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Support tomorrow's leaders today!

Since 1973, the AATS Foundation has supported cardiothoracic surgeons in research and education. Your donation will support the future or cardiothoracic surgery. Individual contributions go directly to Foundation initiatives.

About the Foundation See List of All Scholarships Programs

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Your donations are put to use immediately. We have projects running year round that need your support—donate today to make a difference!

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Support the G. Alexander Patterson Honoring Our Mentors Program

Join the AATS Foundation in honoring a leader in thoracic surgery whose visionary contributions to lung transplantation, academic leadership, and surgical education have left an enduring mark on the specialty. The Alec Patterson program’s mission is unique within the AATS Foundation and provides funding for scholarships for Surgeon-Scientists, research scholarships focused on thoracic and transplant surgery, grants to advance thoracic surgical practice in developed and developing countries, and more. Support this program by donating today.

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The AATS Foundation now accepts donations from Canada. You will receive a full tax-deduction recognized by the CRA.

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Open Programs

The AATS or AATS Foundation are currently accepting applications for the following programs.

Show Open Programs for

For Early Career Surgeons

There are no open programs for this audience at this time.

For Medical Students

There are no open programs for this audience at this time.

For Mid-Career Surgeons

There are no open programs for this audience at this time.

For Residents/ Fellows

There are no open programs for this audience at this time.

For Program Directors/ Lectureships

There are no open programs for this audience at this time.

For Senior Surgeons

There are no open programs for this audience at this time.

Upcoming Programs

The AATS or AATS Foundation are not currently accepting applications for the following programs.

Show Upcoming Programs for

For Early Career Surgeons

AATS Foundation Research Scholarship

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 12/1/2026
  • Specialty: Multi-specialty
  • Opens: September 1, 2026
  • Deadline: December 2, 2026

AATS Foundation/WTS Mid-Career Investigator Award

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 12/1/2026
  • Specialty: Multi-specialty
  • Opens: September 1, 2026
  • Deadline: December 2, 2026

AATS Meeting Travel Awards

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 12/1/2026
  • Specialty: Multi-specialty
  • Opens: May 30, 2026
  • Deadline: December 1, 2026

Academic Excellence Award

  • Specialty: Multi-specialty
  • Opens: TBA

Advanced Valve Disease Educational Fellowship

  • Specialty: Cardiac
  • Opens: The next opening date is being determined.

Aldo R. Castañeda Fellowship

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 7/1/2026
  • Specialty: Congenital
  • Opens: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline: July 2, 2026

Aortic Training Program

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 7/1/2026
  • Specialty: Cardiac
  • Opens: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline: July 2, 2026

Denton A. Cooley Fellowship

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 7/1/2026
  • Specialty: Cardiac
  • Opens: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline: July 2, 2026

Evarts A. Graham Memorial Traveling Fellowship

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 7/1/2026
  • Specialty: Multi-specialty
  • Opens: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline: July 2, 2026

Every Heartbeat Matters Valve Fellowship

  • Specialty: Cardiac
  • Opens: The next opening date is being determined.

F. Griffith Pearson Fellowship

  • Specialty: Thoracic
  • Opens: The next opening date is being determined.

International Clinical Fellowship in Thoracic Aortic Surgery

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 7/1/2026
  • Specialty: Cardiac
  • Opens: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline: July 2, 2026

Jack A. Roth Fellowship in Thoracic Surgical Oncology

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 7/1/2026
  • Specialty: Thoracic
  • Opens: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline: July 2, 2026

James L. Cox Fellowship in Atrial Fibrillation Surgery

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 12/1/2026
  • Specialty: Cardiac
  • Opens: September 1, 2026
  • Deadline: December 2, 2026

Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery Fellowship

  • Specialty: Multi-specialty
  • Opens: The next opening date is being determined.

Marc R. de Leval Fellowship

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 7/1/2026
  • Specialty: Congenital
  • Opens: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline: July 2, 2026

Matthew Gerdisch Fellowship in Arrhythmia Surgery

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 7/1/2026
  • Specialty: Cardiac
  • Opens: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline: July 1, 2026

Sir Magdi Yacoub International Mentored Career Development Award

  • Specialty: Cardiac
  • Opens: The next opening date is being determined.

Surgical Investigator Program

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 12/1/2026
  • Specialty: Multi-specialty
  • Opens: September 1, 2026
  • Deadline: December 2, 2026

Thoracic Surgery Training Fellowship

  • Specialty: Thoracic
  • Opens: The next opening date is being determined.

