• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Association for Academic Surgery (AAS)

  • Home
  • About
    • AAS Staff
    • Contact Us
    • Foundation
  • Membership
    • Apply For Membership
    • New Member List
    • Membership Directory
    • Check Dues Balance / Pay Dues
  • Jobs
    • AAS Job Board
    • Post a Job
  • Resources
    • Assistant Professor Playbook
    • Partners
    • AAS Resources
    • Resident Research Funding Primer
  • Grants/Awards
    • AAS/AASF Fall Courses Award
    • AAS/AASF Research Awards
      • Basic Science/Translational Research Award
      • Clinical Outcomes/Health Services Research Award
      • Trainee Research Fellowship Award in Education
      • Global Surgery Research Fellowship Award
      • Joel J. Roslyn Faculty Research Award
    • Travel Awards
      • AAS/AASF Student Diversity Travel Award
      • Senior Medical Student Travel Award
      • Visiting Professorships
    • Awards FAQ’s
  • Meetings
    • Academic Surgical Congress
    • Surgical Investigators’ Course
    • AAS Fall Courses
    • International Courses
      • Fundamentals of Surgical Research Course and Scientific Writing Workshop
    • Resident Research Funding Primer
  • Publications
  • Webinars
    • Fireside Chat – Maintaining Balance & Control
    • Diversity, Inclusion & Equity Series
      • Allyship
      • PRIDE: The LGBTQ+ Community in Academic Surgery
      • Racial Discrimination in Academic Surgery
    • Academic Surgery in the Time of COVID-19 Series
      • How to Optimize your Research During the Pandemic
      • How to Optimize Educational Experiences During the Pandemic
      • Virtual Interviews
    • The Transition to Practice – Presented by Intuitive
  • Leadership
    • Current AAS Leadership
    • AAS Past Presidents
    • How to Chair
    • Committee Missions & Objectives
    • AAS Officer Descriptions
  • Blog
    • Submit a Post
  • Log In

January 12, 2018 by Hari Nathan

2017 AAS Early Career Development Course

The Association for Academic Surgery recently presented the 13th Annual Early Career Development Course (ECDC) in La Jolla, CA, on October 21, 2017. This course occurs every year on the Saturday before the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress. I have been fortunate to attend this outstanding course as a resident, again as a fellow, and then several times as a member of the AAS Leadership Committee. As we consider how this course has evolved and what we can do to improve it even more, I want to offer a few reflections of what a unique and valuable opportunity I think it is for senior residents, fellows, and young faculty.

The prospect of beginning a career in academic surgery can be both exciting and daunting. Even for graduating residents and fellows who are fortunate to have strong career mentors, the challenge of finding and negotiating a first job can be intimidating. For those who do not receive adequate guidance from their home programs, it can be difficult to know where to start. The support and mentorship provided in a first job are critical to a successful “launch” in academic surgery, yet applicants may have blind spots regarding what they should look for (and what they should avoid). Similarly, once a new faculty member starts her or his first position, the challenges of getting one’s “sea legs” clinically and establishing a research program, all while adjusting out of the trainee role, can be daunting, even in the best institutional environments.

The ECDC begins with the perspectives of leaders in American surgery on these topics and more. The course faculty have been there, done that, and generally succeeded, but they are very candid about their personal challenges and missteps. After they offer pearls on finding and starting a new job, they cover other important topics related to establishing a national profile, funding and sustaining a research program, and ultimately being promoted. The faculty, all of whom volunteer their time, are also available to talk on-on-one with course attendees. The ECDC can be a valuable opportunity to establish relationships with senior mentors at other institutions, not to mention begin friendships with other young academic surgeons who are facing the same challenges as they begin their careers.

Importantly, the ECDC is not all about the successes of surgical leaders. A significant portion of the course focuses on setbacks and how to overcome them. In the last few years, this has been the most significant change in the course. While maintaining a focus on the strategies and ingredients for a successful start in academic surgery, we also feel that it is important to acknowledge that things often don’t go as planned. When that happens, resilience and strong support structure can make all the difference.

Having attended the ECDC 5 times, I can honestly say that I learn something new every time. I strongly encourage senior residents, fellows, and junior faculty to take advantage of this unique opportunity. If you have taken the course, consider taking it again! And if you’re there at the 14th annual ECDC in 2018, please come say hello and tell us how to make it even better.

  • Bio
  • Latest Posts

Hari Nathan

Dr. Hari Nathan is an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery at the University of Michigan. He is a surgical oncologist with a clinical focus on tumors of the pancreas, liver, bile ducts, and stomach. Dr. Nathan’s health services research portfolio focuses on variation in the cost and quality of surgical care. Specifically, he studies the impact of innovative payment models in the Medicare program on surgical care. He is also interested in the quality of cancer surgery and prediction of prognosis after cancer resection.

Latest posts by Hari Nathan (see all)

  • From the AAS Treasurer: Announcing the AAS Job Board - January 18, 2022
  • 2017 AAS Early Career Development Course - January 12, 2018

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Print

Other Posts from The Academic Surgeon:

The 28th Annual Fundamentals of Surgical Research Course
Academic Surgical Congress 2018 – Moderator Tips

Primary Sidebar

Log In

  • Lost your password?

AAS Commitment to Diversity in Academic Surgery

Save the Date: 2023 Academic Surgical Congress

Save the date for the 18th ASC!
February 7-9, 2023
Hilton Americas-Houston
Houston, TX
More information coming soon.  Learn more>>

2023 AAS Fall Courses

Save the Date! Saturday, October 21, 2023 Boston , MA Courses will take place immediately prior to the ACS Clinical … More Information » about Fall Courses

Footer

Association for Academic Surgery
11300 W. Olympic Blvd, Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone: (310) 437-1606
Email: [email protected]

Follow Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

© 2023 · AAS - Association for Academic Surgery