The Francis Fontan Fund supports surgical education, fosters professional development and strengthens the global cardiothoracic community through increased knowledge share.
The Fund’s mission is to create a global community sharing and learning from the highest standards of cardiothoracic care.
On Thursday evening, Fellows, past and present, came together at the Annual Meeting for a welcome reception. Here we talk to four Fellows about their experience of the Francis Fontan Fellowship programme.
Polina Danchenko, Ukraine
UKRAINIAN SUPPORT FELLOWSHIP
I'm currently doing the Fellowship with the support of the Francis Fontan Fund in Barcelona, under the supervision of Dr. Eduard Quintana. I'm having the best time with him and he's providing me with high quality specialty training that I could never dream of. And the new technologies like robotic surgery, which are just outstanding, I always say I'm kind of in the surgical Disneyland in Barcelona.
The Department of Cardiovascular Surgery does all kinds of types of surgical procedures and interventions, including minimally invasive and robotic surgery itself. So this allows you to see the full spectrum of the cardiac surgery interventions that exist. And for trainee residents like me, it's a perfect setting to see the whole of cardiac surgery with top quality specialists around you who are at the same time mentoring and training you.
Gvido Bergs, Latvia
ADVANCED POSTOPERATIVE CARE FELLOWSHIP
I was a Francis Fontan Fellow for advanced post operative care in Barcelona. It has been amazing, extremely fruitful for me. I had the opportunity to meet great surgeons, including Dr. Eduard Quintana, who has had a great impact on my development.
Ian Cummings, UK
OFF-PUMP CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS FELLOWSHIP, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MEDTRONIC
“When I applied for this programme I considered it the start of an educational journey (under the umbrella of EACTS), providing mentorship and support at an important phase in my development as I approach the end of the formal London Cardiac Surgery training programme.
The experience so far has been excellent, and I am privileged to be part of the Fellowship programme. In my mind however, this is just the beginning of an educational process which will enable me to become ‘expert’ in the field of OPCAB.
Professor Sousa Uva and I have already discussed the next phase of my progression in this field. I have no doubt being part of the Francis Fontan Fellowship programme will lay strong foundations for my future career and training once I complete my surgical programme.
Gianluca, Folesani, Italy
THORACIC SURGERY FOUNDATION / FRANCIS FONTAN FUND INTERNATIONAL TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP
I started in Philadelphia a month ago and it’s been fantastic. I will stay there until the end of November. I am very interested in mitral valve surgery – a specialty with so much debate - minimally invasive techniques and the use of robotic surgery. I am very grateful to those at the hospital who are teaching me. The next two months will be even more fantastic. I am learning a lot and I hope to bring all these things back to my hospital.
