Association for Academic Surgery (AAS)

Inspiring and Developing Young Academic Surgeons

Fall Courses

When

Courses will take place immediately prior to the ACS Clinical Congress.

Date: Friday, October 3rd, 2025

Time: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM with a reception until 6:00 PM (subject to change)

Where

The Fall Courses will take place in Chicago, IL – Venue to be announced. Please note, there is no hotel block secured for this event.

General Information

Who Should Attend?

Fundamentals of Surgical Research Course

» Residents, especially those preparing for or beginning dedicated research time
» Fellows
» Undergraduate and medical students interested in academic surgery and surgical research
» New/Junior faculty pursuing a new research career

Early Career Development Course

» Junior faculty within their first 7 years of practice
» Trainees preparing for a faculty position

Program

Fundamentals of Surgical Research Course

Learning Objectives:
  • Understand the diversity of paths and environments for surgeon scientists
  • Maximize your relationship with your mentor
  • Efficiently manage time to succeed in research projects
  • Apply for research funding, and where to obtain these funds
  • Develop a hypothesis and design experiments to test it
  • Submit work for national meetings
  • Deliver an effective research presentation
  • Develop resiliency and preserve wellness as a surgeon scientist
  • Prepare and revise a manuscript based on research findings
  • Optimize success in basic/translational research, clinical/health services research, and education research (via breakout sessions)
  • Craft one’s path to fellowship through small-group sessions (global surgery, military, academic specialty, etc)

8:00am Welcome & Introduction
8:10am Kickoff Lecture
8:30am Crafting the Optimal Research Team & Environment
– Mentorship that Works: Building Your Cabinet of Coaches, Sponsors, and Collaborators
– Maximizing Opportunities: Optimizing Mentor-Mentee Relational Dynamics & Shining in Any Academic Environment
– Productive by Design: Time Management, Early Funding, and Collaboration Strategies
– Panel Discussion
10:00am Break
10:15am Honing Research Skills
– Optimizing Research Infrastructure: Data Sources, Stats Partnerships, and Analytics Strategy
– Writing for Impact: From Abstract to Manuscript
– Pearls and Pitfalls of Early-Career Grant Writing
– How to Deliver an Effective Research Presentation: Know Your Audience and Stage
– Panel Discussion
11:45am Lunch
12:45pm Small-Group Workshop: Preparation for Fellowship Match: How to Ensure Success
1:45pm Panel Session: Designing Your Academic Blueprint
2:30pm Break
2:40pm BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Basic & Translational Research
– From Idea to Impact: The Architecture of a Successful Basic/Translational Research Grant
– Making the Most of Your Lab Years: Positioning for Independence
– Negotiating for Success as a Basic/Translational Researcher: Building the Foundation for Independence
– Interactive Panel Discussion
Clinical/Health Services Research
– Practical and Accessible Databases for High Impact Research
– Primer For Your First Cohort Study
– Charting Your Own Course
Education Research
– Tips and Tricks in Becoming a Surgeon Educator
– Mixed Methods Research: Utilizing Surveys and Interviews in Surgical Education Research
– AI in Medical Education
– From Idea to Manuscript: Translating Your Research Questions into Published Research
3:45pm Break
4:00pm Keynote Lecture by Sandra Wong, MD, MS
Early Career Development Course

Learning Objectives:
  • Effectively plan and start your academic career
  • Negotiate your job, resources, and programmatic support
  • Balance your academic, clinical, and personal responsibilities
  • Build and manage a research team; obtain and sustain research funding
  • Make the most of society, university, and hospital committee involvement
  • Strategies to make the most of meetings with your chief/chair and move toward promotion
  • Cope with and recover from setbacks
  • Appreciate diverse pathways to success in academic surgery
  • Network with leaders in academic surgery and with early-career peers
  • Develop an elevator pitch
8:00am Welcome & Introduction
8:10am Kickoff Lecture
8:30am STARTING YOUR ACADEMIC CAREER: Creating & Knowing Your Value in the First Few Years
– Finding & Negotiating Your First (or Next) Academic Position
– Building Your Clinical Practice & Finding a Niche
– Educating/Mentoring Students & Trainees
– Finances and Compensation Plans
– Moderated Question & Answer
10:00am Break
10:30am ADVANCING YOUR ACADEMIC CAREER: Education & Research Pathways
– Building your Education Program
– Building your Research Program
– Education & Research breakout
11:45am Lunch
12:45pm ADVANCING YOUR ACADEMIC CAREER: Paths to Promotion
– Making the Most of Meeting with Your Chair/Section Chief
– Showing Your Value: Capturing Your Contributions for Promotion (Citizenship, Leadership, Service)
– Achieving Local, Regional & National Visibility
– Moderated Question & Answer
1:30pm Developing Your Elevator Pitch
2:00pm Break
2:20pm MANAGING LIFE AS FACULTY
– Leadership Growth & Professional Development
– Taking Care of Yourself
– Managing Opportunities: When to Say “Yes”; When & How to Say “No”
– Moderated Question and Answer
3:45pm Break
4:00pm Keynote Lecture by Sandra Wong, MD, MS

Registration

Opening July! Registration to either the Fundamentals of Surgical Research Course (FSRC) or the Early Career Development Course (ECDC) usually includes: course syllabus, breakfast, lunch, and networking reception.

*Fees are subject to change*

Travel Awards Available! For residents, fellows, or faculty-level attendees who are an underrepresented voice in surgery based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, military service or any other personal identification including those that originate from medically underserved areas. Applications now open through June 23, 2025

APPLY
  On or before
Early Bird Deadline (TBD)		 On or after
Early Bird Deadline (TBD)
AAS Active or Senior Member $450 $550
Non-Member Surgeon $500 $600
Active Duty Military Surgeon $200 $300
Resident/Fellow $375 $475
Non-Member Resident/Fellow $450 $550
Medical Student $200 $300
Administrator/Director $300 $400

Questions? Email AAS Registrar, Kathy Mitchell – [email protected]

Interested in Sponsoring?

Contact: Director of Development, Colleen Elkins – [email protected]

For General Inquiries Contact

Meeting Planner, Beth BIggs – [email protected]

AAS Associate Executive Director, Nicole Von Husen – [email protected]

SAVE THE DATE!

Future AAS Fall Courses

September 25, 2026 | Washington, DC

October 15, 2027 | San Diego, CA