Surgery, Technology and Engineering Mentorship for Medical Students (STEMS) Program

About This Grant

ABSTRACT Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, despite significant advances in surgical techniques and medical therapies. The development of novel diagnostic, treatment, and prevention strategies requires an in-depth understanding of cardiovascular pathophysiology, paired with advanced engineering and computational expertise. However, a critical gap exists in formal training opportunities for medical students to integrate surgical and engineering skills, contributing to a growing deficit of cardiovascular surgeon-scientists. To address this need, we propose the Surgery, Technology and Engineering Mentorship for Medical Students (STEMS) short-term training program at Washington University in St. Louis. This program is founded on the premise that early engagement of post-baccalaureate medical students will inspire their pursuit of academic careers in cardiovascular surgery while accelerating the development of innovative technologies for diagnosing, treating, and preventing cardiovascular diseases. Research topics will include critical areas such as cardiac arrhythmia, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease (arterial/venous), aortic aneurysmal disease, and neurovascular disease. With a diverse and accomplished faculty mentorship network, robust institutional support, and established multi-disciplinary research programs, the STEMS training program will equip trainees with synergistic skills in translational research and engineering to address complex challenges in this field. Graduates of this program will emerge with foundational knowledge to pursue impactful future academic and research pursuits in the diagnosis, management, and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.