Association for Academic Surgery (AAS)

Inspiring and Developing Young Academic Surgeons

2020 Virtual Fall Courses Update

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The Association of Academic Surgery is gearing up for 2020 Fall Courses.  This year the courses will take place virtually across the last three months of the year.  This year’s courses will include the Fundamentals of Surgical Research Course, the Early Career Development Course – Preparing for Practice, and the Early Career Development Course – Preparing to Lead.

The first virtual course, the Fundamentals of Surgical Research Course, taking place Friday, October 9th and Saturday, October 10th is targeted towards undergraduate and medical students with an interest in research, residents and fellows, or junior faculty that are embarking on their research careers. Topics that will be covered include those that are broadly applicable to any type of research or surgical discipline, such as finding the right mentor, securing funding, finding clinical/research balance, designing and implementing quality research, and communicating findings in writing and in person. Breakout sessions in the afternoon will allow for more in-depth discussions in a small group setting on how to successfully conduct Basic/Translational Research, Clinical/Health Services Research, and Education Research.

This year the Early Career Development Course will be split into two courses which focus on different stages of early career development.  The second virtual course, the Early Career Development Course – Preparing for Practice will provide senior residents, fellows, and junior faculty in the first year or two of practice with detailed information on launching an academic surgical career. This course will take place Friday, November 6th and Saturday, November 7th.  Speakers will offer pearls of wisdom on establishing a clinical footprint, launching a research program, being effective educators, and developing a national profile. Specific topics of discussion will include negotiating for your first or next job, obtaining research funding, finding appropriate mentors and sponsors, managing conflict, rising beyond complications and setbacks, and balancing academic, clinical, and personal responsibilities. Attendees will participate in a small group breakout session where they will work on preparing an elevator pitch with the guidance of peers and senior surgeons.

Finally, the third virtual course, the Early Career Development Course – Preparing to Lead, is targeted towards faculty still in the beginning of their career (year 2 to 7+).  This course is taking place Friday, December 4th and Saturday, December 5th.  Topics that will be covered include leading diversity and inclusion efforts at organizations, recognizing unconscious bias, advancing along promotion and tenure tracks, pursuing different career trajectories in academic medicine, and bridging the gap from mentee to mentor.  Attendees will participate in a small group breakout session where different mentorship scenarios will be presented and challenges and solutions for each scenario will be discussed.

We ask and highly encourage you to send students, residents, fellows and faculty from your institution to these valuable courses. The content is updated each year and every effort is made to include novel and “hot” topics – so consider a return visit if you have already attended.

Here is the link to the full program and to register: www.aasurg.org/aas-fall-courses

If you need any more information on these courses, please feel free to contact us at any time.

 

Vikas Dudeja, MD & Ryan Merkow, MD, MS

Fundamentals of Surgical Research Course Chairs

Catherine Velopulos, MD & Luke Funk, MD, MPH

Early Career Development Courses Chairs

Vikas Dudeja

Dr. Dudeja received his medical degree and initial surgical training at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, India. After completing a research fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Ashok Saluja, a renowned pancreas scientist, he went on to complete his general surgery residency at the University of Minnesota and completed a fellowship in Complex Surgical Oncology and Hepato-pancreatico-biliary Surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. After his fellowship training, he joined a faculty position at the University of Minnesota as an Assistant Professor, Masonic Cancer Center Scholar and Varco Surgeon Scientist until he was recruited to the University of Miami. Dr Dudeja’s laboratory focuses on deciphering the biology of tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer and to devise strategies to modulate it for therapeutic gain. Elucidation of the mechanism and determinants of tumor recurrence is another key area studied in his laboratory. His laboratory is funded by the NIH, VA, state grants and Department of Defense.

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About Vikas Dudeja

Dr. Dudeja received his medical degree and initial surgical training at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, India. After completing a research fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Ashok Saluja, a renowned pancreas scientist, he went on to complete his general surgery residency at the University of Minnesota and completed a fellowship in Complex Surgical Oncology and Hepato-pancreatico-biliary Surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. After his fellowship training, he joined a faculty position at the University of Minnesota as an Assistant Professor, Masonic Cancer Center Scholar and Varco Surgeon Scientist until he was recruited to the University of Miami. Dr Dudeja’s laboratory focuses on deciphering the biology of tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer and to devise strategies to modulate it for therapeutic gain. Elucidation of the mechanism and determinants of tumor recurrence is another key area studied in his laboratory. His laboratory is funded by the NIH, VA, state grants and Department of Defense.