Purpose

‍The purpose of this traveling fellowship is to facilitate the continuing education of deserving early-career general thoracic surgeons. The award is to be used for international or domestic travel to another institution for up to four weeks for the purpose of learning a novel technique, adapting innovative technology, and/or fostering collaboration between surgical investigators to further the progress of general thoracic surgery at the recipient’s home institution. The successful applicant will have a record of excellence in training and academic achievement.

Applicants may choose to pursue a fellowship with a mentor they have already identified or select from a list of mentors and fellowship opportunities provided by TSF. The mentor should be capable of supporting continued growth and development in general thoracic surgery.

Eligibility

• The applicant must be a cardiothoracic surgeon based in who has completed a program leading to certification by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, or by an equivalent certifying body in the applicant’s country of residence ,or who will be certified by the grant start date.
• Applicant must be within 5 years of their first faculty appointment.
• Surgeons who have achieved recognition of achievement in thoracic surgery, and who devote their professional efforts to the subspecialty of general thoracic surgery.
• Applicants must have a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in his or her respective geographic area and have no action pending which could adversely affect the applicant’s qualification for staff privileges at any hospital.

Award Amount

International fellowship: Awards of $20,000 for up to four weeks will be granted to support a cardiothoracic surgeon for an international fellowship. The first award payment (75%) will be distributed at time of award notification. The second and final grant installment (25%) will be made upon completion of a satisfactory progress report, which will be approved by the TSF Mathisen Award Committee. This award of $20,000 will be used to defray the travel and living expenses for the fellowship period. International fellowship awards will be granted for 2026.

Domestic fellowship: Awards of $10,000 for up to four weeks will be granted to support a cardiothoracic surgeon for a domestic fellowship. The first award payment (75%) will be distributed at time of award notification. The second and final grant installment (25%) will be made upon completion of a satisfactory progress report, which will be approved by the TSF Mathisen Award Committee. This award of $10,000 will be used to defray the travel and living expenses for the fellowship period.

Application Requirements

• Biographical Information
• Personal Goal (100 words)
• Career Goal (500 words)
• Education Environment at Host Institution (750 words)
• Mentor/Convenor Information (if applicant is pursuing a fellowship under a mentor that they have independently chosen)

Required Application Materials

If applicant is pursuing a fellowship with a mentor that they have already chosen:

• Applicant CV
• Mentor CV  
• One (1) Letter of Support from Mentor: The letter should confirm: (a) the availability of adequate training environment/educational experience that will provide the proposed training, and (b) his or her agreement to serve as mentor.
• Budget (approximate breakdown of funding costs)
• Note that a visa and appropriate international travel materials may be required after the award is issued.

If applicant is applying for a fellowship with a mentor that TSF has identified:

• Applicant CV
• One (1) Letter of Support from Department Chair at applicant’s home institution
• Budget
• Note that a visa and appropriate international travel materials may be required after the award is issued.

Mentor/Convenor

Applicants may either apply with a proposal for a fellowship with a mentor they have already identified or select from a list of TSF-identified mentors and fellowship opportunities.

• Applicants who have already identified a mentor are responsible for coordinating with both the mentor and the host institution to agree upon the fellowship arrangement before submitting their application.  
• Applicants selecting a fellowship with a TSF-identified mentor will coordinate with the mentor to schedule the fellowship at a mutually agreeable time in 2026, if selected for the award.

A list of mentors/fellowships identified by TSF will be listed here by the application launch date on July 1, 2025.

‍Timeline

• Application Open: July 1, 2025
• Application Deadline: September 15, 2025‍
• Applicants Notified of Award or Regrets: December 2025 - January 2026
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See full award timeline here.