Engaging or Deterring the Next Generation? An Analysis of Fees for Cardiac Surgery Conferences.

Background: Conferences are valuable platforms for academic discourse. However, trainees, individuals with lower income backgrounds, and attendees from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often face significant financial barriers that may limit accessibility to conferences. This study evaluates fees for attending international cardiac surgery conferences to better understand potential financial barriers.

Methods: Registration fees for 2022-2023 international cardiac surgery conferences were analyzed. Fees were categorized on the basis of the career stage and society member status of the attendee. Other data collected included the meeting's subspecialty, location, availability of discounts, and virtual components.

Results: Seventeen conferences were identified. Discounts are widely available for students, residents, and fellows attending cardiac surgery conferences in 2022-2023. Society member students' fees ranged from US $0 to $390 (median, US $15; interquartile range [IQR], $0-$198). Society member residents' and fellows' fees ranged from US $0 to $795 (median, US $200; IQR, $75-$390). Society member staff's fees ranged from US $200 to $802 (median, US $545; IQR, $441-$608). Four conferences (23.5%) explicitly mentioned discounts for LMIC attendees, whereas 5 conferences (29.4%) mentioned virtual components.

Conclusions: Conference fees remain substantial for trainees and LMIC participants, who are respectively burdened with tuition costs and lower incomes and purchasing powers. Conferences should explore avenues to reduce financial barriers to provide more equitable opportunities for current and future generations of cardiac surgeons.