Essential CV Building Guide for DO Graduates in Cardiothoracic Surgery

Understanding the Residency CV Landscape as a DO Graduate

For a DO graduate pursuing cardiothoracic surgery, a strong, well-structured CV is not optional—it’s strategic armor. Cardiothoracic surgery is one of the most competitive and technical specialties. As a DO applying to largely MD-dominated programs, your CV is a powerful tool to:

• Demonstrate that your training and performance are on par with (or exceed) MD peers
• Highlight unique osteopathic strengths (holistic care, communication, procedural exposure)
• Make your file easy to advocate for during selection meetings

Your CV is not a static transcript; it’s a curated story of readiness for heart surgery training. It needs to:

1. Reflect competitiveness for cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) specifically
2. Neutralize any bias about DO training with concrete achievements
3. Align with what program directors actually look for
4. Be clean, concise, and effortless to scan in under 60 seconds

As a DO graduate targeting the osteopathic residency match or ACGME-integrated cardiothoracic tracks, building a high-yield CV is a multi-year project. This guide focuses on how to build a CV for residency in cardiothoracic surgery, step-by-step, with specific residency CV tips for DOs.

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Essential Structure and Formatting: Making Your CV Easy to Read

Before content, presentation. Your CV must look professional at a glance or it risks not being read closely.

Core Sections for a Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency CV

A typical structure for a DO graduate aiming for cardiothoracic surgery residency:

1. Contact Information & Professional Summary (optional)
2. Education & Training
3. USMLE/COMLEX Scores & Certifications
4. Honors, Awards, and Distinctions
5. Research Experience & Publications
6. Presentations & Posters
7. Clinical Experience (Medical School & Sub-internships)
8. Leadership & Professional Involvement
9. Teaching & Mentoring
10. Volunteer & Service Activities
11. Technical Skills and Interests (optional but useful for CTS)

For ERAS, you’ll enter much of this into standardized fields, but you should still maintain a full medical student CV (PDF/Word) for emails, networking, and faculty letters.

Formatting Principles

• Length: 2–4 pages is typical for a DO graduate with research; don’t pad to reach 4 pages.
• Font: 10–11 pt, professional fonts (Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman, Garamond).
• Margins: 0.5–1 inch, consistent on all sides.
• Order: Reverse chronological (most recent first) in each section.
• Consistency: Same date format, bullet style, indentation, and tense throughout.
• File name: LastName_FirstName_MDorDO_CV_YYYY.pdf (e.g., Smith_Alex_DO_CV_2025.pdf).

Should You Include a Professional Summary?

A short 2–3 line summary at the top can help frame your file, especially as a DO applicant to CTS:

• Don’t: “Hardworking DO student interested in surgery.”
• Do: “DO graduate with strong performance in surgical clerkships, early exposure to cardiac OR, and a research focus in post-CABG outcomes, seeking cardiothoracic surgery residency training with an emphasis on complex adult cardiac procedures.”

Use it only if it adds clarity, not fluff.

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Content Priorities for Cardiothoracic Surgery: What Program Directors Want to See

For a DO graduate aiming at heart surgery training, your CV must suggest you can handle an intense, high-stakes environment and contribute academically.

1. Education & Board Scores: Presenting Your Training Clearly

Under Education, emphasize:

• DO degree institution, city, state
• Graduation year, class rank/percentile if strong
• Any dual degrees (MPH, MS, MBA, PhD)
• Pre-med degrees relevant to research or engineering (e.g., biomedical engineering)

Example:

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
Lakewood College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lakewood, OH
Graduated May 2025 | Top 10% of class | Sigma Sigma Phi Honor Society

Include board exams concisely:

• USMLE Step 1/2 CK (if taken)
• COMLEX Level 1/2 CE (with scores if helpful)

If your scores are average, don’t highlight them visually. If above average for surgery, they can be a line of strength for a DO graduate.

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2. Research and Publications: Core Currency in Cardiothoracic Surgery

In cardiothoracic surgery, research often separates plausible from competitive candidates. As a DO, strong research makes a substantial difference.

