Association of Women Surgeons

Foundation: Programs

AWS Foundation Visiting Professor Program

In 1998 the AWS Foundation conducted a strategic planning session and established several key goals. In response to one of those goals, we sponsor the AWS Foundation Visiting Professor Program, which allows women surgeons to share their expertise with medical students.

This program provides medical schools with the opportunity to request top women surgeons as speakers and receive funding from the AWS Foundation. Opportunities to lecture heighten the visibility of women surgeons while encouraging women medical students to pursue similar careers. In addition, the Visiting Professorship Program promotes dialogue between practicing surgeons and the academic community. Nominations closed for this year.

2010-2011 Schedule:

• July 1, 2010 - Host-site applications due from Institutions
• July 20, 2010 - Host-site chosen and confirmed
• August 2010 through June 2011 - Visit to take place

Host-Site Responsibilities:

• The Host Department of Surgery will sponsor this program and arrange for a two-day visit.
• Provide opportunities for interaction between the visiting professor and local women surgical faculty, residents, and students. (Options include: reception, breakfast, luncheon, grand rounds, and surgery.)
• Arrange the specific details of the visit directly with the Visiting Professor.
• Arrange appropriate privileges and legalities if operative procedures involving the Visiting Professor are planned.
• Submit a follow-up report to AWS detailing your experiences with the Visiting Professor and this AWS Program.

The 2010/2011 Visiting Professors are:

Therese M. Duane, MD, FACS
Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center
Associate Professor of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Critical Care and Emergency General Surgery
Richmond, Virginia
(Click here for full bio)

Possible Topics Include:

• Infection control: The Key to Surgical Success
• Diagnosis and Treatment of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
• Cervical Spine Clearance and Trauma: Streamlining the Approach
• Intra Abdominal Infections: Understanding the Guidelines

Catherine Marie Wittgen, MD, FACS
Saint Louis University
Professor of Surgery, Director for Surgical Critical Care and the Associate Program Director for
General Surgery
St Louis, Missouri
(Click here for full bio)

Possible Topics Include:

• The Impact of Gender on Professionalism and Interpersonal Skills
• Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Operative Outcomes for Women
• Anterior Approaches to the Spine
• Vascular Physiology

Past Visiting Professors and Hosts:

• 2009 - Karen J. Brasel, MD, MPH
  host:  Louisiana State University
• 2008 - Margaret Dunn, MD, FACS
  host: University of Connecticut
• 2008 - Pamela Lipsett, MD, FACS, FCCM
  host: University of California, Davis
• 2007 - Linda Phillips, MD, FACS
  host: New York Presbyterian Hospital
• 2006 - Mary McCarthy, MD, FACS
  host: University of Texas, Houston
• 2005 - Nancy Harthun, MD, FACS
  host: The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
• 2005 - Kathryn Spanknebel, MD
  host: Tufts New England Medical Center, Boston, MA
• 2004 - Amy Friedman, MD
  host: Medical College of Georgia
• 2004 - Rosemary Duda, MD, MPH
  host: University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
• 2003 - Leslie Kohman, MD
  host - University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine
• 2003 - Myriam Curet, MD, FACS
  host - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
• 2002 - Susan Mackinnon, MD, FACS
  host - Northwestern University, The Feinberg School of Medicine
• 2002 - Margaret Kemeny, MD, FACS
  host - Duke University Medical Center
• 2001 - Julie Ann Freischlag, MD
  host - University of Louisville