Stanley Sarnoff - Growth of The Fellowship Program

Growth of The Fellowship Program

As the fellowship grew, scientists with whom Stanley had collaborated suggested promising candidates and they were selected as Fellows. Early meetings were small gatherings at his home and at nearby hotels. The weekends were filled with students' presentations but also were informal gatherings and finished up with an afternoon of tennis at Stanley's home.

The program was formalized in 1981 with the formation of The Stanley J. Sarnoff Endowment for Cardiovascular Science, Inc., a public charity. Many of the sponsors of the early Fellows were invited to serve on the Endowment's Board of Directors.

Over the next 10 years, endowment developed the existing research guidelines and practices. Through the remaining years of his life, Stanley Sarnoff and sponsors from a handful of medical schools reviewed and selected fellowship recipients.

The endowment established a Scientific Board consisting of sponsors (researchers who submit students for the fellowship), preceptors (researchers who accept students into their lab), current and former students, and supporters of the Endowments mission from the academic community. Its primary charge is to select Fellows and to oversee the Fellow's year in the lab.

A scholarship program was established to fund the post-doctoral research careers of MD cardiovascular scientists.

Over 300 fellows and 30 scholars have completes the program, many of whom choose to pursue academic research or to pursue their research within industry or business. Many who practice medicine, point to their days as a Sarnoff Fellow as their most rewarding years in training and the alumni organization exists "with sincere thanks to Stanley Sarnoff for his unconditional gift."