Tirone E. David International Fellowship

Program Overview

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The AATS Foundation Tirone E. David Fellowship provides grants to international cardiac surgeons (within their first 14 years out of training) to support clinical observational training at a North American host institution 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 the following activities:

• Up to $15,000 would support a cardiac surgeon completing a 1 month observational clinical fellowship at an AATS Member’s institution.
• Up to $10,000 would provide travel support for their AATS Mentor to attend their home institution for a visiting lectureship/longitudinal visit.

**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

For international early to mid-career surgeons to attend an AATS member’s institution to further improve their clinical training, build relationships, and improve patient care 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 Dr. David, 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.

• Potential Host sites forthcoming....

Duration of the Program

• Longitudinal visits of between 5-10 days
• Observational fellowship between 2-4 weeks

Application Process

• Applicants should provide a curriculum vitae with a full description of their surgical experience.
• Applicant’s One-page statement describing the relationship of the proposed fellowship plans to the applicant’s career goals and how this award will allow the applicant to impact health care globally.
• The applicant's proposed plan of study must clearly outline the educational insights and benefits that the fellowship will have on their professional career.
• Letters of support from host surgeons are required and must outline future ambitions towards a potential leadership role in cardiothoracic surgery.*
• In addition to the above documentation, all applicants must provide a proposed budget of how the funding will be utilized.
• The successful candidate should be planning to return to their native country following the completion of their fellowship.
• Letter of support from the Surgical Chief from home institution outlining permission to participate in the Fellowship if selected and willingness to host the AATS Member Mentor for a short longitudinal visit.
• Additional letter of support from Surgeon Host and Mentor outlining plans for clinical observership and longitudinal visits.*

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