2026 Annals Peer Reviewer Academy

Exclusive to STS Members, The Annals of Thoracic Surgery Peer Reviewer Academy is an academic development program that provides editorial-focused mentorship to early career faculty, directly from the leadership of The Annals. Participants will be selected through an application process in early July 2026; the Peer Reviewer Academy will conclude at the 2027 STS Annual Meeting.  

Applications opening soon! 

During the program, Academy members will be matched with a senior editor on the Annals Editorial Board, and be required to:

• Attend ~3 online peer-review workshops with other participants and select editor mentors
• Complete > 3 mentored peer reviews, obtaining ongoing feedback from their editor-mentor

Academy participants will gain opportunities for peer reviewing, develop excellent peer reviews, and gain insight into the editorial decision-making process. This opportunity is ideal for individuals in their early career years who wish to advance in their academic/research pursuits both by reviewing peers’ research manuscripts and publishing their own work. The expected time commitment from Academy participants is around five hours per month. 

By the end of the program, Academy participants will:

• Develop a broad understanding of how to be an effective peer reviewer.
• Gain hands-on experience by completing >3 peer reviews for The Annals, receiving focused and ongoing feedback from editor mentors.
• Acquire insight into the peer-review and editorial processes through interactive group discussions with editors and editorial staff. 

• $1,250 stipend for program efforts/participation (to be issued following the STS 2027 Annual Meeting in San Diego, which participants will be required to attend)
• Invitation to attend STS Journals Editorial Board Meeting at STS 2027
• Recognition throughout the 2027 STS Annual Meeting for completion of the program
• Credly badge upon program completion for display in LinkedIn (or other social media) profile 

• Mara B. Antonoff, MD (general thoracic)
• Michael Bowdish, MD, MS (adult cardiac)
• Joanna Chikwe, MD, FRCS (adult cardiac)
• Elizabeth David, MD (general thoracic)
• Jeffrey P. Jacobs, MD (congenital)
• Brian Mitzman, MD, MS (general thoracic)
• Meena Nathan, MD, MPH (congenital)
• David Overman, MD (congenital)
• Vinod Thourani, MD (adult cardiac) 

Applicants must be STS Surgeon Members who are within their first five years of initial faculty appointment or practice.  

In its pilot year, the program is limited to a small number of participants, to allow for personalized and meaningful 1:1 match with participating editor-mentors. Applicants will be evaluated based on their demonstrated interest in clinical research and/or a career in academic medicine, as well as their written communication skills, knowledge of medical research and study design, ability to work independently, and commitment to the duties listed below:

• Peer-review at least three manuscripts under the supervision of their editor-mentor.
• Participate in interactive, live online workshops scheduled throughout the program.
• Attend the 2027 STS Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.
• Provide input and feedback in service to refining the program in future years.

All applicants must provide the following:

• A completed application form
• A current CV  
• A personal statement of 250 words or less, describing your interest in this program and how it would be transformative in your overall career goals