Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery Fellowship

Program Overview

In collaboration with the Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery (JATS), the AATS Foundation has created this fellowship to enhance the exposure for young Japanese cardiothoracic surgeons to advanced medical therapy and integrated systems in North America. The Fellowship provides an interactive educational experience for awardees to spend two to three months at host institutions in North America.

Cardiac

This named Fellowship will annually provide a live, interactive and observational educational experience for young Japanese cardiothoracic surgeons to spend between two to three months at host institutions in North America. The program is primarily geared to provide Fellows 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 and cardiothoracic patient management. Fellows will focus 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

Thoracic

This named Fellowship will annually provide a live, interactive and observational educational experience for young Japanese thoracic surgeons to spend between two to three months studying clinical techniques at host institutions in North America. This program provides an opportunity to obtain expertise in advanced minimally invasive thoracic surgery, comprehensive care screening and diagnosis. Fellows will focus their research and training in any of the following areas:

• Minimally invasive surgery for lung cancer (especially for VATS of sub-lobectomy)
• Diagnosis and treatment of lung disease
• How to improve patient outcomes (LOS, operative duration, blood loss)
• Complicated thorascopic procedures
• Multidisciplinary team management
• Innovative ideas for the next generation of minimally invasive thoracic surgery
• Research (minimally invasive thoracic surgery)

Host Surgeons & Institutions

Cardiac

• Steven Bolling, MD, University of Michigan
• Michael Halkos, MD, Emory University
• Joseph Sabik, MD, UH Cleveland Medical Center
• Alan Speir, MD, INOVA Fairfax Hospital
• Neal Kon, MD, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Thoracic

• Thomas D’Amico, MD, Duke University
• Shanda Blackmon, MD, Mayo Clinic
• James Luketich, MD, Pittsburgh Medical Center
• John Mitchell, MD, University of Colorado School of Medicine

View Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery Fellowship recipients

Application Process

• Applicants should provide a curriculum vitae with a full description of their surgical experience.
• Letter of support from your department chair or division chief.
• One to two page narrative to include:
  • What you hope to accomplish during the Fellowship (including timeline and area of interest).
  • How you will utilize the skills you have learned at your home institution.
  • The relationship of the planned study to your prior work, preparation and professional goals.
  • Statement of your future career goals.

**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.

Review Process

The AATS Foundation’s JATS Fellowship Committee, which includes surgeons who are members of the AATS and JATS, will review all applications and recommend recipients to be presented to AATS Foundation Board of Directors for 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.

Cardiac

The fellowship provides up to three recipients an award of up to $15,000 for 2-3 months of observership study and to defray travel and living expenses.

Thoracic

The fellowship provides up to one recipient an award of up to $15,000 for 2-3 months of observership study and to defray travel and living expenses.