Levi Watkins Innovation and Leadership Development Scholarship
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.
Purpose
The Watkins Scholar will be selected in honor of Dr. Watkins legacy and his strong personal tenets and character in mind. The 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 highly prestigious and sought-after scholarship will be awarded to a deserving young surgeon committed to the vision of innovative and collaborative cardiovascular care that Dr. Watkins 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 the training. The participating institution should have a strong program with a supportive sponsor experienced in innovative techniques and therapies in cardiothoracic surgery.
Eligibility
- Cardiothoracic surgeons who are within 10 years of first faculty appointment, and who are certified or eligible for certification by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) or its equivalent outside the United States. The scholarship will be open to all applicants with particular consideration to the merits of candidates, the strength and achievability of the proposal and demonstration of a record of overcoming social and personal hurdles in the early stages of career development as surgeons.
- The applicant must be a cardiothoracic surgeon who is a member of an underrepresented demographic group in medicine as defined by the AAMC.
Award Amount
Awards of $5,000 for up to two weeks will be granted to support the work of a cardiothoracic surgeon for this scholarship. This award is intended to defray the travel and lodging expenses.
Required Application Materials
- Applicant's Biographical Information
- Sponsor/Mentor's Biographical Information
- Personal Goal (100 words or less)
- Career Goals (500 words or less)
- Education Environment at Host Institution (750 words or less)
- Applicant's Curriculum Vitae (CV) or NIH Biosketch
- Sponsor/Mentor's Curriculum Vitae (CV) or NIH Biosketch
- Letter of Support from host institution sponsor. The letter should confirm:
- the availability of adequate training environment/educational experience that will provide the proposed training
- his or her agreement to serve as mentor
- Additional Letter of Support
- Budget (approximate breakdown of costs
- Headshot Photograph
Mentor/Convenor
- Applicant is responsible for selection of his/her 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
In 1980, Dr. Levi Watkins, an accomplished cardiothoracic surgeon and social activist at Johns Hopkins made medical history by working with innovative physicians and engineers to implant the first automated internal cardiac defibrillator in a human being. The courage to lead innovation and the desire to acquire the skills necessary to impact the well-being of our patients required unparalleled drive and commitment. Dr. Watkins was familiar with firsts in his career as the first African American medical student and graduate at Vanderbilt, the first resident of color in the Johns Hopkins residency program, and the first under-represented minority cardiac surgery faculty member at Johns Hopkins.
Dr. Watkins was the beneficiary of extraordinary, specialized training at Johns Hopkins and Harvard Medical Schools where he completed important translational research in heart failure. These ground-breaking contributions could not have been successful without resources dedicated to the mission of academic excellence and inclusion in medicine and surgery.
The Thoracic Surgery Foundation (TSF) was founded to foster the development of surgeon scientists in cardiothoracic surgery. Critical to the success of these initiatives is the understanding that in order to achieve these goals additional support may be necessary for those who endeavor to develop innovative therapies and technology in the specialty of cardiothoracic surgery.
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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These scholarships are open to cardiothoracic surgery residents and provide access to the very best in education from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