Thoracic Surgical Robotics Fellowship

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 12/1/2026
  • Specialty: Thoracic
  • Opens: September 1, 2026
  • Deadline: December 2, 2026

Tirone E. David International Fellowship

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 7/1/2026
  • Specialty: Cardiac
  • Opens: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline: July 2, 2026

Valerie Rusch Mentored Career Development Award

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 12/1/2026
  • Specialty: Multi-specialty
  • Opens: September 1, 2026
  • Deadline: December 2, 2026

For Medical Students

AATS Meeting Travel Awards

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 12/1/2026
  • Specialty: Multi-specialty
  • Opens: May 30, 2026
  • Deadline: December 1, 2026

Medical Student Opportunity Scholarship

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 7/1/2026
  • Specialty: Multi-specialty
  • Opens: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline: July 2, 2026

Summer Intern Scholarship

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 12/1/2026
  • Specialty: Multi-specialty
  • Opens: September 1, 2026
  • Deadline: December 2, 2026

For Mid-Career Surgeons

AATS Foundation/WTS Mid-Career Investigator Award

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 12/1/2026
  • Specialty: Multi-specialty
  • Opens: September 1, 2026
  • Deadline: December 2, 2026

AATS Meeting Travel Awards

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 12/1/2026
  • Specialty: Multi-specialty
  • Opens: May 30, 2026
  • Deadline: December 1, 2026

Every Heartbeat Matters Valve Fellowship

  • Specialty: Cardiac
  • Opens: The next opening date is being determined.

Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery Fellowship

  • Specialty: Multi-specialty
  • Opens: The next opening date is being determined.

Tirone E. David International Fellowship

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 7/1/2026
  • Specialty: Cardiac
  • Opens: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline: July 2, 2026

For Residents/ Fellows

AATS Meeting Travel Awards

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 12/1/2026
  • Specialty: Multi-specialty
  • Opens: May 30, 2026
  • Deadline: December 1, 2026

Alain Carpentier Honoring Our Mentors Program

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 12/1/2026
  • Specialty: Cardiac
  • Opens: September 1, 2026
  • Deadline: December 2, 2026

Cardiac Surgical Resident Investigator Award

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 12/1/2026
  • Specialty: Cardiac
  • Opens: September 1, 2026
  • Deadline: December 2, 2026

David J. Sugarbaker Surgical Resident Investigator Award

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 12/1/2026
  • Specialty: Thoracic
  • Opens: September 1, 2026
  • Deadline: December 2, 2026

Denton A. Cooley Fellowship

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 7/1/2026
  • Specialty: Cardiac
  • Opens: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline: July 2, 2026

Honoring Our Cleveland Clinic Mentors Program

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 7/1/2026
  • Specialty: Multi-specialty
  • Opens: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline: July 2, 2026

International Clinical Fellowship in Thoracic Aortic Surgery

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 7/1/2026
  • Specialty: Cardiac
  • Opens: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline: July 2, 2026

International Clinical Fellowship in Thoracic Surgery

  • Specialty: Thoracic
  • Opens: The next opening date is being determined.

Matthew Gerdisch Fellows Training Program

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 7/1/2026
  • Specialty: Cardiac
  • Opens: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline: July 1, 2026

Matthew Gerdisch Fellowship in Arrhythmia Surgery

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 7/1/2026
  • Specialty: Cardiac
  • Opens: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline: July 1, 2026

Thoracic Surgical Oncology Clinical Trial Research Training Fellowship

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 7/1/2026
  • Specialty: Thoracic
  • Opens: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline: July 2, 2026

Thoracic Surgical Robotics Fellowship

  • Applicant Requirements: Deadline ends at 11:59pm Eastern on 12/1/2026
  • Specialty: Thoracic
  • Opens: September 1, 2026
  • Deadline: December 2, 2026

For Program Directors/ Lectureships

AATS Foundation Lawrence H. Cohn Lectureship

  • Specialty: Multi-specialty
  • Opens: TBA

AATS Foundation Timothy J. Gardner Lectureship

  • Specialty: Multi-specialty
  • Opens: TBA

For Senior Surgeons

There are no upcoming programs for this audience at this time.

Recent Donors

The AATS wishes to thank the following donors for their recent contributions to the important work of the Foundation. Join the list by making your donation to the next generation of surgeons.

Dr. Saad Hasan

Mr. Robert Kroslowitz

Michael T. Jaklitsch

Mr. Matheus Cipriano Vidal Heluany

Dr. Peter Wearden

Prof. Kuang-Tai Kuo

Dr. Jay K. Bhama

Dr. Pablo G. Sanchez

John G. Markley

Dr. Siavash Saadat

Dr. David Berkheim

Michael J. Reardon

Allison Davila

Dr. Christos I. Stavropoulos

Ourania A. Preventza

Dr. Stephen James Huddleston

Dr. Ravi Rajaram

Dr. YIYU YIN

Dr. Semih Bayraktar

Dr. Hossein Almassi

Anelechi C. Anyanwu

Dr. Afshin Ehsan

Dr. Wei Feng

John H. Sanders, Jr.

Jason Long

Sudish C. Murthy

Dr. Michael Lanuti

Dr. Ashok Muniappan

Dr. Benjamin Smood

Richard Charles Anderson