The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Division of Education and the International Relations Committee are now accepting applications for two international scholarships focused on surgical education. These awards, in the amount of $10,000 each, allow young faculty members from countries outside the U.S. and Canada to participate in a variety of educational opportunities for faculty development. The end result will be the acquisition of new knowledge and skills meant to enhance surgical education and training in the scholar’s home institution and country.
All applications and supporting documentation must be received at the office of the International Liaison no later than May 1, 2015, for attendance at this year’s Clinical Congress.
The two scholars selected for 2015 will participate in the ACS Clinical Congress, October 4−8, in Chicago, IL, including the course Surgical Education: Principles and Practice, as well as other plenary sessions and courses that address surgical education and training across the continuum of professional development. There may be a focus on the needs of practicing surgeons, surgery residents, medical students, and members of the surgical team, or on building knowledge and skills in evaluating and adopting new surgical technologies.
Following the Clinical Congress, the scholars will visit appropriate Level I ACS-Accredited Education Institutes or similarly recognized and established centers with a plan of study and interaction tailored to their particular education-based focus. These centers are typically located in large academic medical centers, which may also allow the scholar exposure to areas of clinical interest. At the conclusion of the Clinical Congress and their visits to these institutions, each scholar will send a brief report to the ACS Division of Education and to the International Relations Committee, which will summarize the outcomes achieved as a result of the scholarship, specifically focusing on achievement of the objectives outlined in the application. Applicants must supply evidence of support of the scholar’s objectives from the leadership at their home institutions. The scholarship will facilitate the scholar’s involvement in subsequent collaborative ventures in education and training under the aegis of the ACS Division of Education.
Each scholarship provides a stipend of $10,000, supporting travel and per diem in the U.S., and the cost of courses undertaken at the Clinical Congress and at the centers to be visited. Clinical Congress registration will be provided gratis, and assistance in reserving economical housing in the Clinical Congress host city will also be provided. Chicago, IL, is the host city for Clinical Congress 2015.
Requirements
To qualify for the scholarships, the following criteria must be met:
- Applicants must be medical school graduates.
- Applicants must be at least 30 years old but younger than 45 years of age on the date that the completed application is filed.
- Applications must be submitted from the applicants’ intended permanent location.
- Applicants must be in surgical practice and teaching for at least five years following completion of all formal training (including fellowships and scholarships).
- Applicants must submit a fully completed application form, which is available on the College website. The application and accompanying materials must be in English. Submission of a curriculum vitae only is unacceptable.
- Applicants must submit independently prepared letters of recommendation from three of their colleagues. One letter must be from the chair of the department in which they hold an academic appointment and must provide evidence of support of the scholar’s objectives from the leadership at the home institution. Letters of recommendation should be submitted directly by the persons making the recommendations.
- The International Scholarships for Surgical Education must be used in the year for which they are designated. The scholarships cannot be postponed.
- Awardees must provide a written report upon their return home, specifically focusing on the value of the visit to the awardee and the potential benefits to patients in the country of origin.
- Unsuccessful applicants may reapply only twice and only by completing and submitting a current application form provided by the College together with new supporting documentation.
Questions and supporting materials should be directed to Kate Early, Administrator, International Liaison Section, at scholarships@facs.org, or 633 N. Saint Clair St., Chicago, IL, 60611-3211.
