AATS Foundation Equity Award

Program Overview

This award provides up to $50,000 per year for up to 3 years for early to mid-career women and faculty underrepresented in medicine (defined by the AAMC) to develop the foundations for successful careers in academic cardiothoracic surgery. Awardees will additionally be invited to join the AATS Abstract Review Committee in the year of their award, and the AATS Foundation Award selection committee for the year following their award, with the aim of supporting academic mentorship and development.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an award, applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

Early to mid-career thoracic surgeon (instructor & assistant professor level, between 3 and 8 years of initial faculty appointment);
Have an academic medical center faculty appointment.

Application Process

Candidates will be required to submit the following materials within their online application:

Curriculum Vitae;
Description of what they plan to utilize the funding for;
Detailed budget with justification of funds;
Letter of support from their department chair or division chief;
One-page narrative describing the relationship of the proposal to the applicant’s career goals.

Application Guidelines

Applications requesting up to $50,000 per year for up to three years will be considered, as well as proposals with smaller short-term requests. For each subsequent year of funding, a progress report and request for additional funding are required prior to the end of the originally funded year. Additional funding will be made after review of the progress report. Any publications from activity supported by the award must include acknowledgement of the award.

Allowable uses of the funds include:

Additional research/statistical support or development personnel. This option would allow the faculty member to continue their full clinical responsibilities and research commitments while supporting a dedicated individual to focus on grant writing, partnership building, proposal assembly, and/or data generation.
Combination of the above modes as appropriate. Resources may also be utilized for travel, partnership building, or other proposal-related activities as appropriate.
For justified faculty site visits (10 days maximum), invited lectureships, or hosting visiting professors with similar academic/research interests as the applicant at their home institution.
Included in the plan and budget, the applicant must identify a professional development activity each year (e.g. AAMC Early Career Women Faculty Leadership Development Seminar, AAMC Minority Faculty Leadership Development Seminar, AATS Leadership Academy, Leadership course training, etc.)
Additional support mechanisms and activities might be acceptable if there is a clear justification and need for the development of a specific funding opportunity.
Requests for equipment purchases will not be considered.

Review Process

All applications will be subjected to a rigorous review process which will be established and overseen by the program's Review Committee, comprised of members from both the AATS Membership Recruitment, Engagement, and Diversity Committee and the AATS Foundation Advisory Council.

Completion of Program

At the conclusion of the experience, a final report report must be submitted, highlighting all activities and the advances achieved. The recipient will also work closely with AATS Foundation staff to determine ways to share details with a larger audience.