The South East Asian Thoracic Society (SEATS) represents all ASEAN countries. The term SEATS was coined to combine the identity of ASEAN with the field of thoracic surgery.

The society’s primary objective is to enhance the standard of education and training in thoracic surgery. It also seeks to support the development of thoracic surgery in less-developed partners among ASEAN nations and also help in developing the field of minimally invasive thoracic surgery that is seen as par with the rest of the world.

SEATS aims to foster collaboration among member countries in research and development, with the goal of improving the quality of surgical care for patients in all aspects of thoracic surgery.