Jay Lloyd Ankeney, June 7, 1921–December 24, 2014

Jay Ankeney, the 16th President of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, was an early pioneer in adult and pediatric cardiac operations, a prescient advocate of off-bypass coronary revascularization, and a strong champion of cardiothoracic recertification. He was among the first to endorse the need to provide practicing cardiothoracic surgeons the means for self-assessment and improvement. He led the development of Coordinating Committee for Continuing Education in Thoracic Surgery and inaugurated the self-education/self assessment syllabus for this purpose. Under his leadership he persuaded the vast majority of cardiothoracic surgeons to embrace recertification and by this means provide reassurance and accountability to their patients.