History Association of Women Surgeons

1 history

1.1 1981-1985
1.2 1986-1990
1.3 1991-1996
1.4 1996-2001
1.5 2001–2007

history
1981-1985

the association of women surgeons founded in 1981 when patricia numann, m.d, invited many female surgeons identify breakfast @ october meeting of american college of surgeons (acs) in san francisco hilton hotel. sharing many common experiences, , concerns, small group of women decided meet annually. next few years, these breakfasts first significant contact many female residents or newly practicing female surgeons had more professionally advanced surgical women.

1986-1990

the first newsletter produced former aws president dr. joyce majure , distributed aws members. purpose produce sense of camaraderie among diverse , geographically separated group of women. distributed electronically connections.
the first aws program entitled “women women sabotage support” presented in conjunction acs annual clinical congress.
aws initiated awards program, bestowing first honorary membership award on judith briles. christine haycock received first distinguished member award.
former president tamar earnest purchased ama mail list of self-described women surgeons, initiated membership campaign, engendered enormous membership growth on 1,000 members.

1991-1996

aws held strategic planning meeting identify obstacles career advancement of women surgeons , strategize future. result, aws focused on promoting suitably qualified women positions on american board of surgery , american college of surgeons committees.
former aws president dr. joyce majure created, compiled , edited first edition of aws pocket mentor. resource helped ease transition medical student surgical resident , resident surgeon. has since been updated , reprinted. pocket mentor has been endorsed association of program directors in surgery , distributed every surgeon in training in united states.
aws earned seat on acs board of governors when mary c. mccarthy, elected board in 1995.
an annual research fellowship grants program established in partnership ethicon. date, aws has awarded eleven $25,000 annual fellowships supported ethicon endo-surgery women surgeons performing original research in topics related minimally invasive procedures , breast disease.
the concept of aws foundation proposed , established christine haycock md provide grants , scholarships female surgeons , surgical residents. foundation makes 6 awards annually.
the video women pioneers in surgery produced current aws governor m. margaret kemeny, m.d, in conjunction united states surgical. film documented lives , careers of 3 women pioneers in american surgery: alma dea morani m.d., first female plastic/reconstructive surgeon, nina starr braunwald m.d., first female cardiac surgeon , deputy nih director, , olga jonasson m.d., first female chair of academic department of surgery.
aws began sponsoring networking breakfasts @ various national meetings provide networking opportunities surgeons. these networking events occur annually @ many major surgical meetings including association surgical education, american surgical association , association of academic surgeons annual meetings.
“strategies success” became first freestanding summer aws meeting professional development. program held in summer of 1992 in park city, utah.
with unexpected death of nina starr braunwald, aws instituted award in name. award endowed $20,000 gift foundation, established husband, dr. eugene braunwald. first nina starr braunwald award presented dr. claude organ.

1996-2001

in effort provide guidance medical students , surgical residents, mentoring project launched in fall of 1997. activity continues , aws has partnered american college of surgeons in junior faculty mentoring initiative.
in response increasing need, aws produced resource book regarding issues of sexual harassment , gender bias.
under leadership of peggy kemeny aws collaborated national institutes of health produce 24-minute video entitled women surgeons. video targets young women , encourages them take math , science courses throughout schooling, , consider surgery viable career. distributed women in junior high schools throughout country.
aws initiated outstanding woman resident award recognize residents demonstrate great potential future leaders in surgical field. applicants must exhibit exceptional leadership abilities, have excellent technical , patient management skills, interact other health professionals, , serve role models junior residents , medical students. 7 women residents have been recognized ability , leadership potential.
the american college of surgeons established committee on women s issues in response proposal aws.
awscope established electronic publication sent 6 times year aws members. update informed members of new developments within association , in surgical field in addition connecting members other women surgeons in areas of expertise.
peggy kemeny followed mary c. mccarthy in 2000 second aws / acs governor.

2001–2007

a code of conduct published in collaboration american college of surgeons. association of organ procurement organizations has endorsed standard of practice transplant surgeons.
a visiting professor program established allow prominent women surgeons share expertise medical students , surgeons in training, across country. https://web.archive.org/web/20070805225735/http://womensurgeons.org/foundation/programs.htm
an annual medical student award initiated in honor of founder patricia j. numann. award permit student attend annual acs clinical congress , aws meeting.
four networking list serve areas created facilitate interaction , networking among members. 1 site aimed particularly @ medical students , surgeons in training. provides opportunity residents , students gain direct access prominent women surgeons across country.
aws partnered american journal of surgery. aws has 3 designees on ajs editorial board.
under leadership of vivian gahtan aws series of articles produced describing many areas , varieties of practice surgery comprises. series aimed toward trainees , developed career development we-based resource. http://www.womensurgeons.org/education/career.htmin. series being published in american journal of surgery.
aws partnered american college of surgeons, american surgical association, , association of program directors in surgery conduct national survey explore interest in flexible training in surgery. these data have been accepted publication in archives of surgery.
the governor s committee on chapter activities recommended aws representative appointed every chapter council.
aws petitioned american board of surgery change abs requirements allow residents 6 weeks off 2 pregnancies during residency without having make time.
the aws had joint session acs @ clinical congress. first time acs has partnered outside group.
aws developed 2 maternity/family leave policies: 1 practicing surgeons , 1 residents. aws intended information utilized guideline, surgeons , residents entitled reasonable policy allows flexibility expectant surgeon or resident, while maintaining quality standards of profession.
a strategic planning meeting held in summer of 2003 leading restructuring of aws council. result, number of aws committees developed increase member participation @ national level. aws executive committee established provide council oversight.
resident , medical student representatives added council.
hilary sanfey established first aws chapter in virginia in 2003. chapter has 73 members, majority of whom students or surgeons in training. chapter holds annual educational program in conjunction annual meeting of acs virginia chapter. fatima cody stanford, first year medical student @ time, established second chapter in georgia.
aws partnered international surgical society establish joint educational networking venture. first symposium take place in montreal in 2007.