Every Heartbeat Matters Awards

About the Award

The TSF Every Heartbeat Matters Award, funded through the generosity of the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, offers grants of up to $50,000 for qualified surgeons conducting charity surgical outreach work in underserved regions. The award supports programs that educate, screen, and/or treat underserved populations to reduce the global burden of heart valve disease, as well as other initiatives advancing healthcare for underserved communities. This includes education and awareness campaigns, research, and direct care.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be ABTS (or equivalent) certified cardiothoracic surgeons.

Guidelines and Resources

The Partnership for Quality Medical Donations (PQMD) HSS Initiative has established standards to align sending and host organizations, emphasizing mutual respect, improved processes, and capacity-building for medical missions. Applicants are encouraged to review the PQMD guidelines and checklists for planning humanitarian programs.

TSF prioritizes programs demonstrating a clear pathway to long-term, sustainable impact. Applicants should describe how their program strengthens local capacity, promotes independence of local clinicians and healthcare systems, and contributes to durable improvements in patient access to care.

Application Requirements

• Completed online application.
• Goals addressing the following:
  • Proposed screening strategies and translation to surgical interventions in underserved regions.
  • Focus on heart valve disease recognition and treatment in underserved populations.
  • Specific statistics on the quantity of patients to be screened.
  • Specific statistics on the nature and quantity of heart valve issues to be detected.
• Two (2) letters of recommendation:
  • From the Department Chair (or equivalent) at the applicant’s current institution.
  • From the Facility Sponsor at the institution in the underserved region where charity work will occur.
• Applicant’s Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Department Chair’s Curriculum Vitae (or equivalent).
• Headshot photograph.

Note: TSF reserves the right to conduct Restricted Party Screenings for compliance with U.S. sanctions laws and may request additional information about individuals or entities involved in the proposed project.

Timeline

• Application Open: July 1, 2026
• Application Deadline: September 15, 2026
• Applicants Notified of Award or Regrets: December 2026 - January 2027