How to Present Research

Organize in subsections:

1. Peer-reviewed Publications
2. Manuscripts Under Review / In Preparation (if substantial)
3. Book Chapters
4. Abstracts / Conference Presentations

Use standard citation format (e.g., AMA). Bold your name wherever it appears.

Example:

Peer-Reviewed Publications

1. Smith AJ, Lee R, Patel M. Early outcomes after minimally invasive mitral valve repair in obese patients. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2024;168(3):450-458.
2. Jones B, Smith AJ, Nguyen T. Predictors of readmission after CABG in an underserved population. Ann Thorac Surg. 2023;115(1):75-82.

If you are not first author but did substantial work, that’s still valuable. For “in preparation” papers, include only those with real progress and faculty backing.

Not All Research Has to be Cardiothoracic

Priority order for CTS programs usually looks like:

1. Cardiothoracic / cardiovascular surgery research
2. General surgery, trauma, critical care, vascular research
3. Broader clinical outcomes, health services, quality improvement
4. Basic science related to cardiovascular, pulmonary, or transplant biology

If your research isn’t directly in CTS, frame it to emphasize relevant skills:

• Data analysis, registry work
• Clinical outcomes and quality improvement
• Surgical techniques or perioperative care
• ICU or postoperative outcomes

Action Steps for DO Students Early in Training

If you are still in OMS1–OMS3 and wondering how to build CV for residency in CTS:

• Seek out a CTS mentor at your home or an affiliated academic hospital
• Email asking to help with chart reviews, databases, or case series
• Start with manageable projects (retrospective reviews, case reports with real teaching value)
• Aim to present at regional or national meetings: STS, AATS, ACC, local chapters

Even a small number of thoracic-related outputs on your medical student CV can heavily strengthen your profile.

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Clinical and Procedural Experience: Showing Fit for a Surgical, High-Acuity Field

Your clinical section should reassure program directors that you understand what you’re getting into and that you’ve actively pursued surgical training.

Highlight Key Rotations Strategically

Especially for a DO graduate residency applicant in CTS, spell out:

• General surgery core rotation (include grade/honors if strong)
• Cardiothoracic or cardiac surgery elective/sub-internship
• Surgical ICU or cardiothoracic ICU experience
• Away rotations at institutions with CTS programs

Example formatting:

Sub-Internship in Cardiothoracic Surgery
University Heart & Lung Center, City, State | Aug–Sept 2024

• Functioned as a sub-intern on the adult cardiac and thoracic surgery service
• Participated in daily OR cases including CABG, valve replacements, and lobectomies
• Presented postoperative patients on rounds and assisted in chest tube placement and bedside procedures

For each key rotation, add 2–4 bullets that highlight:

• Responsibility level (intern-like, sub-I, night call)
• Exposure to CTS or high-acuity care
• Initiative (presentations, QI project started during the rotation)

Technical Skills and Procedures

Instead of a generic “skills” section, tailor it to surgical relevance:

• Central line placement (if performed under supervision as a student)
• Chest tube management (clamping, stripping, monitoring output)
• Basic suturing, knot-tying, and wound closure
• Familiarity with cardiopulmonary bypass, ECMO (observational understanding)

Be honest—don’t inflate. Phrase as “assisted with” or “performed under supervision” where appropriate.

Example:

Technical Skills (Student Level)

• Assisted with over 50 median sternotomy closures and chest tube placements
• Performed supervised central venous catheter placement (IJ, subclavian) in SICU
• Proficient in basic suturing and instrument handling for skin closure

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Leveraging Your DO Background: Turning Perceived Weaknesses into Strengths

DO graduates sometimes worry that they’re at a disadvantage in the osteopathic residency match for highly competitive surgical fields. While bias exists in some places, you can mitigate it through your CV in concrete ways.

Emphasize Shared Standards

Your CV should make it obvious that:

• You’ve trained under ACGME-equivalent clinical expectations
• You have strong board performance (particularly if you took USMLE)
• You’ve rotated at academic centers with CTS programs

Ways to reflect this:

• Clearly label ACGME-accredited training environments
• List USMLE scores if they are competitive for CTS
• Showcase letters and experiences from MD mentors and departments (not on CV itself, but mentioned in rotations and positions).

