Mark your calendars! 📅 The 22nd Annual Academic Surgical Congress is coming to Washington, DC — February 9–11, 2027 at the Washington Hilton. ASC 2026 set the bar high. We can't wait to see what's next. #ASC2027

Let your voice be heard and contribute to The Academic Surgeon, the official blog of the AAS! It's a great way to showcase your expertise, connect with colleagues, and boost your visibility in the field. Learn how: www.aasurg.org/the-academic...

Hey AAS members! Are you looking for your next career move? Find your perfect medical match and explore opportunities at leading institutions. www.aasurg.org/jobs/

Do you have your official AAS merch?! Show us a photo in the comments! Shop AAS Blue Sky Scrubs: blueskyscrubs.com/collections/...

We are pleased to announce the winner of the Ethics Committee’s Annual Essay Challenge for the 2026 Art Festival, which featured the theme “Living Your Values.” We are excited to congratulate Aprill Park! See her award-winning art piece: www.aasurg.org/congratulati...

We are delighted to present the 2026 Research Award Winners! AAS/AASF research awards support trainees and early-career faculty by providing funding to advance innovative research across surgical disciplines and surgical palliative care. Congratulations to the awardees!

We are pleased to announce the winner of the Ethics Committee’s Annual Essay Challenge for the 2026 Essay Festival, which featured the theme “Living Your Values.” Read the award-winning essay, “I Am Here to Spend Time with You,” www.aasurg.org/congratulati...

On The Academic Surgeon, surgical resident Binyam Hundito reflects on what a rotation at Black Lion Hospital taught him about inequity, adaptability, clinical judgment, and what it means to lead through service rather than authority. 🔗 www.aasurg.org/the-importan...

Calling all surgeon scientists! AAS is hosting a webinar on March 12th designed to give you practical, real-world strategies for building and sustaining a career in basic and translational research. Register today: www.aasurg.org/aas-webinar-...

Congratulations to the 2026 Best AAS Manuscript Award recipients! 🎉 The future of academic surgery is in excellent hands. Learn more: www.aasurg.org/congratulati...

Surgical resident & Pure Barre instructor Marianna Frazee writes beautifully about what dance and transplant surgery have in common — precision, micro-adjustments, endurance under pressure, & the quiet strength that only reveals itself when everythings on the line. www.aasurg.org/strength-in-...

Dr. Christine Nembhard's new piece on The Academic Surgeon addresses what surgical training often leaves out: how to process the emotional aftermath of adverse outcomes, build resilience, & create cultures where asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. www.aasurg.org/navigating-t...

Congrats to our incoming 2026–2027 leadership team: President: Vikas Dudeja, MBBS President-Elect: Christina Roland, MD, MS Secretary: Krista Haines, DO Treasurer: Ashley Holder, MD Recorder: Lesly Dossett, MD, MPH. We are grateful for their commitment to empowering academic surgeons everywhere!

Ready to stand out in your residency interviews? Join AAS LEAN Session on Professionalism & How to Interview March 16, 6:30 PM EST | Live on Zoom us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

"I wish I joined during my first year of college." — LEAN Scholar Omari Whitlow on the AAS Leadership, Engagement, Academia, Networking (LEAN) program. Learn more on The Academic Surgeon: 🔗 www.aasurg.org/aas-lean-pro...

The 21st Annual Academic Surgical Congress brought together 1,918 attendees, 1,593 abstracts, & a community united by one mission: advancing academic surgery. ASC 2026 was everything this field represents — innovative, collaborative, & inspiring. Thank you to everyone who made it one for the books!

Prior authorization is one of the most difficult healthcare processes to study and one of the hardest to navigate. In this new post, Kristy Broman, MD, MPH, examines the data, the gaps, and the path forward. Read the full article: www.aasurg.org/prior-author...

🎓 The transition from trainee to faculty doesn’t end the learning, it transforms it. In this thoughtful reflection, Dr. Eleanor Fallon explores what it means to step into an attending role while continuing to grow as a learner, leader, and educator. Read more: www.aasurg.org/from-trainee...

