EACTS launches exciting Fellowship Programme for 2023
Five exciting new Fellowship programmes will be launched this year including a fellowship that provides an excellent grounding in statistics for clinical trials and a programme to help master techniques in robotic surgery.
In addition, the Fund’s existing eight Fellowship schemes will also be available to EACTS members throughout the world. These include:
• Advanced Postoperative Care
• Aortic Root and Valve Repair
• Atrial Fibrillation Fellowship sponsored by Atricure
• Aortic TEVAR sponsored by Terumo
• OPCAB sponsored by Medtronic
• MiCS – CABG Europe/Canada sponsored by Medtronic
• TSF/FFF International Travelling
• Quality & Outcomes with MSTCVS
The Fellowship programme offers unique career opportunities across a range of cardio and thoracic surgical experiences, with access to world-class courses, residential training in both European and American centres of excellence and clinical proctorship with surgical leaders.
Professor Ruggero de Paulis, Chair of the Francis Fontan Fund, said, “The Francis Fontan Fellowship programme is devoted to supporting young cardiothoracic surgeons by giving them an opportunity to work closely with masters in their field. By taking part in the programme fellows learn new techniques and gain knowledge that they can take back to their home institution for the benefit of their patients.
“I am delighted that we are able to offer more opportunities for EACTS members by introducing a number of exciting new fellowships. I encourage anyone who is keen to further develop their career to apply to the scheme and become part of this wonderful global cardiothoracic community.”
Applications are open between 1 July – 1 September 2022 and successful Fellows will start their training in early 2023.
New fellowships for 2023
We are delighted to offer the following new Fellowships in 2023.
OPCAB Extended in partnership with Medtronic
The Fellowship goal is to enhance young cardiothoracic surgeons’ understanding of cardiothoracic surgical outcomes and to acquire theoretical and practical knowledge in the surgical and anaesthesiologic management of patients with coronary artery disease, with special interest in off-pump (OPCABG) techniques.
Successful Fellows will have the opportunity to be tutored by experienced and high OPCABG-volume surgeons, in a high-volume centre (around 300 OPCABG procedures per year).
Robotic Surgery – Thoracic in partnership with Medtronic
This Fellowship programme will provide the successful Fellow with the opportunity to acquire both theoretical and practical skills in robotic thoracic surgery.
Aimed at young cardiothoracic surgeons, this fellowship includes simulations, integrated system training and live procedure-observation and offers a unique opportunity to visit Medical Research and Advanced Technological Institutes in Europe.
TSF-FFF International Traveling Fellowship in Association with LACES
Following the success of the Thoracic Surgery Foundation / Francis Fontan Fund International Traveling Fellowship, EACTS and STS are expanding to partner with the Latin American Association of Cardio and Endovascular Surgery (LACES).
This Fellowship provides an opportunity for members of LACES to learn from the highest standards of cardiothoracic care in Europe and North America, and gain knowledge of novel techniques and innovative technologies used by other institutes in either Europe or North America.
VATS Fellowship in General Thoracic Surgery
The VATS Fellowship in General Thoracic Surgery is an opportunity to receive appropriate training in VATS. This includes acquiring all necessary knowledge and competences to safely perform VATS Lobectomies.
In addition, this Fellowship will enable the successful fellow to compile the necessary training in all aspects of lung cancer surgery to be able to achieve the European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Membership and General Thoracic subspecialty) during or after completion of fellowship.
Fellows will be involved with hands-on experience every day in a stepwise training process that will eventually allow them to safely perform VATS lobectomy in patients undergoing resection for early-stage lung cancer.
Clinical Trials & Statistics (applications now closed)
This exciting new Fellowship offers the opportunity to study statistics in the context of clinical trials. The selected Fellow will be funded to complete the online MSc Statistics for Clinical Trials at University College London.
Comprising a series of compelling modules, the online programme will provide an excellent grounding in both Frequentist and Bayesian statistics. EACTS – through the Francis Fontan Fund – will provide financial support to the successful Fellow, who will learn about all types of trials – from early to late phase trials
and simple to complex interventions.
The Fund’s mission is to create a global community by which to share and learn the highest standards of cardiothoracic care.
For more information about the Francis Fontan Fund for Education and to apply for a fellowship click here.
Closing date for applications – 1st September 2022