This award is named for Dr. A.J. Carpenter, 63rd President of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association (STSA) and former President and long-time leader with WTS. Dr. Carpenter is not only a national leader in cardiac surgery and thoracic education, but also a tremendous mentor to a growing cohort of young surgeons nationwide.

This award allows a woman in medical school or surgical training in the U.S. with an interest in cardiothoracic surgery the opportunity to attend the STSA Annual Meeting, and to be mentored throughout the meeting by a WTS/STSA member. In addition, women postdoctoral candidates in a research or other gap year who have graduated medical school in the U.S. and are committed to cardiothoracic surgery, are eligible to apply.

The STSA meeting is widely recognized as one of the most coveted national meetings in cardiothoracic surgery. The meeting’s format and location provide a strong academic program and unique opportunities for social interaction and relationship building. We encourage all who are interested to apply by emailing your application materials to help@wtsnet.org.

The application process for the 2024 WTS Carpenter Scholarship opened on July 2, 2024.

Interested applicants must apply online at the link below and will be required to submit the following:

Application form which includes a 250 word maximum essay question response
Current CV
Letter of support from the applicant’s medical school official or residency program director permitting participation
Letter of recommendation from an STSA Active member (it is the applicant’s responsibility to confirm membership)

The submission deadline for applications is August 9, 2024, 11:59 p.m. PDT.

Contact WTS Headquarters at help@wtsnet.org with questions.

WTS Carpenter Scholarship for Attendance at the STSA Annual Meeting

Meeting Dates:
November 7-10, 2024

Location:
Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa, Austin, Texas

WTS Carpenter Scholarship Application

Award: Up to $2,000 to cover air travel (one round-trip coach class airfare), ground transportation (shuttle, taxi and Uber/Lyft), lodging (up to three nights at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa), and meals (not already provided by STSA). Tickets to the President’s Mixer and Dinner Gala are included. Registration fee is waived for scholarship recipient.

Award Payout: Following the STSA Annual Meeting, up to $2,000 in travel and lodging expenses will be reimbursed upon receipt of a completed report/evaluation of experience, and expense reimbursement form and receipts.

Eligibility: Female medical students, general surgery residents, and cardiothoracic surgery residents enrolled at an ACGME-accredited institution in the U.S. In addition, women postdoctoral candidates in a research or other gap year who have graduated medical school in the U.S. and are committed to cardiothoracic surgery, are eligible to apply.

Previous recipients of any of the following scholarships/awards are not eligible to apply:

WTS Thistlethwaite Scholarship to attend the WTSA Annual Meeting
WTS Scholarship Program to attend the STS Annual Meeting
WTS Carpenter Scholarship to attend the STSA Annual Meeting
STS Looking to the Future Scholarship to attend the STS Annual Meeting
STSA Brooks Scholarship to attend the STSA Annual Meeting

Mentor: A WTS/STSA member will be assigned prior to the STSA Annual Meeting.

STSA supports southern and southern-trained members of the cardiothoracic surgery community and their families in the pursuit of the highest quality patient care, education, scientific achievement, collegiality, and life balance. STSA represents more than 1,100 cardiothoracic surgeons throughout the country. Although the STSA is a regional society by definition, members are from all over the United States. At the time of acceptance, candidates for STSA Active membership must be practicing, or have previously practiced cardiothoracic surgery for at least one year, or have completed their general surgery residency, thoracic surgery residency, or a thoracic or cardiovascular research or clinical fellowship for at least 12 consecutive months in one of the following states/regions: Alabama; Arkansas; Florida; Georgia; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maryland; Mississippi; Missouri; North Carolina; Oklahoma; South Carolina; Tennessee; Texas; Virginia; West Virginia; District of Columbia; the U.S. territories and commonwealths in the Caribbean.

2023 Award Recipients

Dr. Paighton Miller, Resident, Washington University at St. Louis

“I am truly thankful to the Women in Thoracic Surgery for selecting me for the A.J. Carpenter Scholarship to attend the STSA 70th Annual Meeting in Orlando this year. I am a fourth-year medical student and was applying into residency at the time of this year’s meeting. Having access to the mentorship of WTS made my meeting experience this year all the more impactful. Dr. Preventza, my mentor, went out of her way to invite me to lunch with other students, residents, and faculty on the second day of the meeting. She introduced me to faculty from multiple institutions and took the time to share her advice on not only pursuing and presenting research but also applying to residency programs and finding the right fit for me. Additionally, the meeting provided a perfect opportunity for me to make connections with other residency applicants and current residents to talk about their experiences and revel in our shared journeys to cardiothoracic surgery. I especially enjoyed connecting with Dr. Busra Cangut, the other Carpenter Scholarship recipient. It was inspiring to be surrounded by such driven and powerful women in thoracic surgery. The president’s mixer and dinner gala were marked by joyous reunions and passionate conversations among colleagues and long-time friends. The camaraderie among the attendees of the STSA was evident throughout the meeting and it was so reaffirming for me to get to attend and be a part of this community that I hope to continue to grow in for my future career. I am so grateful to the WTS for allowing me this opportunity and experience. I hope to pay forward the inspiration and mentorship that I received throughout the meeting, and I look forward to the next time we are all together again!”