Advanced Robotic Cardiac Surgery Fellowship Grant

Advanced Robotic Cardiac Surgery Fellowship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Thoracic Surgery Foundation
Amount: US $25,000
Last Updated: March 20, 2026

Summary

The STS/TSF Advanced Robotic Cardiac Surgery Fellowship offers a $25,000 grant to surgeons for establishing a robotic cardiac surgery program. Eligible candidates must be certified cardiothoracic surgeons with experience in mitral valve repair or CABG. This fellowship includes mentorship and funding for training, travel, and proctoring costs to ensure the development of high-quality surgical practices. It aims to enhance surgical skills and improve patient outcomes through advanced robotic techniques.

Overview

Purpose This advanced Fellowship has two pathways: Robotic Revascularization (CABG) and Robotic Valve/Intracardiac Program (Mitral). It is expected that applicants should have significant experience performing CABG or mitral valve repair and replacement depending on the desired pathway. Expenses TSF will fund a training grant to the awardee and institution of $25,000. This funding is intended to offset costs for the team training and travel and lodging, proctor honorarium and expenses, and course registration fees for: Surgeon fellow & team case observation program (2 cases, 1 simulation exercise or “mock case” over 2 days for surgeon fellow, first assistant, anesthesiologist, perfusionist, circulating nurse, scrub nurse or technician – 5 person team); One 2-day procedural-specialty specific training course (TR-200) at Intuitive facility; travel and lodging for surgeon fellow & first assistant and STS mentor-sponsor surgeon; and Proctoring per case honorarium and reasonable travel expenses (for 5 cases). In this regard, institution of surgeon fellow will pay an honorarium of $1,000 for each of the 5 proctored cases, and will reimburse proctor’s reasonable related travel expenses for each case in accordance with its own established policies and procedures.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The applicant must meet the following criteria:Cardiothoracic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS), or by an equivalent certifying body in the applicant’s country of residence.Minimum of 3 years as an independent attending cardiothoracic surgeon.   Applicant must have received preliminary Intuitive robotics system instruction.   Applicant must have experience performing mitral valve repair and replacement and/or have significant OPCAB experience.Surgeon applicant must meet the minimum requirements with respect to Training & Practice and Clinical Experience, as per “Contemporary Robotic Cardiac Surgical Training, Badhwar et al, prepress online: 11/10/2021, JTCVS,” appropriate for the fellowship track:Robotic Revascularization Program:American Board of Thoracic Surgery accreditation or equivalent   3 years of independent attending-level clinical practice, and/or a minimum 1-yearpost-graduate robotic cardiac fellowship with robotic revascularization concentration250 career cases of coronary revascularization as primary operator (on or off pump) with an O/E of ≤ 1, of which 50 should be off pump Robotic Valve/Intracardiac Program:American Board of Thoracic Surgery accreditation or equivalent 3 years of independent attending level clinical practice, and/or a minimum 1-year post-graduate robotic cardiac fellowship with robotic valve concentration 75 career cases of mitral valve repair or replacement, with or without concomitant procedures that may include surgical ablation, with an O/E of ≤ 1, of which 50 should be within the prior two years15 cases of valve/intracardiac operations performed via minimally invasive thoracotomy involving peripheral cardiopulmonary bypass performed within the prior two year with an O/E of ≤1‍Institutional Requirements and SupportInstitutional Resources Including:250 adult cardiac surgical cases per year for a minimum of 3 yearsA dedicated team of institutionally based cardiac anesthesiologists practicing routine use of transesophageal echocardiography A dedicated team of institutionally based perfusionistsLetter of support from the chief of cardiothoracic surgery at the surgeon applicant's institution.Letter of support from an appropriate hospital administrator (such as service line director, COO, or CEO) confirming the necessary resources and program support commitment, as outlined here.Submit an initial Cardiovascular Robotic Team Development Plan