliver high-quality, citable educational content for cardiothoracic surgery residents, fellows, and new attendings.

Topics of Interest

1. Expert Opinion / Commentary
2. Surgical / Procedural Techniques
3. Evidence-based Mini-Reviews
4. Clinical Pearls
5. Resident Perspective
6. Journal Club
7. Curriculum & Education Innovation
8. Resident Wellness

What TSRA Education Articles Will NOT Accept

TSRA Education Articles is dedicated to providing concise, high-yield educational content for cardiothoracic surgery residents, fellows, and new attendings. We are not a venue for full-length scientific research manuscripts or surgical outcomes studies. Submissions that primarily report original research data, detailed surgical outcomes, new surgical techniques, or methodologies intended for publication in scientific journals (e.g., formats similar to those submitted to JTCVS or the Annals of Thoracic Surgery) will be considered out-of-scope and will result in immediate rejection. We encourage articles that focus on educational summaries, expert opinions, technique spotlights, clinical pearls, and succinct evidence-based reviews designed to enhance training and practice.

Overall Requirements (For All Submissions)

Originality & Relevance

• Articles must be original and unpublished elsewhere.
• Content should focus on educational material pertinent to cardiothoracic surgery training and practice.

Content Expectations

Articles should provide standalone educational value. Multimedia elements (videos, podcasts) should supplement the written content, not replace it.

Articles should prepare trainees for real-world clinical decision-making and written and or oral boards examination.

Authorship & Institutional Details

• Author Information: List all authors’ names and credentials (maximum of 8 authors).
• Institutional Affiliation: Provide each author’s institution, department, city, state, and country.
• Corresponding Author: Clearly identify the corresponding author with appropriate contact information.
• Date of Submission: Include the submission date.

Conflicts of Interest

• Disclose any potential conflicts of interest.

Mandatory Introductory Sections

• Take Home Message: Begin every article with a brief “Take Home Message” summarizing the key educational points (maximum of 2–3 sentences).
• Learning Objectives: List between 2 to 5 learning objectives that outline what the reader should understand or be able to apply after reading. Objectives must be directly addressed by the article content. Reviewers will assess whether each objective is adequately covered. Objectives should be specific and measurable (e.g., “Describe the diagnostic criteria for X” rather than “Understand X”).

Formatting & Structure

• Title: Provide a concise and informative title.
• Content Structure: Use a flexible structure. Traditional sections (e.g., Introduction, Discussion, Conclusion) are not mandatory; choose the format that best suits your content.
• Word Count: Articles should be <2,500 words. Submissions under 500 words are unlikely to provide sufficient educational depth for standalone value.

Multimedia & References

• Multimedia Elements: Integrate relevant images, diagrams, or embedded media (e.g., videos or podcasts).
• Permission Requirement: If including an image or diagram from another source, obtain explicit permission and provide proper credit.
• User-Generated Content Preferred: Original flowcharts or diagrams—especially those interpreting data from sources like AHA guidelines—are preferred.
• References: Cite all sources using a standardized citation style (e.g., AMA or Vancouver). Include no more than ten references.

For Video or Podcast-Based Articles: While multimedia may be embedded, the written article must provide sufficient educational content to stand alone. A reader who does not access the multimedia should still gain meaningful knowledge from the written content alone. Articles should not read as transcript outlines or bullet-point summaries of the multimedia.

DOI & Publication Information

• Each article will be assigned a unique DOI upon publication.

Review Process

• Submissions will be reviewed by the TSRA Executive Committee for clarity, accuracy, and educational value.
• Revisions may be requested prior to final acceptance.

Language & Style

• Use clear, professional language appropriate for an academic audience.
• Maintain consistent terminology, abbreviations, and proper referencing throughout the article.

Category-Specific Guidelines

1. Expert Opinion / Commentary

• Focus: Provide insights and reflections on current trends and practices in cardiothoracic surgery.
• Content: Present a clear perspective supported by relevant literature or examples.
• Multimedia: Diagrams or images are encouraged to illustrate key points.

2. Technique Spotlights

• Focus: Offer a detailed description of a surgical technique with step-by-step guidance.
• Content: Include high-quality images, diagrams, or video links to effectively demonstrate the technique.

3. Evidence-Based Mini-Reviews

• Focus: Synthesize current literature on a specific educational topic.
• Content: Highlight key findings, best practices, and clinical implications drawn from recent studies.
• Multimedia: Optional diagrams or tables may be included to visually present data.

4. Clinical Pearls / Teaching Points

• Focus: Present concise, high-yield educational messages or tips for clinical practice.
• Content: Highlight 3–5 critical points, using bullet lists or numbered sections.
• Multimedia: Infographics or schematic diagrams are highly encouraged.
• Oral Boards Readiness: For surgical and clinical topics, include specific numeric thresholds that guide decisions, key differential diagnoses and how to distinguish them, intraoperative decision points and contingency plans, and common complications with management strategies.

5. Resident Perspectives / Educational Narratives

• Focus: Share personal experiences and lessons learned during training, offering mentorship and practical advice.
• Content: Write in a narrative style that blends reflective commentary with actionable insights.
• Multimedia: Supplement with relevant photos/diagrams.

6. Journal Club / Article Discussions

• Focus: Critically appraise a recent study or landmark paper with an emphasis on its educational implications for practice.
• Content: Summarize the discussed article, provide a balanced critique, and discuss its impact on clinical practice.
• Multimedia: Graphs, tables, or key data figures may be included.

7. Curriculum & Educational Innovations

• Focus: Discuss new educational tools, curricula, simulation techniques, or innovative teaching methods.
• Content: Describe the innovation, its implementation, outcomes, and lessons learned.
• Multimedia: Use charts, images, or video links to illustrate the application and effectiveness of the innovation.

8. Resident Wellness & Lifestyle

• Focus: Provide practical advice and supportive insights on resident wellness, work-life balance, family planning, and personal finance management tailored for CT surgery trainees.

Submission Checklist

Before submitting your article, please ensure that you have:

• Included all required author details: names, credentials, institution, corresponding author information, and date of submission.
• Disclosed any conflicts of interest.
• Provided a clear title, a “Take Home Message” (2–3 sentences), and a set of 2–5 Learning Objectives at the beginning.
• Structured the article in a logical format suited to the content (flexible structure; traditional sections not mandatory).
• Ensured that the manuscript is between 1,000–2,500 words.
• Integrated appropriate multimedia elements (images, diagrams, videos) as needed, with permissions obtained for any external sources.
• Included all necessary references (maximum of ten) using a consistent citation style.
• Confirmed the article provides standalone educational value (not dependent on multimedia).
• Verified each learning objective is directly addressed by the content.
• For clinical topics: included relevant context, decision thresholds, and outcomes data.

By adhering to these guidelines, contributors help maintain the high quality and educational integrity of TSRAWeb’s content. This structured yet flexible approach ensures that every article serves as a valuable, citable resource for the cardiothoracic surgery community.