Adult Cardiac · Travelling Fellowship

James L. Cox Fellowship in Atrial Fibrillation Surgery

AATS Foundation·Host institution selected with awardee

Programme overview

A two- or four-week AATS Foundation fellowship in the pathophysiology, decision-making and surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation, including lesion sets, energy sources, left atrial appendage management and postoperative rhythm assessment.

Published curriculum

What the official programme says is covered

01
Atrial fibrillation pathophysiology, electrophysiologic mechanisms and relevant cardiac anatomy
02
Diagnosis, screening, co-morbidities and guideline-based outcome reporting
03
Lesion-set and energy-source selection for concomitant and stand-alone procedures
04
Left atrial appendage management and AF-related stroke prevention concepts
05
Postoperative rhythm assessment and multidisciplinary collaboration with cardiology and electrophysiology

Published host network

13 host surgeon options

These surgeon–institution relationships are reproduced from the official programme page. Availability and participation level must be confirmed for the applicant’s selected cycle.

01Gorav Ailawadi, MDUniversity of Michigan
02Vinay Badhwar, MDWVU Heart and Vascular Institute
03Thomas M. Beaver, MDUniversity of Florida
04Denis Bouchard, MDMontreal Heart Institute
05Ralph Damiano, Jr., MDWashington University School of Medicine / Barnes-Jewish Hospital
06Gan Dunnington, MDAdventist Health St. Helena Hospital
07Marc Gerdisch, MDIndiana University Health / Indiana University School of Medicine
08Vigneshwar Kasirajan, MDPauley Heart Center at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
09Armin Kiankhooy, MDCedars-Sinai Cardiac Surgery at Huntington Health
10Eric Lehr, MDSwedish Medical Center
11Edward G. Soltesz, MDCleveland Clinic
12Vinod Thourani, MDPiedmont Heart Institute
13Richard Whitlock, MDHamilton Hospital

InstitutionAATS Foundation

LocationHost institution selected with awardee, North America

SpecialtyAdult Cardiac

FocusAtrial Fibrillation Surgery

Programme typeTravelling Fellowship

Duration2 or 4 weeks

ParticipationCredentialing and scrub-in are pursued where possible; the official page states that some host sites are observation only

International applicantsThe official award structure explicitly includes international trainees; all applicants must meet host-centre requirements

RegistrationApplicant must meet all licensure and credentialing criteria required by the selected host centre

AccreditationSociety fellowship; not a residency accreditation route

PositionsNot publicly listed

IntakeProgramme opens 1 Sep 2026

Deadline2 Dec 2026 (page header); applicant text states 1 Dec at 11:59 PM ET

FundingDomestic: up to US$3,750 / US$7,500; international: up to US$5,000 / US$10,000

LanguageEnglish fluency is mandatory

Visa informationNot publicly listed; requirements depend on host site and applicant status

FeesNot publicly listed

Data qualityOfficial AATS Foundation source verified 25 Aug 2026; conflicting deadline text retained visibly

Application opens1 Sep 2026

EligibilityFinal year of training with fellowship completed before formal appointment, or fewer than three years in practice; host licensure/credentialing eligibility and English fluency required

Required prior trainingFinal-year cardiothoracic trainee or early-career surgeon in practice for fewer than three years

Application documentsCV with surgical experience; chief/chair support letter; 1–2 page narrative; career goals; planned use of learning; and number of atrial fibrillation cases observed

Operative exposureHost credentialing is sought where possible so the fellow may scrub in; some sites remain observation-only

Research componentLiterature, consensus guidance and outcome reporting are included in the curriculum; no separate research post is described

Salary or stipendEducational award, not a salary

BenefitsAward support based on two- or four-week level; separate reimbursement up to US$1,500 for airfare and lodging to attend a future AATS Annual Meeting

AccommodationCovered only within the published award or meeting reimbursement limits; host accommodation is not promised

Official contactAATS Foundation · foundation@aats.org

Publication stateVerified

Source typeOfficial society

International applicant check

The official award structure explicitly includes international trainees; all applicants must meet host-centre requirements

Clinical participationCredentialing and scrub-in are pursued where possible; the official page states that some host sites are observation only

RegistrationApplicant must meet all licensure and credentialing criteria required by the selected host centre

VisaNot publicly listed; requirements depend on host site and applicant status

LanguageEnglish fluency is mandatory

This is a source summary, not an eligibility decision. Confirm licensing, immigration, funding and clinical privileges with the responsible institution.

Application route

How to proceed

Apply through the AATS Foundation portal.

Open official programme page ↗

Verification notes

Verified against the AATS Foundation programme page on 25 Aug 2026. The page header lists 2 Dec 2026, while applicant requirements state 1 Dec 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern; applicants should confirm the portal closing time directly.

Source qualityOfficial institutional or society page

Last checked25 Aug 2026