DESCRIPTION:
Established in 2019, this award is given in honor and memory of Barbara Berci, SAGES Executive Director from 1984-1998, in recognition of the passion, dedication, energy, and vision that she brought to the SAGES organization.
- The award is designated for a surgeon who is a SAGES Candidate or Full Active member within 7 years of completion of training, or who is in a Fellowship Council or ACGME approved fellowship program in the field.
- The purpose of this award is to accelerate leadership growth and career development of young SAGES members. It supports attendance at a designated leadership course and requires the recipient to identify and work with a mentor on a project to be realized during the award year.
- The award supports attendance at a designated leadership course (such as the ACS Surgeons as Leaders course) to challenge thought processes and optimize leadership skills to effect change in the surgical world.
- The awardee will participate in a longitudinal mentorship program with a current SAGES leader who is a Committee Chair and/or Board Member.
- Past winners: Sara Hennessy, MD (2020); Amy Rosenbluth (2021); Maria Altieri, MD (2022); Shaina Eckhouse, MD (2023)
AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND BENEFITS:
- Must be a SAGES Active or candidate Member.
- Must be a fellow or surgeon within 7 years of training completion.
- Interested parties may submit their own nomination for this award.
- The winner will be chosen by the SAGES Awards Committee based on merit and leadership potential.
- 2 letters of support must be provided for award consideration – one from a chosen SAGES mentor (Committee Chair or Board Member) and one from the nominee’s department chair or Program Director (fellows).
- The chosen recipient will attend a leadership course such as ACS Surgeons as Leaders.
- The scholarship will provide up to $3,000 for expenses (i.e. room/board, transportation, tuition costs) for the leadership course.
- The awardee(s) will be expected to complete a project during the award year mutually agreed upon by the SAGES Executive Committee, Mentor, and Mentee and provide a report as detailed below:
SAGES mentor and project plan: Applicant must identify in advance potential mentor – SAGES leader (Committee Chair and/or Board Member) – who will serve as their mentor for the duration of the award. (Applicants require letter of support from proposed mentor.) The awardee(s) will select a project in conjunction with the mentor, considering the awardees’ application proposed plan for the award, that may be either an ongoing SAGES committee project or de novo project which is subject to review and approval by the SAGES Executive committee. The awardee(s) will present the results of the project and a summary of activity for the year to the SAGES Board and will submit a written report to the SAGES Education and Research Foundation. The awardee(s) will be appointed to the committee which oversees the planned area of work. It is expected that the awardee and mentor will have regular communication regarding their project and other aspects of their professional and SAGES career development.
- The winner will also receive complimentary registration for SAGES 2025 and 2 complimentary nights in an official event hotel provided by the SAGES Foundation.
APPLICATION:
Please complete the following form for your self-nomination