International Medical Volunteer Scholarship

Through the generosity of Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, TSF offers travel scholarships of $2,500 for qualified early-career cardiothoracic surgeons, residents, and general surgery residents interested in participating in humanitarian outreach.

About the Opportunity

The TSF International Medical Volunteer Scholarship provides a 1-2 week volunteer opportunity for a cardiothoracic medical volunteer to learn from an experienced cardiothoracic surgeon volunteer leader. Scholars will choose from TSF-affiliated cardiac surgical trips and serve as an active member of the volunteer team, assisting with surgery, screening, and/or medical education for underserved patients.

Examples of recent international TSF volunteer opportunities include humanitarian outreach work in Nigeria, Rwanda, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Nepal, and Peru.

Purpose

The scholarship aims to provide humanitarian outreach experience for early-career cardiothoracic surgeons (within seven years of completion of CT surgery residency), cardiothoracic surgery residents, and general surgery residents who wish to gain experience in surgical outreach efforts. These trips engage volunteers in work with underserved patients in low- and middle-income countries under the mentorship of an experienced surgeon volunteer. The trips are designed to educate, screen, and/or treat underserved populations and may include other programs that advance healthcare.

Eligibility

• A cardiothoracic surgeon who has completed a program leading to certification by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery or its equivalent outside the U.S., and who is within seven years of completion of CT surgery residency, or
• A cardiothoracic surgery resident enrolled in an ACGME-accredited cardiothoracic surgery residency/fellowship program (or equivalent outside the U.S.) who has not yet completed training, or
• A general surgery resident enrolled in an ACGME-accredited general surgery residency program (or equivalent outside the U.S.) who has not yet completed training and has demonstrated an interest in cardiothoracic surgery.

Application Requirements

• Biographical Information
• Short Answer Questions
• Applicant's Curriculum Vitae or NIH Biosketch
• Headshot Photograph
• One (1) Letter of Recommendation
  • If the applicant is a resident, the letter must come from the applicant’s program director and confirm permission to participate (removing the resident from their program for up to two weeks).

Timeline

• Application Open: February 18, 2026
• Application Deadline: March 15, 2026
• Applicants Notified: No later than April 30, 2026