Nicholas Kouchoukos Award

STS Past President and Historian Nicholas T. Kouchoukos, MD, has had a long, remarkable career in cardiothoracic surgery, and among his greatest achievements was the development of the modified Bentall procedure, and hypothermic TAAA Repair.

Purpose

The purpose of this traveling fellowship is 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/or fostering collaboration between surgical investigators in order to enhance patient care at the recipient’s home institution. The successful applicant will have a record of excellence in training and academic achievement. He/she will have secured a position at an institution capable of providing continued growth and development in the realm of thoracic aortic disease.

Eligibility

  • Cardiothoracic surgeons who are within the first ten 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; or
  • Cardiothoracic surgery residents in their last year of training at an ACGME-accredited program (or its equivalent outside the US) at the time of application.

Funding

Awards of up to $10,000 for up to four weeks will be granted to support a cardiothoracic surgeon for this fellowship. The first award payment will be made in February 2024 (75%) and the second and final installment (25%) will be made upon completion of a satisfactory progress report, which will be approved by the TSF Award Selection Committee. This award of up to $10,000 will be used to defray the travel and living expenses for the sabbatical period.

Application Selection

The Nicholas Kouchoukos Award applications will be initially reviewed and evaluated by the TSF Nicholas Kouchoukos Committee. The Committee will make a formal recommendation for funding to the TSF Board of Directors.

Timeline:

  • Applications Open: 7/1/23
  • Application Deadline: 9/15/23

Application: (Must contain all of the following criteria)

  • Biographical Information
  • Personal Goal (100 words)
  • Career Goal (500 words)
  • Education Environment at Host Institution (750 words)
  • Sponsor/Mentor Information

Required Application Materials: 

  • Applicant CV
  • Sponsor/Mentor CV
  • One (1) Letter of Support from host institution sponsor. The letter should confirm: (a) the availability of adequate training environment/educational experience that will provide the proposed training, and (b) their agreement to serve as mentor
  • Budget (approximate breakdown of funding costs)