Advanced Valve Disease Educational Fellowship

Program Overview

This program provides fellows with an interactive educational opportunity to observe and have discussions with specialists in the treatment of heart valve disease at suggested institutions, while concurrently obtaining technical skills in perioperative patient management.

The AATS Foundation Advanced Valve Disease Education Fellowship provides a live, interactional, and observational educational experience for cardiothoracic surgeons from around the world to spend one to three months at host institutions focusing their research and training in any of the following areas:

• Minimally invasive operative techniques for aortic, mitral, and tricuspid disease.
• Unique technical approaches for repair of complex degenerative and functional mitral valves.
• Complex aortic surgery.
• Aortic and mitral transcatheter valve approaches.
• Valve imaging techniques for proper assessment and case planning.
• Robotic mitral valve surgery.
• Developing a successful program.
• Endovascular treatment of the aorta.
• Current trends in coronary revascularization.
• A multidisciplinary approach for the treatment of valvular heart disease.
• The role heart teams should play to improve patient outcomes.

A number of host surgeons/institutions who are experienced in surgical and transcatheter therapies have partnered with the AATS Foundation on this initiative. Potential hosts include:

• Marc Gillinov, MD, Cleveland Clinic
• David H. Adams, MD, Mount-Sinai Medical Center
• Aubrey C. Galloway, MD, New York University
• Scott M. Goldman, MD, Lankenau Medical Center
• Vaughn A. Starnes, MD, University of Southern California
• Michael Halkos, MD, Emory University Hospital

Eligibility

To be eligible for an award, candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Completed formal training in general surgery and in thoracic and/or cardiovascular surgery, but should not yet have reached a senior position.
• Meet all necessary criteria (license, visa, etc.) for travel to and from host center.
• Must be part of an active clinical practice.

Application Process

In addition to a formal online application, candidates will also be required to upload the following materials:

• Curriculum Vitae;
• Letter of support from their department chair or division chief;
• One to two page narrative to include: (1) what you hope to accomplish during the Fellowship (including timeline and area of interest); (2) how you will utilize the skills that you hope to learn at your home institution; (3) the relationship of the planned study to the your prior work, preparation, and professional goals; and, (4) statement of your future career goals;
• One page outline of your current practice or training program with an estimate of the number of atrial fibrillation cases observed;
• Brief description of what you hope to learn by visiting your selected host site.

Review Process

AATS Foundation’s Review Committee, which includes surgeons with recognized expertise in the treatment of valve disease, will review all applications and select awardees within 45 days of application deadline. Applications will be graded on all aspects of the award criteria. At the conclusion of their experience, a final report is required for submission to the Foundation and the Sponsor.

Depending on the intended time spent at the host institution as described in the application, a selection of one of the following two levels will be awarded:

Level One: Awards of up to $7,500 for no more than one month of study.

Level Two: Awards of up to $15,000 for 2-3 months of study.