Thoracic Surgery Foundation Grants & Awards

This advanced fellowship opportunity will be awarded to a surgeon and their institution to support and facilitate the successful initiation of a high quality robotic cardiac surgery program at his/her home institution. The fellow will be assigned to a proctor, and the primary mentor/sponsor will assist the fellow with five robotic cases, at the fellow’s institution. This fellowship is supported by the generosity of Intuitive. Eligibility: Surgeon applicant and first assistant must have attended the STS Workshop on Robotic Cardiac Surgery, meet specific requirements confirming institutional support and resources, and have experience performing mitral valve repair and replacement and/or have significant OPCAB experience. Up to $25,000

Ralph Alley, MD was a Founding Member of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and served as STS President from 1975-1976. David Sheridan was an inventor and close friend of Dr. Alley who held more than 50 patents for innovations that have improved health care.  Moved by his friend’s commitment to thoracic surgery, Mr. Sheridan created the Alley-Sheridan Fund, which provides scholarships for cardiothoracic surgeons to attend the Brandeis Health Leadership Program in Health Policy and Management or the ACS Surgeons as Educators course.

This award provides support to investigators conducting research related to lung cancer. Proposed projects should aim to reduce the burden of lung disease through the advancement of clinical, transitional and/or basic scientific research. Awards of up to $50,000 per year for up to two years are granted to support the work of an early-career cardiothoracic surgeon (within seven years of first faculty appointment at time of application deadline).

This award provides support to investigators conducting health disparity research related to lung cancer. Awards of up to $50,000 per year for up to two years are granted to support the work of an early-career cardiothoracic surgeon (within seven years of first faculty appointment at time of application deadline) and research or physician scientists.

Carolyn E. Reed, MD was a thoracic surgeon, educator, and successful researcher who died while in the prime years of her career. She served as the first female Chair of the ABTS and was also President of STSA and STS. This award in her honor provides support of up to $10,000 for one year for a clinically-established woman cardiothoracic surgeon, or woman resident in her last year of cardiothoracic surgery residency, to travel to another institution for the purpose of learning a new skill or technology.

A new offering for the 2025 TSF Award cycle, the Catalyst Grant for Data Access provides support for STS Database Participant User File (PUF) research expenses, or other standalone research projects of a similar nature. Support of up to $10,000 will be awarded to cover data access costs and other direct costs.

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Created to honor Dr. Douglas Mathisen’s legacy of mentorship and sponsorship of a generation of thoracic surgeons, this award is aimed at facilitating the continuing education of an early career general thoracic surgeon by supporting travel to another institution for up to four weeks for the purpose of learning a novel technique, adapting innovative technology, and/or fostering collaboration between surgical investigators. The applicant must be a cardiothoracic surgeon based in North America who has completed a program leading to certification by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, or who will be certified by the grant start date and who is within 5 years of their first faculty appointment. Awards of up to $10,000 are granted for domestic fellowships for 1 year. Awards of up to $20,000 are granted for international fellowships for 1 year. Only domestic fellowship awards will be granted for 2025.

Through the generosity of the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, this award provides support of up to $35,000 for qualified surgeons who conduct humanitarian work in underserved regions and populations. This award is designed to provide support for programs that educate, screen and/or treat underserved populations to reduce the global burden of heart valve disease, and to support other programs that advance health care and address underserved populations.

Through the generosity and philanthropy of the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, TSF offers $2,500 travel scholarships for qualified cardiothoracic surgery residents and early-career cardiothoracic surgeons (within seven years of completion of CT surgery residency) who are interested in participating in international medical volunteerism in underserved regions and populations. The TSF International Medical Volunteer Scholar will join an upcoming TSF Every Heartbeat Matters Award surgical cardiac outreach trip in 2025. TSF Every Heartbeat Matters surgical outreach trips are designed to educate, screen and/or treat underserved populations to reduce the global burden of heart valve disease, and may include other programs that advance health care and address underserved populations.

Levi Watkins, MD was an accomplished cardiothoracic surgeon and social activist at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, and made medical history by working with innovative physicians and engineers to implant the first automated internal cardiac defibrillator in a human-being. The Watkins Scholarship provides a training and/or development grant to support travel to a center of excellence to acquire additional clinical, translational or leadership training to enhance skills and practice in an area of innovation or surgical significance. This award provides support of up to $5,000 for up to two weeks for cardiothoracic surgeons who are within ten years of first faculty appointment, and who are members of an underrepresented group in medicine.

