title: Cardiothoracic Surgery League from University of São Paulo Medical School: twelve years in medical education experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Academic Leagues (Academic Interest Group) are entities that belong to medical schools and their hospitals. Their goals are research, medical education and health care. The cardiothoracic Surgery League (Liga de Cirurgia Cardiotorácica--LCCT), University of São Paulo Medical School, was founded 12 years ago, aimed at providing undergraduate medical students an opportunity to expand knowledge in cardiothoracic surgery and to take part in scientific studies in the field.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the experience gained through LCCT implementation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Current students and former members of LCCT were submitted to a specific evaluation form, delivered personally or by email, which provided data on the general opinion regarding LCCT's activities, the reasons for answers provided and choice of medical specialties. Furthermore, LCCT's total scientific production was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most undergraduate medical students 51/65 (78.5%) and former members 94/121 (77.7%) completed the form. The interest in Cardiothoracic Surgery was the most common reason for joining LCCT 44/161 (27.3%). Most students 32/51 (62.7%)--reported their initial expectations were partially met. Almost every member would recommend a fellow medical student to join LCCT 50/51 (98%) and 25/51 (49%) of them participated in a scientific project linked to LCCT. In total, 47 scientific papers were published having LCCT's medical students as authors or co-authors during the existence of the league. Of the former members who chose a surgical career, 7/52 (13.4%) chose thoracic or cardiovascular surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LCCT has met its goals, since most current and former members recognized its role in their medical training, besides it is a good way to produce scientific initiation.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.flavichio@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Flávio Guimarães
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Lucas de Oliveira Serra
authors.initials: Lde O
authors.lastname: Hortêncio
authors.forename: Fernando do Valle
authors.initials: Fdo V
authors.lastname: Unterpertinger
authors.forename: Daniel Reis
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Waisberg
authors.forename: Paulo Manuel
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Pêgo-Fernandes
authors.forename: Fabio Biscegli
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Jatene
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001938:Brazil; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D010379:Peer Group; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*