A Call for Investment in Sponsorship, Apprenticeship, and Mentorship: Ensuring the Future of Congenital Heart Surgery.

Becoming a successful congenital cardiac surgeon requires the investment of senior surgeons in sponsorship, apprenticeship, and mentorship. The recent survey of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Workforce on Congenital Surgery revealed distinct concerns from early-career surgeons related to these functions. This Invited Perspective reviews the concerning findings of the survey regarding the future of the specialty, describes key barriers to senior surgeon investment, and provides potential solutions to the concerns.