Michael J. Davidson, MD was an outstanding cardiothoracic surgeon and teacher who was murdered in January, 2015 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. This tragedy profoundly affected the cardiothoracic community and brought to light Dr. Davidson’s achievements in mastering sophisticated catheter skills and advocating for a future that would meld the cardiac catheterization lab with the operating theater. This award in his name provides support of up to $20,000 for an early-career cardiothoracic surgeon (within 7 years of first faculty appointment at the time of application deadline), and cardiothoracic surgery residents in their last year of training at an ACGME-accredited program, who are seeking to enhance their skills in both transcatheter valve techniques and open valve surgery.

STS Past President and Historian Nicholas T. Kouchoukos, MD, has had a long, remarkable career in cardiothoracic surgery. Among his greatest achievements was the development of the modified Bentall procedure and hypothermic TAAA Repair. This award in his name provides support of up to $10,000 for one year to facilitate the continuing education of a cardiothoracic surgeon or senior resident committed to the treatment of thoracic aortic disease. The award is to be used for travel to another institution for the purpose of learning a novel technique, adapting innovative technology and fostering collaboration between surgical investigators in order to enhance patient care at the recipient’s home institution.

Nina Starr Braunwald, MD was the first woman to be certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and the first woman to conduct open heart surgery. This research award in her name supports up to $55,000 per year for up to two years for a woman resident working in a cardiac surgical clinic or laboratory research program who has not yet completed cardiothoracic surgical training. Since the award's inception, Braunwald Fellows have gone on to become established leaders within the field. The Braunwald Award is widely recognized as one of the specialty’s most prestigious research fellowships.

Named for surgeon-inventor Arshad Quadri and aortic surgery innovator Joseph Bavaria, this award is designed to support cardiac surgeons, residents, trainees, research scientists, and other inventors in their pursuit of innovations in cardiac surgery that will create better patient outcomes for all those who suffer from cardiac disease.

This award is intended for basic and pre-clinical or translational research into heart failure secondary to heart disease and revolves around the use of novel devices to lessen the burden of heart failure from end-stage valvular or other conditions, including, but not limited to, heart valve device design. Associated translational research related to function, physiology, and efficacy of novel heart valve devices also falls under the scope of the award.

Robert L. Replogle, MD was a talented pediatric cardiac surgeon as well as an educator, researcher, and national leader in cardiothoracic surgery. The purpose of the Replogle Fellowship is to facilitate the continuing education of a deserving young faculty surgeon or resident committed to the treatment of congenital heart disease in neonates, infants, children, and adults. The award is to be used for travel to another institution for the purpose of learning a novel technique, adapting innovative technology, and/or fostering collaboration between surgical investigators in order to further the progress of congenital heart surgery at the recipient’s home institution. This award in Dr. Replogle’s name provides support of up to $10,000 for up to four weeks for early career congenital heart surgeons, fellows enrolled in a congenital cardiac surgery fellowship, or cardiothoracic surgery residents who have matched in a congenital cardiac surgery fellowship.

The TSF Robotic Thoracic Surgery Equity and Access Award is designed to provide skills for eligible surgeons and cardiothoracic surgery residents to grow a robotic general thoracic surgical practice, and is supported through the generosity of Intuitive. Support of up to $10,000 is available for general thoracic surgeons and cardiothoracic surgery residents (in their last year of training) who are either: a member of an underrepresented demographic group in medicine, work in a designated rural area, or work in a medically underserved area/population.

The Resident Scholarship for the STS Coronary Conference allows CT surgery residents to advance their skills in coronary artery surgery by learning the latest research and techniques. Senior-level or chief CT surgery residents from the U.S. or Canada are eligible to apply for this scholarship. The scholarship covers course registration fees, two nights lodging at the host hotel, and a stipend to defray the cost of travel and meals.

The Resident Scholarship for the STS Mastering Valve Workshop allows CT surgery residents to learn advanced surgical and transcatheter techniques in valve surgery and atrial fibrillation. Senior-level or chief CT surgery residents from the U.S. or Canada are eligible to apply for this scholarship. The scholarship covers course registration fees, two nights lodging at the host hotel, and a stipend to defray the cost of travel and meals.

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The Resident Scholarship for the STS Perioperative & Critical Care Conference allows CT Surgery residents and general surgery residents to learn the latest techniques and management strategies in cardiovascular and thoracic critical care and enhanced recovery after surgery for the entire care team. CT surgery residents and General Surgery residents from the U.S. and Canada are eligible to apply for this scholarship. The scholarship covers course registration fees, two nights' lodging at the host hotel, and a stipend to defray the cost of travel and meals.

