Fellowship provides newly graduated cardiothoracic surgeons with a
unique opportunity to be trained by nationally recognized experts in
atrial fibrillation surgery
WEST CHESTER, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 7, 2015--
AtriCure,
Inc. (Nasdaq:
ATRC), a leading innovator in technologies for the surgical
treatment of atrial fibrillation (Afib) and left atrial appendage
management, together with the American Association for Thoracic Surgery
(AATS) Graham Foundation has announced the inaugural James L. Cox
Fellowship in Atrial Fibrillation Surgery.
The multi-year commitment will provide newly graduated cardiothoracic
surgeons with a highly engaging educational experience at leading
surgical Afib centers across the United States. Eight nationally
recognized experts in Afib surgery will act as “host surgeons”,
providing one-on-one mentoring and formalized training to award winners
over the course of three months. The fellowship will also include a
didactic training course led by Dr. James Cox, whose pioneering work
established the field of Afib ablation, and his protégé, Dr. Ralph
Damiano, who chairs the Afib fellowship program on behalf of the AATS
Graham Foundation and AtriCure.
“I am very pleased that AATS Graham Foundation has recognized the need
for this kind of program,” said Dr. Damiano, Chief of Cardiothoracic
Surgery at Washington University in St. Louis. “I believe that this will
provide an excellent opportunity for interested fellows to increase
their understanding of how to treat the growing epidemic of atrial
fibrillation and to better understand the surgical treatment of this
common arrhythmia.”
In future years, the company hopes to expand the number of host surgeons
and training sites and to offer this fellowship to surgeons outside the
U.S. The goal of this educational program is to identify and cultivate
the next generation of leaders and researchers in the field of Afib
surgery, providing them with the tools, experience, and guidance to
provide safe and effective treatment. The announcement coincides with
the AATS Annual Meeting April 25-29 and the naming of Dr. Cox as
recipient of the 2015 AATS Scientific Achievement Award, the society’s
highest scientific award recognizing extraordinary contributions to the
field of cardiothoracic surgery.
“We are incredibly proud to be a supporter of the James L. Cox
Fellowship,” said Mike Carrel, president and chief executive officer of
AtriCure. “Dr. Cox is widely recognized as the leader in our field, and
we are pleased that this program has come to fruition as recognition of
his contributions, as well as AATS’ commitment to education and
furthering the practice of surgically treating Afib.”
The fellowship is named after Dr. James L. Cox, a leading pioneer in the
development of solutions to treat Afib. Dr. Cox has been working on
educating surgeons globally for decades to reduce the global epidemic of
Afib. He received his MD from the University of Tennessee, and after
serving with the US Army medical corps, he completed his residency at
Duke University, where he joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor
of Surgery in 1998. He then moved to the Washington University School of
Medicine in St. Louis, where he became Professor and Chief of the
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, specializing in surgical procedures
for cardiac arrhythmias. In 1987, he performed his first “maze”
procedure, which was recognized as the first cure for severe forms of
Afib. From 1990 to 1997, he was the Evarts A. Graham Professor of
Surgery at Washington University and in 1997 moved to Georgetown
University to become Chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic
Surgery, a position from which he retired in 2000. He is currently the
Evarts A. Graham Professor of Surgery Emeritus at Washington University
School of Medicine.
“I am honored to be a part of this inaugural program,” said Dr. Cox. “I
am confident that this will provide interested surgeons with the ability
to train under some of the best arrhythmia surgeons in the world. It is
a very exciting time to be involved in the surgical treatment of atrial
fibrillation.”
More information about the fellowship program can be found at http://aatsgrahamfoundation.org/awards_atricure.cgi
About AtriCure
AtriCure, Inc. is a medical device company providing innovative atrial
fibrillation (Afib) solutions designed to produce superior outcomes that
reduce the economic and social burden of atrial fibrillation. AtriCure’s
Synergy™ Ablation System is the first and only surgical device approved
for the treatment of persistent and longstanding persistent forms of
Afib in patients undergoing certain open concomitant procedures.
AtriCure’s AtriClip left atrial appendage management (LAAM) exclusion
device is the most widely sold device worldwide that’s indicated for the
occlusion of the left atrial appendage. The company believes
cardiothoracic surgeons are adopting its ablation and LAAM devices for
the treatment of Afib and reduction of Afib related complications such
as stroke. Afib affects more than 33 million people worldwide.3 For
more information visit AtriCure.com
or follow us on Twitter @AtriCure.
About the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS)
AATS is the premiere association for the world’s cardiothoracic
surgeons. Its members number more than 1,300 thoracic and cardiothoracic
surgeons from 41 countries around the globe. Founded in 1917 by pioneers
in the field of thoracic surgery, AATS members have a proven record of
distinction in the field and have made significant contributions to the
care and treatment of cardiothoracic diseases worldwide. Learn more
at www.aats.org.
Follow AATS on Twitter: @AATSHQ.
About the AATS Graham Foundation
The AATS Graham Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the American
Association for Thoracic Surgery. It supports surgeons, fellows,
residents and medical students worldwide through educational conferences
and programs, training fellowships and research scholarships — enhancing
their surgical knowledge and technical skills by keeping them abreast of
cardiothoracic surgery advances and innovations. Learn more at www.aatsgrahamfoundation.org.
Source: AtriCure, Inc.
AtriCure, Inc.
Media Relations
Valerie
Storch-Willhaus, 612-605-3311
Director, Corporate Marketing
and Communications
vstorch-willhaus@atricure.com
or
Investor
Relations
Andy Wade, 513-755-4564
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
awade@AtriCure.com
