Sir Magdi Yacoub International Mentored Career Development Award

Program Overview

The AATS Foundation Sir Magdi Yacoub International Mentored Career Development Award provides grants to international cardiac surgeons to support clinical observational training, translational research, and the opportunity to have a visiting cardiac surgeon-mentor provide training, education, or research support at the award recipient’s home institution.

Acceptance into the program will include participation in all three of the following activities:

• Up to $10,000 to allow for travel for longitudinal visits
• Up to $15,000 would support a cardiac surgeon complete a 1-3 month observational clinical fellowship
• Up to $50,000 would provide partial salary support for a 1-year translational research fellowship

**Please note that any award payments made to foreign individuals may be subject to federal tax withholding of up to 30% if a recipient is traveling to the United States.

Program Goal

To disseminate science and practice in cardiac surgery. This award is designed to have a significant impact on the specialty, with the selected awardee sharing their findings upon completion of the program.

Hosts

A number of AATS host surgeons, several of whom trained with Sir Magdi Yacoub, have partnered with the AATS Foundation on this initiative. Interested applicants also have the option to select their own host institution with approval from host. If selecting a host institution outside of suggested host sponsors, applicant is required to contact program of their choice and obtain a letter of agreement from host surgeon to be submitted with their application. Potential hosts are listed below.

• Anelechi C. Anyanwu, MD, Mount Sinai
• Joanna Chikwe, MD, Cedars-Sinai Los Angeles
• Ismail El-Hamamsy, MD, Mount Sinai
• Thoralf M. Sundt, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital

Duration of the Program

• Longitudinal visits of between 5-10 days
• Observational fellowship of between 1-3 months
• Research fellowship of up to 1 year

View Sir Magdi Yacoub Mentored Career Development Award recipients

Application Process

• Applicants should provide a curriculum vitae with a full description of their surgical experience.
• In collaboration with the host institution, description of the proposed research, including background, specific aims, significance, and research plan (5 page limit).
• In collaboration with the host institution, description of research facilities.
• Detailed budget (up to 10% of the total funding can be used for indirect costs and/or overhead assessments. If selected, grant will be paid to the recipient's institution where research will take place for support of salary, research supplies, travel, and other legitimate academic expenses).
• Disclosure of other currently funded research projects and pending applications for support.
• Letter of support from the Surgical Chief or Director of Laboratory where research will be conducted addressing his/her endorsement of proposal and feasibility of the research proposal being carried out.*
• Additional letter of support from Surgeon Host and Mentor outlining plans for clinical observership and longitudinal visits.*
• Most significant reprint.
• One-page statement describing the relationship of the proposed research and fellowship plans to the applicant’s career goals and how this award will allow the applicant to impact health care globally.

*For those looking to send letters of support for the candidate directly to the AATS Foundation, please email admin@aatsfoundation.org.

Review Process

The AATS Foundation’s Evarts A. Graham Memorial Traveling Fellowship Committee will review all applications and notify candidates of a final decision. Applications will be graded on all aspects of the award criteria.

All applicants will be notified with an official letter from the AATS Foundation within 2-3 months of the program deadline. Should you have any questions regarding your status prior to receiving this notification, please contact admin@aatsfoundation.org.

At the conclusion of the fellowship, a final report is required to be submitted to the Foundation Board of Directors and any publications emanating from the research must include acknowledgment of the award.