Cultivating the next generation of leaders in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine remains a vital mission for the ATS. Approximately 500 early career professionals (ECPs) attended the ATS 2025 International Conference in San Francisco. As of 2025, approximately 25 percent of ATS members were trainees.

This year, the Society is offering two scholarships to ensure ECPs have the opportunity to attend the ATS 2026 International Conference in Orlando, regardless of their financial status: The Underrepresented Trainee Development Scholarship and the Pediatric Resident Development Scholarship.

Applications for these scholarships are due by Monday, March 9. Recipients will be notified in April concerning the outcome of their application.

The Underrepresented Trainee Development Scholarship (UTDS) supports early-career individuals who have faced challenges and obstacles to entry and advancement in medicine, research, and academic health professions. The program, which will celebrate 25 years of excellence in 2027, focuses on fostering opportunities for trainees from backgrounds that have experienced limited representation in these fields.

“Individuals from underrepresented cultures, geographic areas, or financially challenged areas have dreams, goals, and interests in improving lung health based on their varied experiences. Unfortunately, many of these individuals have their aspirations eclipsed by challenges that prevent them from having the time, resources, and encouragement to pursue the course of research question development, hypothesis, and research design,” said Gloria Westney, MD, MSCr, FCCP, ATSF, professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine and chair of the ATS Underrepresented Trainee Development Scholarship Program. “Access to data collection is also a key resource that is often not achievable because the individual researcher has no access to the environment conducive to and supportive of grant development and application. Organizations like the ATS can provide a foundational support that is essential for successful grant development, application, and funding.”

The ATS encourages applications from first-generation college graduates, individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, those who identify as women, people with disabilities, and others whose lived experiences reflect limited access to advancement opportunities. Through this scholarship, the Society aims to build a more inclusive, representative, and supportive professional community that reflects the diversity of the populations it serves.

 In addition to the gratis conference enrollment, recipients also receive a travel scholarship, a certificate of achievement, and a year of ATS membership to acknowledge their contributions and extend their professional development within the community. Awardees will also be recognized at a ceremony during the annual Diversity Forum.

“I would encourage an early career professional to apply for the UTDS scholarship because it provides an avenue whereby you can formulate your research question, collect data, and present an abstract that will be peer reviewed,” Dr. Westney explained. “This not only helps you hone your research skills but also puts you in front of individuals who are also interested in answering the questions in your field of interest.”

Applicants must be a current trainee (at any stage of training from high school through post-doctoral fellow) at an institution in the United States. They cannot be a research assistant or laboratory technician unless they are currently enrolled in a training program. Among PhD applicants, only postdocs with five years or fewer of training are eligible.

Applicants must submit a completed online application form and a letter of support from a research mentor indicating the contribution of the applicant to the research project (basic science, clinical, or translational research), the impact of the award on the applicant, the leadership potential of the applicant, and a copy of the abstract accepted for presentation at the ATS International Conference. Applications are scored based on the quality of the science within, the leadership potential of the applicant, and the strength of the letter.

The Pediatric Resident Development Scholarship (PRDS) introduces pediatric residents to clinical and research advances in respiratory diseases that affect infants, children, and adolescents by providing awardees an opportunity to attend the annual ATS International Conference. Attending the ATS International Conference is essential as these fields face a shortage of specialists for children with breathing and sleep disorders. The PRDS program helps pediatric residents attend, showcasing their research, clinical work, and advocacy. The program is designed to motivate participating pediatric residents to pursue fellowship opportunities in pediatric pulmonology and/ or sleep medicine, thereby contributing to the growth and development of the clinical and research workforce in these specialized fields.

“With the evolving need for pediatric pulmonologists and physician-scientists, we need to focus on introducing students and residents to our amazing field as early as possible in their medical career,” said Stacey Peterson-Carmichael, MD, ATSF, professor of pulmonary medicine and pediatrics at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and president of the ATS Pediatric Pulmonary Division Chiefs. “Most residents do not have the funding or support to attend a conference such as ATS, so the incredible PRDS program allows that exposure, mentorship, and lasting impact for the recipients.”

Like the UTDS Scholarship, each PRDS awardee will receive a travel scholarship, a certificate of achievement, complimentary conference registration, and a one-year trainee membership.

Applicants must be residents in a U.S. or Canadian pediatric training program who have not been accepted into a pediatric pulmonary and/or sleep fellowship program, declare an interest in pediatric pulmonary or sleep medicine, attend the ATS 2026 International Conference, and be willing to provide career information for a minimum of five years to measure the effectiveness of the program. Special consideration will be given to applicants who are authors on abstracts accepted for presentation or are presenters at sessions programmed at the ATS International Conference.

“We encourage pediatric residents who are considering a career in pediatric pulmonology to apply for the PRDS Scholarship,” Dr. Peterson-Carmichael said. “The chance to experience the ATS conference with additional exposure to future colleagues, co-residents, fellows, and other care team members can shape fellowship choices.”

For questions regarding the UTDS scholarship, please contact Liz Guzman at [email protected]. For inquiries about the PRDS Scholarships, please contact Lauren Lynch at [email protected].