Highlight Osteopathic Strengths Without Overdoing OMM

Program directors in CTS want technically skilled, resilient residents with strong communication and holistic care perspectives. Your DO background aligns with that, but don’t turn your CV into an OMM advertisement.

Appropriate ways to incorporate DO identity:

• Include osteopathic honor societies and leadership positions
• Highlight projects where osteopathic principles improved perioperative or chronic cardiac care
• Frame your training as adding depth to patient-centered communication and pre/postoperative counseling

In contrast, for CTS, you usually don’t need a separate “OMM Skills” section unless you’re applying to a specifically OMM-focused or osteopathic-integrated program.

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Leadership, Teaching, and Service: Signaling That You’re a Future Academic Surgeon

Cardiothoracic surgery is a field of teams, training, and systems. Your non-research, non-clinical experiences still matter greatly.

Leadership Roles That Matter

Programs want evidence that you can handle responsibility. On your medical student CV and subsequent updates, emphasize:

• Chief or leadership roles in surgery interest groups
• CTS or cardiology-focused organizations you led or co-founded
• Positions in national organizations (e.g., STS or AATS student section, SOMA committees)

Present each role with strong, outcome-oriented bullets:

President, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Interest Group
Lakewood College of Osteopathic Medicine | 2023–2024

• Expanded membership from 15 to 60 students and established a mentorship program with CTS faculty at regional academic centers
• Organized 3 skills workshops (suture labs, valve simulation) attended by over 100 students
• Coordinated visiting professor talks on adult cardiac surgery and congenital heart disease

These bullets say: I organize, I execute, and I care about CTS specifically.

Teaching and Mentoring

Academe is central to CTS. Include:

• Peer teaching roles (anatomy TA, surgical skills sessions)
• Mentoring junior medical students or pre-meds
• Formal teaching electives, if completed

Example:

Peer Tutor, Anatomy and Physiology

• Led weekly small-group sessions focusing on thoracic anatomy and cardiovascular physiology for OMS1 students
• Developed problem-based learning cases involving valvular disease and coronary syndromes

Even general teaching can be framed around cardiopulmonary content.

Volunteer and Service Activities

Service demonstrates your values and resilience. For CTS, especially impactful:

• Work with cardiac rehab programs or heart failure clinics
• Community health screenings (BP, cholesterol, lifestyle coaching)
• Underserved or rural outreach where cardiovascular disease burden is high

Again, connect it to your interest in cardiothoracic surgery where appropriate.

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Residency CV Tips: Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Listing Experiences Without Outcomes

Bad bullet:

• “Member of surgery interest group.”

Better bullet:

• “Active member of surgery interest group; participated in 3 CTS-focused journal clubs and presented on long-term outcomes after TAVR vs. SAVR.”

Always try to show impact, not just participation.

Mistake 2: Overcrowding and Redundancy

Program directors scan hundreds of CVs. Avoid:

• Repeating the same responsibilities across rotations
• Listing every minor workshop you attended as a separate line
• Including high school achievements (unless truly significant and still relevant: Olympiad medals, national titles)

Focus on quality, not sheer quantity.

Mistake 3: Inaccurate or Exaggerated Technical Skills

CTS is a small world; if you claim experience you don’t have, it will show quickly.

• Use clear, honest wording: “Assisted in,” “Observed,” “Performed under supervision.”
• Don’t list procedures you’ve only seen once as skills.

Program directors value honesty and insight into your actual level.

Mistake 4: Not Tailoring Your CV for Cardiothoracic Surgery

If your CV looks like it could belong to any surgery applicant, you’re missing an opportunity.

