Dr. Svensson is the 104th President of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and has served in many roles since becoming a member in 2000. He is the Chairman of the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic. He delivered his Presidential Address: Raison d'être in Turbulent Times: Academics, Legerdemain Surgery, and a Leadership Theorem at the conference.