Michael J. Davidson Structural Heart Fellowship Award

About the Fellowship

The Michael J. Davidson Structural Heart Fellowship offers support for cardiothoracic surgeons and trainees seeking to enhance their skills in both transcatheter valve techniques and open valve surgery. The fellowship provides direct experience utilizing novel solutions for complex structural heart patients over a six-month or full one-year period. This prestigious fellowship is awarded to a deserving young surgeon or trainee committed to innovative and collaborative cardiovascular care, aligning with the vision Dr. Davidson helped pioneer.

Eligibility

The applicant must meet one of the following criteria:

• Cardiothoracic surgeons within the first seven years of completion of an ACGME-accredited cardiothoracic surgery residency (or its equivalent outside the U.S.) who are certified or eligible for certification by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) or its equivalent by the grant start date.
• Cardiothoracic surgery residents in their last year of training at an ACGME-accredited program at the time of application.

The applicant must have secured an arrangement with a 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 transcatheter training.

Award Details

The fellowship offers a six-month or full one-year term, with an award amount of up to $20,000 for either duration. Payments are structured as follows:

• First installment (50%) in July 2025.
• Second and final installment (50%) upon completion of a satisfactory progress report.

The grant payment will be issued to the sponsoring institution. The applicant is responsible for selecting their mentor and securing a position at the host institution. For suggestions on institutions or mentors, contact tsf@sts.org.

Application Requirements

Required materials include:

• Biographical information.
• Personal goal statement (100 words).
• Background statement (500 words).
• Description of the education environment at the host institution (750 words).
• Sponsor/mentor information.
• Applicant CV.
• Sponsor/mentor CV.
• Two (2) letters of recommendation.
• Budget (approximate breakdown of funding costs).

Timeline

• Application Open: July 1, 2026
• Application Deadline: September 15, 2026
• Applicants Notified: December 2026 – January 2027