Southern California Chapter

American College of Surgeons

Young Surgeons Travel Stipend

The leadership of the ACS encourages participation in the Southern California Chapter meeting particularly of young surgeons. A stipend to help defray travel and registration costs to a future ACS meeting, either local or national, is offered to three Young Surgeons every year. The successful applicants meeting all requirements receive a $2,000 stipend each after registering to attend the local chapter meeting and completing a simple application form. The winners are announced at the Young Surgeons' Breakfast. Winners have to be present to receive the stipend. During this meeting, each young surgeon has also the opportunity to meet and establish a professional relationship with visiting professors and leaders of the ACS and our Chapter.

The completed application form and a recent CV should be sent to SCCACS by Jan. 15, 2010. The application can be faxed or mailed. See details on the form.

Young Surgeons Travel Stipend Participation Requirements:

• Register to attend the local chapter meeting
• Complete a simple application form
• You must use the stipend for travel to either a local or national meeting of the American College of Surgeons within 18 months of receipt.
• You are required to submit your travel expense receipts to the local chapter office as proof of attendance at an ACS meeting.
• You will provide a report to the Chapter regarding the meeting you attended.

One of the main goals of the Southern California Chapter is to ensure young surgeons representation in chapter activities and committees. It is also our goal to encourage new membership within the chapter and to retain existing members, to encourage the exchange of information among the younger membership, to encourage an esprit de corps among the younger members, and to serve as a resource for residents and students who seek a career in surgery.

A Young Surgeon is defined as any physician member of the ACS who is younger than 45 years old. The Committee on Young Surgeons (CYS) was established as an ad hoc committee in 1969 and as a standing committee in 1973. The CYS works to establish closer relationships between the College and Residents, Associate Fellows, and young Fellows of the College, promote active participation of young surgeons in College affairs, including the Chapter level, and to make College activities meaningful to young surgeons in all specialties. More information can be found at American College of Surgeons Committee on Young Surgeons web page.

The Leadership Conference for Young Surgeons and Chapter Leaders

Each year, the Southern California Chapter sends two members to the ACS Leadership Conference as Young Surgeons Representatives. This meeting offers a way for Young Surgeons to become involved with both the ACS and the Southern California Chapter. Topics include legal updates, mentoring workshops, updates on ACS activities and programs, risk management communications strategies, professional liability and practice management.

Representatives from the Council also participate in the Leadership Conference in the Capitol Hill visits, where they speak with legislators in Congress and learn about the top legislative issues for the year. The ACS staff teaches the attendees how to lobby the representatives on topics such as professional liability, physician payment, trauma care system planning and development and physician on-call issues under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA).

Young surgeons members of the ACS Southern California Chapter have the opportunity to meet during the Annual Scientific Meeting in Santa Barbara, CAa.

Useful links:

Course in Clinical Trials Methods
Chapter Meetings