Michael J. Davidson Structural Heart Fellowship Award

 

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) and The Thoracic Surgery Foundation (TSF) are proud to announce the creation of the Michael J. Davidson Structural Heart Fellowship. Dr. Davidson was tragically murdered in 2015 while at work and 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.

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 and less invasive solutions for complex structural heart patients, for a six-month or full one-year period.

This highly prestigious and sought after 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 minimally invasive surgery techniques and therapies. The applicant is responsible for choosing the host institution. For suggestions for institutions or mentors, please contact tsf@sts.org.

Funding

The applicant can choose a six-month or full one-year fellowship, with an award amount of up to $17,500 for either term. 

The first award payment will be made in July 2024 (50%) and the second and final installment (50%) will be made upon completion of a satisfactory progress report, which will be approved by the TSF Davidson Awards Committee. 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 Selection

Davidson Fellowship applications will be initially reviewed and evaluated by the TSF Davidson Awards Committee. The Committee will then make a formal recommendation for funding to the TSF Board of Directors. The award recipient will be expected to give a presentation at the STS Annual Meeting, at the conclusion of the fellowship. Attendance at the STS Annual Meeting is strongly encouraged.

  • Application Open: July 1, 2024
  • Application Deadline: September 15, 2024

Application: (Must contain all of the following criteria)

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

Required Application Attachments: (Must contain all of the following)

  • Applicant CV
  • Sponsor/Mentor CV
  • Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
  • Budget (approximate breakdown of funding costs)

Click here to view the 2024 Awards Timeline.


Contribute

Please join us in celebrating Dr. Davidson’s life and and dedication to innovative and collaborative cardiovascular care. We thank you in advance for your support! Donations can be made:

  • 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.