Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Vaughn A. Starnes Assumes Presidency of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery May 15, 2019 Author: American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Category: Feed Vaughn A. Starnes, MD, became the 100th President of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS). He officially succeeded David H. Adams, MD, in a ceremony at the AATS 99th Annual Meeting in Toronto.