Valerie Rusch Mentored Career Development Award
The Valerie Rusch Mentored Career Development Award supports women in cardiothoracic surgery with research and mentorship opportunities between North America and LMICs, funded by the AATS Foundation.
Funder: American Association for Thoracic Surgery Foundation
Due Dates: December 1, 2026 | December 2, 2026
Funding Amounts: Up to $10,000 (travel/visiting professorship) | Up to $15,000 (1-3 month observational fellowship) | Up to $50,000 (1-year research fellowship)
Summary: Supports women in cardiothoracic surgery through research, training, and mentorship opportunities between North America and low-to-middle-income countries.
Key Information: Female surgeons or trainees from North America or LMICs are eligible; program is highly customizable.
Description
The Valerie Rusch Mentored Career Development Award, offered by the American Association for Thoracic Surgery Foundation, aims to advance the careers of women in cardiothoracic surgery and to foster expertise in thoracic and cardiac surgery within low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs). The award supports both North American female surgeons/trainees seeking research experience abroad and female surgeons/trainees from LMICs seeking observational training, translational research, or mentorship from North American experts. The program is designed to facilitate the dissemination of scientific knowledge and best practices in cardiothoracic surgery, with the expectation that awardees will share their findings and contribute to global health care improvements.
