The Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education

Abstract

The Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education (TSFRE) supports research and education in cardiothoracic surgery. The primary purpose is to give young investigators opportunities to get started, to be productive, and do the work that will position them to become independent investigators and mentors for the next generation. TSFRE represents The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association (STSA), and the Western Thoracic Surgical Association (WTSA). TSFRE research grants are in several categories. Faculty research grants provide seed support that leads to subsequent major awards. Resident Fellowships encourage young surgeons to develop their skills in cardiothoracic surgery. The Nina Starr Braunwald Awards further the career opportunities of young women in cardiac surgery. The TSFRE, in partnership with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), supports 5-year Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards in basic science (K08 Awards) and in patient-oriented clinical research (K23 Awards). This partnership provides extraordinarily favorable leverage for your donations to support the work of young cardiac surgeons; every TSFRE dollar is more than matched by NHLBI. We expect soon to have a partnership with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to support young general thoracic surgeons in basic science (K08 Awards) or patient-oriented clinical cancer research (K23 Awards). New money will be needed for that purpose. TSFRE’s emphasis and success in public policy education (supported only from funds specifically donated for that purpose) has significantly helped our specialty to understand and to react as effectively as possible to events in health care. TSFRE recently decided to initiate programs in traditional cardiothoracic surgery education when available funds permit. New money will be needed for that purpose. The investigators and students whose work TSFRE has supported appreciate the generosity of those who have given; however, many thoracic surgeons have not given. Our estimate is that there are 5032 members of STS, AATS, WTSA and STSA, after eliminating overlapping memberships. Only 7.4% of the members have made individual contributions to TSFRE. In my own state of California, only about 7% of practicing thoracic surgeons have given to TSFRE. Conversely, more than 90% of cardiothoracic surgeons have given nothing toward the support of research and education in our own specialty. I hope you agree that this is unacceptable and that every one who has benefited from education and research in our specialty must give back. Our patients and our young colleagues need your help. If you have not given, please become a donor and continue to give at least until you become a Life Member. In addition, please consider making a planned gift to TSFRE as part of your estate planning. I close with optimism. Past performance shows that thoracic surgeons do what is right and TSFRE has come far in a relatively short time thanks to the generosity of individual and corporate donors, and to the wisdom and drive of previous leadership.