The emergence of general thoracic surgery in the early 20th century was in response to chest morbidities prevalent by tuberculosis and World War I-related trauma. By the 1950s the practice of thoracic surgery by non-cardiac surgeons was near the nadir of its popularity. Thoracic training often played second fiddle to cardiac training. However, the predicted dismal future has been found to be in error. Since early 1990s, general Thoracic Surgery is a vibrant, growing surgical specialty