Hey AAS members! Are you looking for your next career move? Find your perfect medical match and explore opportunities at leading institutions. www.aasurg.org/jobs/

🔥🌶️ The Surgical Hot Ones Competition goes down tomorrow, and this is the final window to arm your favorite team with last-minute power-ups! Check the power-ups, make your move, and let’s make this maximum drama 🔥 www.academicsurgicalcongress.org/hot-ones-sho...

Anything can change with one donation. Extra milk, skipped spice, or full chaos. Eyes on the leaderboard… this is getting spicy 🌶️ www.academicsurgicalcongress.org/hot-ones-sho...

🌶️🔥Happy National Hot Sauce Day! Celebrate by turning up the heat on the Surgical Hot Ones Competition at ASC 2026! AAS & SUS Past Presidents are preparing to face progressively hotter wings for glory, bragging rights, & 2 incredible causes. www.academicsurgicalcongress.org/hot-ones-sho...

📝 Writing a grant proposal? Dr. Matthew Symer shares favorite tools and resources to make the process smoother, from finding funding to crafting your proposal and building a budget. Start here: www.aasurg.org/grant-propos...

🔥 The Surgical Hot Ones Competition is officially underway! AAS and SUS Past Presidents are gearing up to go wing for wing at The Night Shift during ASC 2026, with heat increasing every round and bragging rights on the line! Donate: www.academicsurgicalcongress.org/hot-ones-sho...

Big success starts with small systems. In the latest post on The Academic Surgeon, Dr. Christian Cain shares how shifting from heroic effort to smart habits helped him thrive in academic surgery. Read it here: www.aasurg.org/building-mom...

Two high-impact courses. Limited spots. Whether you’re laying the groundwork or mapping your next big move, these courses are designed to meet you where you are and help you move forward with intention. Register: www.academicsurgicalcongress.org

In case you missed it: Dr. Miguel Gasakure, Program Director at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, shares powerful insights with Dr. Phillip Hsu on surgical education, global partnerships, and community-driven solutions in Rwanda. 📍Read the full Q&A: www.aasurg.org/learning-to-...

❄️ 1 DAY LEFT. ❄️ The Ice Bucket Showdown ends tomorrow, and the leaderboard is officially dark. 🧊 Donate today to help decide who faces the freeze AND to receive exclusive access to the live Zoom reveal. 🪣🥶 Give now → www.aasurg.org/aas-officer-...

“Yes” isn’t a research strategy. In the latest post, Dr. Mackenzie Mayhew reflects on how researchers can avoid burnout and build meaningful academic momentum by choosing the right projects and mentors, not just saying yes to every opportunity. Read the post: www.aasurg.org/all-research...

New on The Academic Surgeon! Dr. Miguel Gasakure, Program Director at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, shares powerful insights with Dr. Phillip Hsu on surgical education, global partnerships, and community-driven solutions in Rwanda. Read the full Q&A: www.aasurg.org/learning-to-...

❄️ THE LEADERBOARD HAS GONE DARK. ❄️ The final days of the AAS Ice Bucket Showdown are officially underway, and the leaderboard is going silent. Which officer is on top? Who’s headed for the ice bucket? Donate now and find out LIVE on January 16: www.aasurg.org/aas-officer-...

Grant funding can feel like a mountain, but with the right tools, early-career academic surgeons can reach the summit. In this new post, Dr. Candice Nicole Thompson breaks down what it really takes to secure research funding early in your career. 🔗 Read now: www.aasurg.org/securing-gra...

📢 LAST CALL FOR ASC 2026 EARLY BIRD PRICING! Register by TODAY, January 12th, to save with early bird pricing. We can’t wait to see you in sunny Orlando for another inspiring Academic Surgical Congress! Register: www.academicsurgicalcongress.org/registration/

🥶 LEADERBOARD UPDATE — January 12! 🥶 The frost is settling… and one officer is starting to feel the chill. Here’s where our Ice Warriors stand! There’s still time to shake up the standings. Support your Ice Warrior and help decide their fate. 🪣💦 Donate here → www.aasurg.org/aas-officer-...

