A thoracic surgeon provides the operative care of patients with pathologic conditions in the chest. This includes surgery for coronary artery disease, lung cancer, and abnormalities of the heart valves. Thoracic surgeons, sometimes also referred to as cardiothoracic surgeons, are under some of the greatest scrutiny by the public. Quality ratings, Medicare, and even local newspapers report on mortality ratings for coronary artery bypass surgery more frequently than any other surgery. Surgeons who do the greatest number of coronary surgeries have the best quality ratings and the best outcomes.