Dear SUS Members,
So much has happened since the 2020 Academic Surgical Congress in Orlando. As you know, the AAS and SUS leadership carefully examined the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had, and continues to have, on individuals and our institutions. We ultimately decided that the 2021 Academic Surgical Congress will take place on a virtual platform. After much discussion, the SUS has decided that we will offer the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as a new Trailblazer Award. While we recognize that a virtual environment is not the same as an in-person environment for these awards, we do feel that it is important to honor the achievements of the leaders in academic surgery.
Lifetime Achievement Award (LTAA)
The Society of University Surgeons (SUS) initiated a Lifetime Achievement Award (LTAA) in 2004. This award is designed to recognize individuals who:
- Have had a sustained career in academic surgery with significant and impactful contributions to surgical science and/or the development and training of surgical leaders and surgeon scientists.
- Past commitment to the Society of University Surgeons is desired but not required. This may be manifest by prior engagement as a past leader in the society and/or participation in the Society through annual attendance at the Academic Surgical Congress and active participation and discussion of papers, attendance of member events and society functions.
Past recipients include Dr. John Mannick, Dr. James C. Thompson, Dr. Basil Pruitt, Dr. Frank Moody, Dr. Clyde Barker, Dr. Richard Simmons, Dr. Ben Eiseman, Dr. Patricia Donahoe, Dr. Alden Harken, Dr. Hiram C. Polk, Jr., Dr. Marshall J. Orloff, Dr. Ernest “Gene” Moore, Dr. Ronald Busuttil, Dr. Courtney Townsend, Jr., Dr. Layton “Bing” Rikkers, and, most recently, Dr. Michael Longaker.
For the LTAA, the nominations must include a brief one page description of why you believe the nominee(s) deserves this distinction including the nominee’s accomplishments in academic surgery (research, administration, and/or clinical practice), their contributions to the development and training of surgical leaders, and their commitment to the Society as evidenced by attendance and participation in meetings.
New! Trailblazer Award
- Have developed a new area of academic pursuit or opened up new avenues of investigation or academic thought that have the potential to be groundbreaking for years to come.
- The “trailblazing” contributions of the nominee can be broadly interpreted and is not limited to traditional surgical science. Nominations should specify how this individual has created a new and sustained domain of scholarship or knowledge.
For the Trailblazer Award, the nominations must include a brief one page description of why you believe the nominee(s) deserves this distinction including the nominee’s accomplishments in developing new areas of academic pursuit and investigation that have the potential to be groundbreaking.
Submissions
Please submit the above submissions on letterhead to SUS Executive Director Ms. Yumi Hori at [email protected] by Tuesday, September 8, 2020. The letter may be addressed to the attention of SUS President Dr. Sandra Wong and should indicate the award the nomination is for. Please note that you must be a SUS member in good standing to nominate an individual. You may check your member status and/or the member status of the nominee with the SUS Member Services Department at [email protected].
All nominations received by Tuesday, September 8 will be forwarded to the ten SUS Past Presidents, as well as current SUS President Sandra Wong, MD, MS and SUS Foundation President George Yang, MD, PhD. This committee will review all nominations and select the winner. We will then announce the award winner and begin preparations for the presentation at the 2021 virtual Academic Surgical Congress.
Thank you for your consideration and input on these important awards. For more information on the LTAA, visit: https://www.susweb.org/lifetime-achievement-award/