Thoracic Surgical Robotics Fellowship

Program Overview

The AATS Foundation Thoracic Surgical Robotics Fellowship provides an advanced educational experience for North American general thoracic awardees to participate in a one-day, faculty-led Clinical Skills Course at Intuitive Surgical’s Atlanta, GA facility. The fellowship will take place between Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 and includes structured pre-course requirements and post-course clinical benchmarks to ensure longitudinal skill development under the guidance of a designated faculty mentor.

The fellowship is administered by the AATS Foundation and supports successful applicants in the amount of up to $1,200* to defray the costs of travel and accommodations while attending the in-person Clinical Skills Course. This comprehensive, hands-on course provides both didactic and procedural training using Intuitive’s da Vinci Surgical System, focusing on advanced thoracic applications such as lobectomy and segmentectomy. Awardees will work directly with Intuitive training specialists and AATS Foundation faculty to complete standardized simulator drills, technical skill modules, and case-based discussions designed to enhance robotic proficiency.

*Please note that funding provided will cover travel and hotel accommodations which will be booked directly through Tangerine Travel for all fellows and attendings.

Those who attend the course and complete all program requirements will receive an AATS Foundation/Intuitive Surgical Certificate of Completion

View Thoracic Surgical Robotics Fellowship recipients

Application Process

• Applicants should provide a curriculum vitae with a full description of their surgical experience.
• Letters of support from both their current program director and/or attending surgeon
• Attending’s robotic case logs for trailing calendar year as well as the robotic case logs for their thoracic service department
  • (When uploading this information, please use this template)
• One to two-page narrative to include: (1) what they hope to accomplish during the fellowship; (2) the relationship of the planned study to the applicant's prior work, preparation, and professional goal; and (3) statement of future career goals

At the conclusion of their experience, fellows are asked to complete a post-fellowship survey for submission to the AATS Foundation. As part of Sunshine Act requirements, the value of the course for all trainees will be reported.

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

Review Process

Applications will be reviewed the thoracic members of the AATS Foundation’s Surgical Robotics Scholarship Committee and will be graded on all aspects of the award criteria. The review committee will select only one awardee per institution unless extenuating circumstances provide the opportunity to support two awardees.

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 foundation@aats.org.

Course Requirements

To be completed prior to attending the Clinical Skills in-person program course:

• Da Vinci Technology Online Modules covering the basic design and operation of the da Vinci System. Certificate of completion issued by Intuitive upon completion of module in Intuitive Learning
• Da Vinci Technology Overview In-person In-Service covering an overview of the system conducted at the hospital by an Intuitive Clinical Sales Representative (CSR)
• Completion of Da Vinci Technology Skills Drills with Kit/Simulator hands-on practice with the system, either with a physical skills drill kit, or a virtual reality skills simulator, including (pending hospital availability of this technology):

• Two (2) full-length procedure video reviews
• Console competency for basic surgical tasks as determined by their attending or program
• Completion of 7 robotic cases as primary console surgeon performing ≥50% of anatomic lung resections, lobectomy, or segmentectomy procedures prior to hands on/in-person program, submitted within My Intuitive App and the AATS Foundation case log
• Submit an edited case video prior to hands on/in-person program. The edited case video requires that the awardee be the console surgeon for the key portions of the procedure, and it must be indicated in the video the portion where their mentor takes over.

To be completed after attending the Clinical Procedure Skills Training Course:

• Upon returning to home center, Fellows are required to complete a minimum of 4 robotic lobectomy cases as console surgeon (submitted within My Intuitive App and/or the AATS Foundation case log). 3 cases as primary console surgeon performing ≥75% of anatomic lung resections, lobectomy, or segmentectomy, and 1 cases as primary console surgeon performing ≥90% of anatomic lung resections, lobectomy, or segmentectomy

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