• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Become a Member

Contact Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Society of University Surgeons (SUS)

Society of University Surgeons (SUS)

Supporting and advancing leaders in academic surgery.

  • About
    • Constitution and Bylaws
    • Committees
    • Executive Council & Representatives
    • Guidelines for Use of SUS Content
    • History
    • Lifetime Achievement Award
    • Trailblazer Award
    • Past Executive Council Members
    • Past Meetings
    • Public Member Directory
    • Surgery Journal
    • SUS Joel J. Roslyn Lecture
    • Contact Us
  • Join SUS
    • Member Application Criteria
    • Online Membership Application
    • New Member Recommendations
  • Blog
  • Scholarship/Grants
    • Mid Career Award
    • Research Scholar Award Sponsored by KARL STORZ
    • Resident Research Scholar Award
    • Junior Faculty Research Award
    • Underrepresented Minority Award for Junior Faculty
    • SUS Global Surgery Scholar Award
    • ASA Surgical Leaders Fellowship Grant
    • Awards at ASC
    • Spotlight on Award Winners
    • History of Awardees
  • Professional Development
    • AAS/SUS Executive DEI Course: A Framework for Creating a Diverse Surgical Workforce
    • AAS/ SUS JUMPSTART Program
    • Promising Leaders Program
    • Leadership Webinar
    • Leadership Agility Program
    • Mid-Career Course
    • Academic Surgical Congress
    • Surgical Investigators’ Course
  • Foundation
    • About the Foundation
    • Donor Honor Roll
    • Donate Now
    • Amazon Smile
    • Stepstone Fellowship
  • Log In
DONATE

ASC 2022 Recap: SUS Trailblazer Award

March 25, 2022

SUS Trailblazer Award Winner:  Julie A. Freischlag, MD, FACS, FRCSEd(Hon), DFSVS

The Trailblazer Award (TA) was established by the SUS in 2020 to honor pioneering individuals who have established new areas of surgical investigation and/or innovative surgical thought processes that have the potential to be groundbreaking. The inaugural TA recipient was Dr. George P. Yang (Past-SUS President) for his dedication in promoting Asians in academic surgery and in the establishment of the Society of Asian Academic Surgeons. At the 2022 Academic Surgical Congress, the TA was awarded to Dr. Julie A. Freischlag of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Dr. Freischlag was elected to receive this honor by her peers from an extremely competitive slate of nominees. Dr. Freischlag was introduced by her friend and mentee, Dr. Sandra Wong (Past-SUS President). During the introduction, Dr. Wong described many of Dr. Freischlag’s trailblazing “First” accolades which included being the first female President of the Association of Veterans Affairs Surgeons, the first female Chair of Surgery at one of the oldest surgical training institutions in the U.S. (The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine), first female President of the Society for Vascular Surgery, and first female President of the Society of Surgical Chairs, which undoubtedly qualifies her for this award. Dr. Freischlag received this award with grace and humility. Despite her countless accomplishments, Dr. Freischlag focused her acceptance speech on work-life balance and the importance of having “peace of the heart” in life.

  • Bio

Danny Chu

Dr. Danny Chu is the current Secretary of the Society of University Surgeons. He is a Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine/UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute. He is also the Director of Cardiac Surgery, Surgery Service Line, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

Filed Under: News