March 7-9, 2008
Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center
North Bethesda, MD
Introduction and Purpose of the Conference
The Surgical Research Committee of the American College of Surgeons presents the Ninth Biennial Young Surgical Investigators Conference to assist surgeon-scientists entering the process of obtaining extramural, peer-reviewed grant support for their work. The goal of these conferences, held with staff members of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in attendance, is to introduce surgeons to the process, the content, the style, and the people involved in successful grant-writing and interactions with the NIH.
Surgical investigators gain essential insights about the NIH, seeing first hand that it is made up of many dedicated, knowledgeable, and committed staff people who are there to help and to make sure that good research is funded. As participants, beginning surgeon-scientists meet some of these individuals and have the opportunity to interact with them during formal and informal activities. Participants also meet their peers, selected mostly from surgery departments in US and Canadian academic medical centers. The conference provides opportunities to meet and talk with many of the leading surgeon-scientists who have been successful in obtaining NIH grant support for their work and who participate in the conference as leaders of various small group meetings and as plenary session speakers.
The program includes intensive exposure to:
- NIH programs and policies
- Available programs that are best for your research project and how to apply
- Workshops in hypothesis testing, methodology, background, and preliminary results
- Grant-writing strategies
- Mock study sections reviewing model grants
- Information from NIH Institutes
Session Information
All sessions will be held at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, Bethesda, MD. Spouse/guest attendance is strongly discouraged since the sessions begin each day at 8:00 am and the intensity of the program requires that meal functions be utilized for investigator interactions with no free time allocated. All attendees are expected to remain until the conclusion of the conference. Sample grant review assignments will be mailed to participants prior to the conference. All other conference materials will be available on Friday, March 7, 2007, from 4:30 to 7:00 pm at the ACS conference registration desk within the hotel.
Conference Fee
The fee for the conference is US $1,795.00 ($1,620.00 if registration and payment are received by December 14, 2007). This fee includes all related conference materials, meals, breaks, receptions, and lodging for two nights. Payment of conference fee must accompany your registration form. Please submit your completed registration form and payment to Ms. Mary Fitzgerald, American College of Surgeons, Continuous Quality Improvement, 633 N. Saint Clair St., Chicago, IL 60611, or fax to 312-202-5011.
Housing Information
The Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center has excellent facilities and fine guest accommodations, including a fitness center. All hotel reservations are made by the staff of the American College of Surgeons via a conference room block and participant housing list. Please do not contact the hotel directly for sleeping room reservations. Incidental charges incurred will be the conference participant’s personal responsibility to pay upon check-out. If lodging is required for more than the two nights included in the conference package (Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8), arrangements should be made directly with Ms. Raven Moore, Continuous Quality Improvement, by calling 312-202-5434.
Transportation Information
Directions and information about air reservations will be provided later.
Special Accommodations
Do you have special needs that we can address to make your participation more enjoyable and meaningful? To request disability accommodations and/or special meals, please contact Ms. Raven Moore, Continuous Quality Improvement, at 312-202-5434 at least ten business days in advance of the conference.
Refunds/Cancellations
Participants who find it necessary to cancel their registrations will receive a full refund, less an administrative fee of $250, provided the cancellation is received in writing by close of business on Friday, January 11, 2008. Registrants who cancel after Friday, January 11, 2008, will not receive a refund unless an alternate from the course's official waiting list can be confirmed. Such refunds will be prorated based on the College’s liability.
Continuing Medical Education Credit
Accreditation
The American College of Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
CME Credit
The American College of Surgeons designates this educational activity for a maximum of 12.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
YSI Conference Chair
Colleen M. Brophy, MD, FACS
Surgical Research Committee
Sean J. Mulvihill MD FACS, Salt Lake City, UT (Chair)
John D. Birkmeyer MD FACS, Ann Arbor, MI (Vice Chair)
Anthony Atala, MD, FACS, Winston-Salem, NC
David S. Baskin MD FACS, Houston, TX
Gail E. Besner MD FACS, Columbus, OH
Richard J. Bold MD FACS, Sacramento, CA
Colleen M Brophy MD FACS, Phoenix, AZ
David R. Flum MD MPH FACS, Seattle, WA
Michael T. Longaker MD FACS, Los Altos, CA
Michael W. Mulholland MD FACS, Ann Arbor, MI
Leigh A. Neumayer MD FACS, Salt Lake City, UT
Richard V. Perez, MD, FACS, Sacramento, CA
Karl C. Podratz MD PhD FACS, Rochester, MN
Lawrence Rosenberg MD FACS FRCSC, Montreal, QC
Robert W. Thompson, MD, FACS, St. Louis, MO
Revised January 11, 2008
Surgical Research Committee
