FAIRFAX, VA – March 4, 2026 – Supported by a new grant from the Mussallem CHD Alliance, the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Foundation today announced the Mussallem CHD Alliance Travel Grant, which will enable more than 70 aspiring congenital heart surgeons from around the world to attend the AATS 106th Annual Meeting and AATS Congenital Valve Symposium May 1-5 in Chicago. This symposium brings together congenital surgeons to advance surgical skills and discuss innovative techniques needed to improve care for patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Recipients of this inaugural grant have already been selected, and the application period is now closed.
“CHD affects approximately one in 100 children born every year,” said Emile A. Bacha, MD, 106th President of the AATS and Surgeon-in-Chief at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Chair of Surgery at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. “AATS is proud to be part of the movement launched by Linda and Mike Mussallem, a movement that will profoundly impact CHD patients and their families, and we are humbled and grateful for this new grant.”
“This grant will help more than 70 early-career congenital surgeons to travel to the AATS Annual Meeting in Chicago,” added David R. Bobbitt, MSc, MBA, Chief Executive Officer of the AATS. “The AATS Annual Meeting features the highest-quality science in congenital cardiothoracic surgery, and this year includes a special congenital valve symposium. A portion of the Mussallem CHD Alliance grant is reserved for early-career congenital surgeons from low-to-middle income countries, where we know patient needs frequently outstrip available local resources.”
“At Mussallem CHD Alliance, we believe that expanding access to world-class training and care are essential to improving outcomes for people born with CHD,” said Orin Herskowitz, President of the Mussallem CHD Alliance. “By partnering with AATS, we’re investing in the next generation of congenital heart surgeons, empowering them to learn, collaborate, and bring the latest advances in care to transform patient lives.”
The AATS 106th Annual Meeting will be held in Chicago May 2-5, and the AATS Congenital Valve Symposium will occur May 1. This premier event for cardiothoracic surgery gathers more than 5,000 attendees and features the top science and innovation in the specialty, with a record number of abstract and case video submissions received this year.
About AATS
The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) is an international organization that encourages, promotes, and stimulates the scientific investigation of cardiothoracic surgery. Founded in 1917 by a respected group of the earliest pioneers in the field, its original mission was to “foster the evolution of an interest in surgery of the Thorax.” Today, the AATS is the premier association for cardiothoracic surgeons in the world and works to continually enhance the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest quality of patient care. Its more than 1,500 members have a proven record of distinction within the specialty and have made significant contributions to the care and treatment of cardiothoracic disease. Visit aats.org to learn more.
About the Mussallem CHD Alliance
The Mussallem CHD Alliance is the flagship initiative of the Linda and Mike Mussallem Foundation dedicated to helping people born with congenital heart defects (CHD) survive and thrive, from their first heartbeat onward.