“Have you always wanted to be a breast surgeon?” In the latest post on The Academic Surgeon, Dr. Jasmine Walker opens up about the winding path from transplant research to plastic surgery—and finally finding the perfect fit in breast surgery. Read the full story: www.aasurg.org/its-ok-to-ch...

Good news — the Early Bird rate for ASC 2026 has been extended through January 12. Don’t miss your chance to save before registration prices go up. Register today: www.academicsurgicalcongress.org/registration/

📢 LAST CALL FOR ASC 2026 EARLY BIRD PRICING! Register by January 5, 2026 to save with early bird pricing. We can’t wait to see you in sunny Orlando for another inspiring Academic Surgical Congress! Register: www.academicsurgicalcongress.org/registration/

Do you have your official AAS merch?! Show us a photo in the comments! Shop AAS Blue Sky Scrubs: blueskyscrubs.com/collections/...

Hey AAS members! Are you looking for your next career move? Find your perfect medical match and explore opportunities at leading institutions. www.aasurg.org/jobs/

📢 REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR ASC 2026! Register by January 5, 2026 to save with early bird pricing. We can’t wait to see you in sunny Orlando for another inspiring Academic Surgical Congress! Register: www.academicsurgicalcongress.org/registration/

Busy doesn’t always mean fulfilled. In the latest blog post, fourth-year med student Siddhartha Sahai reflects on time as a limited resource—and how managing it with intention can transform not only your productivity, but your sense of purpose. Read it now: www.aasurg.org/making-time-...

The AAS is proud to announce Julie Ann Freischlag, MD, FACS, FRCSEd(Hon), DFSVS, MAMSE, Chief Executive Officer/Chief Academic Officer/Executive Vice President at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist as the inaugural recipient of the AAS Pillar of Academic Surgery – Lifetime Achievement Award.

Pumping while presenting? Traveling while lactating? It’s…a lot. From TSA logistics & hotel storage hacks to packing lists & lactation room tips, Dr. Samantha Baker shares everything she’s learned about managing conference travel as a breastfeeding surgeon. www.aasurg.org/conference-t...

❄️FINAL LEADERBOARD UPDATE — ENDS TOMORROW!🪣🥶 Here’s where the Ice Bucket Showdown stands right now. Remember, the officer with the highest total gets iced LIVE. Cool Runnings has a commanding lead, but anything can happen! ❄️ Last chance to donate before the freeze: www.aasurg.org/aas-officer-...

2025 Ethics Committee Cover Art Entry: Behind the Scene Heroes by Miral Amim Take a look! www.aasurg.org/behind-the-s...

🐾 Bursts of color, a perfect green heart, & one very artistic nose boop. Nicole Wilson’s Ethics Committee Cover Art entry, Essence of Enrichment, celebrates joy, creativity, & the often-overlooked heroes who bring unexpected beauty into the world. 🎨 www.aasurg.org/essence-of-e...

❄️ ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT! The countdown is officially on for the AAS Ice Bucket Showdown. 🪣🥶 Remember — the officer with the highest fundraising total on December 18 takes the plunge, all in support of the AAS Fall Courses and the future of academic surgery. Give here → www.aasurg.org/aas-officer-...

New on The Academic Surgeon: Hidden Heroes - 2025 Ethics Committee Cover Art Entry by Maymona Choudry Precision in Action, From Home to Hospital: The Hidden Heroes of Healthcare, & Behind the Scrubs: Hidden Heroes in Action www.aasurg.org/hidden-heroes/

Please join us in congratulating Madeline B. Torres, MD, who was selected by AAS and the AWS to attend the Surgical Investigators' Course in February 2026 prior to the Academic Surgical Congress! Learn more about the course: www.academicsurgicalcongress.org/sic/

🥶 LEADERBOARD UPDATE — Dec 11! Here’s where our Ice Warriors stand! Cool Runnings has the early lead, BUT Arctic Ace and The Bliz-Zard are gaining fast! ❄️🔥 Remember, only the TOP fundraiser gets iced LIVE on Dec 18. Donate here → www.aasurg.org/aas-officer-...