14^TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR CARDIO-THORACIC SURGERY

Prizes and Awards

YOUNG INVESTIGATOR’S AWARDS

To stimulate research, the EACTS has instituted prizes for the best manuscripts on topics of clinical or experimental research in the fields of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery presented by young investigators at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. The Award is EURO € 3,000 for each prize, provided that contributions in both subjects have been selected by the Programme Committee.

Candidates may be members or non-members of The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.

The first authors of the abstracts chosen by the EACTS 2000 Programme Committee will be the finalists and will be notified in writing in June 2000.
The finalists will have to submit five (5) complete copies of their manuscripts for final review by the Young Investigators Award Committee before 1 September 2000, in addition to the manuscript they should submit to the Journal. The Committee will make its selection and recommendation following the presentation of all papers and the authors whose abstracts, manuscripts and presentations are judged most outstanding, will receive a cash award of EURO € 3,000 and a certificate.

INDUSTRY SPONSORED AWARDS

C WALTON LILLEHEI YOUNG INVESTIGATOR’S AWARD

St. Jude Medical, Inc. has established the “C Walton Lillehei Young Investigator’s Award” in recognition of its more than 20 year history of implanting the St. Jude Medical mechanical heart valve. The amount awarded is US $10,000 and is intended to provide additional support to the cardiovascular community for research efforts.

YOUNG SURGEON’S CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE ANNUAL AWARD

Sulzer Carbomedics Inc. has instituted an award for the best manuscript on a topic of clinical or experimental research in the field of Congenital Heart Surgery presented by a young investigator at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic surgery. The Award is US $10,000.

If you intend to submit an abstract for presentation at the 14th Annual Meeting of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery you are eligible for the following awards if you meet the criteria stated below::

C Walton Lillehei Young Investigator’s Award

Young Surgeon’s Congenital Heart Disease Annual Award

Candidates may be members or non-members of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. The Instructions to Authors given on page 11 must be strictly followed, and your abstract received by the EACTS Executive Secretariat before 1 April 2000, otherwise it cannot be selected for review. You are also reminded that if selected as a speaker at either an oral or forum session you undertake to bring your manuscript to the Editorial Desk at the meeting. The first authors of the abstracts chosen for presentations by the Programme Committee will be the finalists and they will be notified at the end of June 2000.

FRANCIS FONTAN PRIZE

The Francis Fontan Prize was instituted in honour of Professor Francis Fontan, leading founding father of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. The Prize is awarded to a cardiac, cardio-thoracic or thoracic surgeon with postgraduate training. It is not limited to European citizens.

The amount awarded at present is EURO € 30,000 and should cover the costs of one year’s stay at a major European department. The activities during this year are left to the discretion of the prize-winner and the head of the department visited, but should primarily involve fields such as research training, research activities, advanced clinical education and/or departmental management.

The deadline for submission of applications is 1 March 2000.

Applicants are requested to send in the following documents:

• Curriculum vitae including:
• Number and type of operations performed with and without senior assistance
• Scientific publications and work in progress.
• An affidavit as to the proficiency of the applicant in English or in the language of the country to be visited.
• Proposed plans for the prize year including the name of the department to be visited.
• A letter of support from the head of department which the applicant
• plans to visit.
• A video recording of the applicant with a brief (3 minute) presentation of the proposed plans in English
• A letter of support from the applicant’s head of department with an affidavit that the applicant is suitable for the Prize and welcome to return to his department.

The selection of the prize-winner is made by the Francis Fontan Prize Committee consisting of the President, Vice President, and immediate past President of the Association.

The winner of the Francis Fontan Prize will be announced before the Honoured Guest Lecture at the Annual Meeting.

On completion of the Prize-funded activities, the prize-winner is required to report to the General Assembly describing his experiences, new knowledge and publications. The prize-winner should also report on the possibilities of making use of the new knowledge in the department to which he is returning.

Application forms are available from the Secretary General of the EACTS and on the EACTS homepage: http://www.eacts.org

Torkel Åberg, M.D.
Heart Centre
University Hospital
90185 Umeå, Sweden
Tel: +46 90 785 3676
Fax: +46 90 785 3601
e-mail: eacts.secretary@mailbox.calypso.net

MERCOGLIANO AWARD IN CARDIAC SURGERY

The Award is instituted by the cardiovascular centre Clinica Montevergine in Mercogliano, Italy, by Professor Lucio Parenzan. The grant will be given to a cardiac surgeon for his achievements within a true novel domain of this specialty. The Mercogliano Award of US$ 20,000 will be granted every 3 years commencing in 2000 and will cover expenses for continued specialised training in a European centre. The activities during this period is left to the discretion of the award winner, but should primarily involve fields as research training, research activities, advanced clinical education and/or departmental management.

The deadline for application is 1 March 2000.

The age limit of applicants is 40 years (becoming 40 during the year 2000).

Applicants are requested to send in the following documents to the Executive Secretariat of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.

• Curriculum vitae including:
• Number and type of operations performed with and without senior assistance.
• Scientific publications and work in progress.
• An affidavit as to the proficiency of the applicant in English or in the language of the country to be visited.
• Proposed plans for the training period including the name of the department to be visited, with a tentative time schedule.
• A letter of support from the Head of department which the applicant plans to visit.
• A letter of support from the applicant’s Head of department with an affidavit that the applicant is suitable for the Award and welcome to return to his department

Candidates may be members or non-members of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.

Selection of the Award Winner will be made in May by a prize committee consisting of Professors Parenzan, Daenen and Pomar. The name of the Prize Winner will be announced in conjunction with the Annual Meeting. It is expected that the Award Winner presents an overview of this training at a Workshop in Mercogliano organised by the Clinica Montevergine. It is also expected that the Award Winner applies for membership of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.

Application forms are available on the EACTS homepage www.eacts.org or from the Secretary General of the EACTS

Heart Centre, University Hospital
S-901 85 Umeå, Sweden
Phone +46 90 785 36 76
Fax +46 90 785 36 01
E-mail: eacts.secretary@mailbox.calypso.net