Ways to tailor:

• Group cardiothoracic-specific research near the top of the research section
• Make CTS-related rotations stand out with bolded section headings
• Highlight CTS mentors (by service name) in experiences where relevant
• Select experiences for ERAS activity descriptions that align with CTS themes (complex care, high-stakes decisions, teamwork in OR/ICU)

Mistake 5: Poor Proofreading and Inconsistency

Minor errors undermine credibility:

• Typos in journal names, dates, or titles
• Inconsistent date formats (e.g., 09/23 vs. September 2023)
• Switching from first-person active verbs to vague phrases

Solution: Have at least two people review your CV:

• One mentor in surgery/CTS for content
• One detail-oriented friend or advisor for formatting and spelling

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Action Plan: How to Build Your CV for Residency Over Time

Whether you’re early in DO school or close to applying, you can still upgrade your CV strategically.

OMS1–OMS2: Foundation Building

Focus areas:

• Strong academic performance, especially in anatomy, physiology, and path
• Join or help launch a cardiothoracic surgery interest group
• Find a CTS or cardiac surgery mentor at an affiliated hospital
• Start a small research project (case report, retrospective chart review)

Output targets by end of OMS2:

• 1–2 small research outputs (poster or case report submission)
• At least one leadership or committee role in a surgery/CTS-related group
• Early exposure to the OR or CTS clinic (shadowing documented in your experiences)

OMS3: Clinical and Research Consolidation

Focus areas:

• Excel in core clerkships, especially surgery and internal medicine
• Secure a general surgery and CTS elective for OMS4
• Convert early research into submissions (abstracts, manuscripts)
• Start identifying potential letter writers in surgery and CTS

Output targets by end of OMS3:

• Strong surgery clerkship evaluation and grade
• 1–3 abstracts or posters, ideally one in CTS or cardiac topics
• Solid leadership and service experiences ready to be listed

OMS4 / Post-graduation Year: Application-Ready Profile

Focus areas:

• High-yield away rotations in places with cardiothoracic surgery
• Finalize manuscripts and try to get at least one accepted publication
• Polish your medical student CV and align it with your ERAS entries
• Ask mentors for feedback on your CV from the perspective of selection committees

Output targets before submitting ERAS:

• Clean, well-structured CV with:
  • At least one CTS-related rotation
  • A track record of research/academic engagement
  • Clear leadership and service commitments
• Confirmed letters from CTS and general surgery faculty

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. As a DO graduate, do I need USMLE scores on my CV for cardiothoracic surgery?

While not absolutely mandatory, USMLE scores are often expected at many academic, MD-majority programs—especially for highly competitive fields like cardiothoracic surgery. If you took USMLE and scored competitively (often above national averages for surgery), absolutely include them on your CV. If you only took COMLEX, present your scores clearly and highlight strong clinical performance, research, and CTS experiences to offset potential unfamiliarity with COMLEX among some committees.

2. How many publications do I need to be competitive for cardiothoracic surgery residency?

There is no fixed number, but many successful CTS applicants have at least a few tangible academic products: 1–2 peer-reviewed articles or accepted manuscripts, plus several abstracts/posters. For DO graduates, even a small but focused portfolio (e.g., 1 CTS-related manuscript, 2–3 posters at relevant meetings) can be very meaningful. Quality, relevance, and your actual contribution matter more than raw count.

3. Should I include non-medical jobs or activities on my residency CV?

Yes, selectively. Jobs or experiences that demonstrate discipline, responsibility, leadership, or manual skills (e.g., EMT, military service, engineering, competitive athletics, serious music training) are worth including, especially if they show qualities important in a surgeon (resilience, teamwork, fine motor skills, time management). Keep descriptions concise and emphasize transferable skills. Avoid cluttering the CV with short-lived or trivial roles.

4. How often should I update my CV while preparing for residency?

Update your CV at least every 3–4 months during clinical years and more often if you’re actively producing research or completing significant rotations. Each time you present, publish, take on a new leadership role, or complete an away rotation, add it promptly. Having an up-to-date CV is crucial for networking, requesting letters, and taking advantage of last-minute opportunities (e.g., research collaboration, scholarship applications, or visiting student spots).

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By structuring your CV strategically, emphasizing cardiothoracic surgery–relevant experiences, and leveraging your osteopathic background thoughtfully, you can present yourself as a compelling, well-prepared candidate for cardiothoracic surgery residency and rigorous heart surgery training—even in a highly competitive, MD-dominated environment.