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Cardiothoracic surgeons, physicians, and residents from around the world at under-resourced institutions who are treating underserved patients, and who demonstrate a financial need are eligible to apply for a travel scholarship to attend the STS/EACTS Latin America Cardiovascular Surgery Conference. Valued at $1,250, the scholarship covers full conference registration, three nights lodging in a host hotel, and a stipend to defray the cost of air travel.

Thanks to a grant from Sibu P. Saha, MD, the Saha Scholarship provides the opportunity for junior faculty from India and cardiothoracic surgery residents from India and North America (United States, Canada, and Mexico) to attend the STS Annual Meeting. Applicants do not need to be of Indian or South Asian descent to apply. The award covers the cost of registration for the STS Annual Meeting, three nights lodging at an STS Annual Meeting partner hotel, and a stipend to defray the cost of cover meals, ground transportation and airfare.

This traveling fellowship facilitates the continuing education of a deserving Board-certified perfusionist who is committed to expanding cardiovascular perfusion education and knowledge base. The $10,000 award, for up to four weeks, is to be used for travel to another institution for the purpose of learning unique techniques, simulation approaches, and opportunities to adapt innovative technology to further the progress and care of cardiothoracic surgery patients at the recipient’s home institution. The successful applicant will have a record of excellence in training, leadership and achievement. They will have secured a position at an institution or group practice capable of providing continued growth and development in the realm of cardiovascular perfusion education.

Through the generosity of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Assocation (STSA), this award provides up to $40,000 per year for up to two years to support the research fellowship of a resident who has not yet completed cardiothoracic surgical training. During the fellowship, the resident will work in a cardiothoracic surgical clinical or laboratory research program and must be working or training in the STSA Membership region. STSA membership is not required; however, applicants must meet STSA membership eligibility requirements.

This award provides up to $60,000 per year for up to two years to support the research fellowship of a resident who has not yet completed cardiothoracic surgical training. During the fellowship, the resident will work in a cardiothoracic surgical clinical or laboratory research program.

The TSF/FFF International Traveling Fellowship is a two-way educational fellowship to support a cardiothoracic surgeon to travel to an international institution, and is co-administered by the Francis Fontan Fund of EACTS and The Thoracic Surgery Foundation of STS. The award offers support of $23,200 US Dollars for 4-16 weeks to be used for international travel for the purpose of learning a novel technique, adapting innovative technology and/or fostering collaboration between surgical investigators in order to further the progress of cardiothoracic surgery at the recipient’s home institution.

Due to the success of the Thoracic Surgery Foundation/Francis Fontan Fund International Traveling Fellowship, EACTS and STS have extended their partnership to offer this award in collaboration with the Latin American Association of Cardio and Endovascular Surgery (LACES). The award offers support of $14,200 US Dollars for 4-10 weeks for early career cardiothoracic surgeons and senior cardiothoracic surgical residents to travel internationally for the purpose of learning a novel technique, adapting innovative technology and/or fostering collaboration between surgical investigators in order to further the progress of cardiothoracic surgery at the recipient’s home institution.

This award provides operational support of original research efforts by cardiothoracic surgeons who have completed their formal training, and who are seeking initial support and recognition for the research program. Awards of up to $90,000 per year for up to two years are granted to support the work of an early-career cardiothoracic surgeon (within seven years of first faculty appointment at time of application deadline). The STS Research Award designation is given to the highest-ranking TSF Research Award application.

This award provides operational support of original research efforts by cardiothoracic surgeons who have completed their formal training, and who are seeking initial support and recognition for the research program. Awards of up to $85,000 per year for up to two years are granted to support the work of an early-career cardiothoracic surgeon (within seven years of first faculty appointment at time of application deadline).

The STS Research and Analytic Center (RAC) is the home for database harvest analytics and clinical research efforts leveraging the family of cardiothoracic surgery registries within the STS National Database. The transition of database and research analytics in-house to the STS RAC presents an opportunity for clinical fellows to deeply engage in STS clinical outcomes research activities working closely with the in-house database and analytics staff, gaining fundamental knowledge in statistical modeling and research based on the STS Database. In collaboration with the Thoracic Surgery Foundation, the STS Research and Analytic Center will support one research fellow for a one-year period with a grant of $80,000. This award is open to those in active residency training in an approved ACGME or equivalent training program, or within the first two years of practice.