The Levi Watkins Innovation and Leadership Development Scholarship Grant

The Levi Watkins Innovation and Leadership Development Scholarship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Thoracic Surgery Foundation
Amount: US $5,000
Last Updated: March 28, 2026

Summary

The Levi Watkins Innovation and Leadership Development Scholarship honors Dr. Levi Watkins' legacy and aims to support early-career cardiothoracic surgeons in enhancing their skills through training at centers of excellence. Funded by the Thoracic Surgery Foundation, this prestigious scholarship provides $5,000 for up to two weeks, covering travel and lodging expenses. It is designed for surgeons within ten years of their first faculty appointment who demonstrate excellence and a commitment to innovative cardiovascular care.

Overview

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. Purpose The “Watkins Scholar” will be selected in honor of Dr. Watkins legacy and his strong personal tenets and character in mind. This Watkins scholarship will provide 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. Funding 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.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. 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 are eligible for this award. The scholarship is open to all applicants with particular consideration to the merits of the candidate, the strength and achievability of the proposal, and demonstration of a record of overcoming adversity to enter the specialty of cardiothoracic surgery and/or demonstration of financial need.The applicant must be a cardiothoracic surgeon who has overcome significant adversity to enter the specialty and/or demonstrate financial need.