Atrial Fibrillation Fellowship in partnership with AtriCure

The Atrial Fibrillation Fellowship is designed to enhance clinical understanding and surgical proficiency in treating patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The Fellowship supports cardiothoracic surgeons working towards a leadership role in surgical AF treatment. This Fellowship gives Fellows an opportunity to acquire the foundational knowledge of the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation, the rationale for its surgical treatment and to gain first-hand experience in AF correction procedures through a range of surgical approaches.

Acquired Cardiac Disease

Summary

• Application dates:

  1st March – 1st May 2025
• Grant:

  €5,000
• Location:

  A high-volume AF ablation surgery centre in Europe
• Duration:

  In-hospital training over a four-week period and attendance at two training courses.
• Start Date:

  From January 2026

Fellowship Overview

The Atrial Fibrillation Fellowship includes two courses – AtriCure Maze 4 training programme and AtriCure Navigating the Maze training programme – plus in-hospital training over a four-week period at a high-volume AF ablation surgery centre in either the Netherlands, Sheffield, Italy, Germany, Poland, Spain or Belgium, with world leading surgeons.

Throughout your fellowship, you will also receive one-to-one support from a EACTS Education Project Coordinator to ensure you get the most out of this opportunity.

Funding

This Fellowship includes a generous financial contribution of €5,000 towards living and travel costs. In addition, EACTS will also provide a bursary towards the cost of your attendance at the 2025 EACTS Annual Meeting, and AtriCure will fund the additional training that they provide.

AtriCure will pay for attendance and accommodation whilst you attend the AtriCure Maze 4, and AtriCure Navigating the Maze training programmes.

How the Arial Fibrillation Fellowship will advance your surgical education

The curriculum will include a thorough review and demonstrated understanding of the following topics:

• Pathophysiology of AF
• Electrophysiologic mechanisms of AF
• Key cardiac anatomy associated with AF and surgical treatment
• Foundational and contemporary peer-reviewed literature on the disease and treatment options
• Guidelines for AF Classification and reporting success
• Diagnosis and screening for AF in patients referred for structural heart procedures
• Co-morbidities associated with AF
• The impact of lesion set and energy source on outcomes
• Different approaches and considerations for concomitant and sole therapy procedures
• Decision making and surgical approaches to treatment
• Left atrial appendage (LAA) management and the concept of AF-related strokes arising from the LAA
• Postoperative care of patients including rhythm assessment
• Collaborating with cardiologists and electrophysiologists in AF treatment

Application and Selection

In order to apply for this fellowship there are some essential criteria you must meet:

• Be an EACTS member with up-to-date membership payment
• Be in the last year of training or within the first four years after completing training (specialty degree)
• Be fluent in English

Applicants who possess the following desirable criteria would be of particular interest:

• Previous experience in surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation
• Possibility of applying the knowledge and abilities acquired during the fellowship in home practice
• Academic experience in atrial fibrillation

In order to complete your application you must submit the following documents*:

• Letter of support from current Head of Department/Training director (if in last year of training)
• Letter of interest (detailing the way in which you meet the application criteria, your career aspirations along with how you are in a position to apply the skills and knowledge obtained during the Fellowship in your own centre)
• CV
• Operative experience

*Please ensure that all documents submitted are written in English, and that they are submitted either as word documents or PDF. We do not accept images or handwritten applications.  We are unable to provide advice or guidance about visa applications, so please ensure that you understand the visa requirements before applying for this Fellowship.

Evaluation and Feedback

There will be periodic meetings with the Fellowship Director to ensure feedback from the trainee. A structured evaluation of the activities and feedback from the Fellow will also be developed. At the end of the Fellowship, the Fellows will produce a full report on their experience based on the Francis Fontan Fund Committee guidelines.