Michael J. Davidson Structural Heart Fellowship Award
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.
Purpose
The Michael J. Davidson Structural Heart Fellowship offers support for cardiothoracic surgeons and trainees who are seeking to enhance their skills in both transcatheter valve techniques and open valve surgery. The fellowship will provide the awardee with direct experience utilizing novel solutions for complex structural heart patients, for a six-month or full one-year period.
This prestigious fellowship will be awarded to a deserving young surgeon or trainee committed to the vision of innovative and collaborative cardiovascular care that Dr. Davidson helped pioneer. The successful applicant will have a record of excellence in training and academic achievement.
The award applicant will have secured an arrangement with the host institution and sponsor capable of providing an in-depth structural heart experience in both open and transcatheter heart valve procedures.
The host institution should have a strong program with a supportive sponsor experienced in transcatheter training. The applicant is responsible for choosing the host institution. For suggestions for institutions or mentors, please contact tsf@sts.org.
Award Amount
The applicant can choose a six-month or full one-year fellowship, with an award amount of up to $20,000 for either term.
The first award payment will be made in July 2025 (50%) and the second and final installment (50%) will be made upon completion of a satisfactory progress report. The grant payment will be issued to the sponsoring institution.
Eligibility
The applicant must meet one of the following criteria:
- Cardiothoracic surgeons who are within the first seven years of completion of an ACGME-accredited cardiothoracic surgery residency (or its equivalent outside the U.S.) and who are certified or eligible for certification by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) or its equivalent outside of the U.S. by the grant start date.
- Cardiothoracic surgery residents in their last year of training at an ACGME-accredited program at the time of application.
Application Requirements
- Biographical Information
- Personal Goal (100 words)
- Background (500 words)
- Education Environment at Host Institution (750 words)
- Sponsor/Mentor Information
Required Application Materials
- Applicant CV
- Sponsor/Mentor CV
- Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
- Budget (approximate breakdown of funding costs)
Mentor/Convenor
- Applicant is responsible for selection of their mentor.
- Applicant is responsible for securing a position with the mentor at the host institution.
Timeline
- Application Open: July 1, 2024
- Application Deadline: September 15, 2024
- Applicants Notified of Award or Regrets: December 2024 - January 2025
See full award timeline here.
About The Award
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) and The Thoracic Surgery Foundation collaborated on the establishment of the Michael J. Davidson Structural Heart Fellowship following Dr. Davidson's untimely death in 2015. Dr. Davidson was tragically murdered in 2015 while at work, doing what he loved. Davidson graduated from Yale University School of Medicine in 1996 and completed residencies at Duke University Medical Center and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Following completion of his cardiac surgery training, he completed an additional year of training divided between the cardiac catheterization lab and the operating theater, mastering sophisticated catheter skills and building a bridge to the hybrid future which he envisioned and helped to create.
Dr. Davidson joined the faculty at Brigham and Women’s as an Associate Surgeon where, along with his colleagues in interventional cardiology, he established the TAVR program. Dr. Davidson also served as Assistant Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School.
The successful fellowship applicant will aspire to be like Dr. Davidson – a visionary who saw the future and prepared himself to not only participate in, but to lead that future of interdisciplinary, integrated “heart teams’, providing novel, improved, and less invasive solutions for complex heart patients.
Please join us in celebrating Dr. Davidson’s dedication to innovative and collaborative cardiovascular care by making a gift to this award in his honor.
- Online – Make a credit card donation today.
- By Mail – Mail a check, made payable and addressed to The Thoracic Surgery Foundation, 633 N. Saint Clair Street, Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60611. Please note the “Davidson Fellowship Award” in the memo section of your check.
Are you qualified for this award? Start your application today!
TSF is dedicated to supporting cardiothoracic surgeons at every career stage. Don’t miss out—submit your application by September 15 to be considered in the upcoming award cycle.
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