Education and Professional Development OPPORTUNITY
EACTS Francis Fontan Quality and Outcomes Fellowship
Offered through a collaboration between the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) and the Michigan Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons Quality Collaborative (MSTCVS-QC), this fellowship provides a four-month immersive experience in Ann Arbor focused on quality improvement and clinical outcomes in cardiothoracic surgery.
Fellows work closely with multidisciplinary teams to analyze data, participate in quality initiatives, and visit participating hospitals for hands-on learning. The program includes financial support for travel, accommodation, and attendance at the EACTS Annual Meeting. It culminates with an opportunity to present a clinical topic of interest at the MSTCVS Annual Meeting.
The fellowship is supported by the Francis Fontan Fund, named after the pioneering French cardiothoracic surgeon Francis Fontan. This fund promotes education and research initiatives aimed at advancing quality and outcomes in cardiothoracic surgery, fostering international collaboration and innovation through fellowships and training programs.
The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) is a global professional organization dedicated to education, research, and advancement in cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery. Together with MSTCVS-QC, EACTS provides a platform to share knowledge, promote best practices, and improve patient care worldwide.
Important Information
Application Dates
1st July – 1st September 2026
Recent scholarship recipient
2025 The Francis Fontan Fund Fellow
Dr. Vincenzo Caruso, MD
St Thomas’ Hospital in London, UK
Dr. Vincenzo Caruso, MD, recipient of the prestigious 2025 Francis Fontan Fund: MSTCVS-QC Quality and Outcomes Fellowship, is a cardiac surgeon currently serving in the Cardiovascular Department at St Thomas’ Hospital in London, UK.
His journey in cardiac surgery began in Italy, where he developed his clinical skills before joining the UK’s NHS system, initially working at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital before joining the team at St Thomas’.
Driven by a strong passion for medicine and cardiac surgery, Dr. Caruso has developed a particular interest in structural heart disease. His interest in data and clinical outcomes led him to complete a Master’s degree at University College London, equipping him with a strong foundation in statistical analysis and health data science.
Arriving in Ann Arbor in late May, Dr. Caruso brings a clear appreciation for the critical role of Quality Improvement (QI) in advancing patient care. He looks forward to contributing to ongoing QI initiatives through collaboration with the outstanding multidisciplinary cardiac and thoracic surgery teams in Michigan.
Past Fellowship Recipients
2023
Ronald Estrada, MD, from Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires has been awarded the Francis Fontan Fund MSTCVS-QC Quality and Outcomes 2023 Fellowship. He arrived in July 2023, attended the MSTCVS Annual Summer meeting and presented at the November MSTCVS Quality Collaborative Meeting on Updates and Trends in Heart Transplants.
2022
Dr. Dimitrios Magoulitois, MD joined the MSTCVS Quality Collaborative Coordinating Center in May 2022, from the University Hospital of Larissa, Greece. His interests are in quality and outcomes, Statistical dexterity, and is working on his second master’s in molecular medicine.
Ahmet Can Topcu, MD spent six months at the MSTCVS Quality Collaborative Coordinating Center. He hopes to help establish an Adult Cardiac Surgery Database at his institution in Istanbul, Turkey.
2019
Chris Bond, Mb ChB joined the MSTCVS Coordinating Center in late April 2019 and stayed though the end of August 2019. He is completing his Senior registrar year in Birmingham, England
2018
Milan Milojevic, MD, PhD, MSc spent four months at the MSTCVS Quality Collaborative Coordinating Center. He returned to the Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam (Netherlands) where he completed his PhD and is practicing as an Intensivist in Serbia and is leading Clinical Practice Guidelines for EACTS.