The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is pleased to announce that the 2nd Annual Advocacy and Health Policy Abstract Competition for surgical trainees will be held at the 2024 Leadership & Advocacy Summit from April 13-16, 2024, in Washington, DC. The goal of this competition is to encourage trainees to become involved in advocacy and health policy efforts early in their careers.
The national competition is open to all resident and surgical trainee members. However, priority will be given to authors nominated by ACS chapters.
National Abstract Competition Specifications
Papers can be submitted under one of the two following categories:
- Completed Research: Under this category, research and data collection should be complete and include a policy recommendation. Abstracts selected for this category will receive an invitation to participate in the “Quick Shot” presentation session, which will occur after the Leadership portion of the Summit. Approximately 10 abstracts will be accepted in this category.
- Research in Progress: Research and policy recommendations in this category are still being developed. Preliminary research to support the critical elements of the chosen advocacy or health policy issue should show promise. Abstracts selected for this category will be invited to display a poster at the Summit. There will be time for authors to discuss their research with Summit attendees. Approximately 10 abstracts will be accepted in this category.
Submitted abstracts should follow the specifications outlined below. Please note that only one abstract per individual can be submitted. Authors of accepted papers must be an ACS resident member to participate in the competition.
- Indicate if your research is in the Completed Research or Research in Progress category.
- Abstracts must have 500 words at most (not including title or author) that present a concise summary of an advocacy or health policy topic at the state or national level.
- Abstracts may cover any aspect of surgical advocacy and health policy, broadly conceived, but must represent original research or potential research.
- In cases of multiple authors, only one author will have the opportunity to present at the Summit.
- Abstracts should include the following:
- Abstract title
- Author name
- Background - A short outline of the advocacy or health policy issue
- Synopsis – A brief narrative describing the research and critical elements of the advocacy or health policy issue
- Significance – Explain how the chosen issue impacted or may impact surgeons or surgical patients. Provide policy recommendations.
- The research included in the abstract should not be previously published.
- The competition is open to all surgical trainee members of the ACS. Priority will be given to authors nominated by ACS chapters. See below for how chapters can be involved.
Chapter Involvement
ACS chapters in the United States are strongly encouraged to establish an advocacy and health policy abstract competition for surgical trainees. These competitions can be held at an annual meeting, an advocacy day, or virtually.
While guidelines for chapter competitions may vary from chapter to chapter, the research must broadly focus on advocacy and health policy issues at the state or national level.
Chapters that hold a local competition may submit up to two abstracts in each category for consideration. Abstracts submitted through a chapter competition will have priority.
Financial Contribution
Authors chosen in the Completed Research and Research in Progress categories are guaranteed to receive one of the $500 Resident Travel Awards for the Leadership & Advocacy Summit to help defray the costs of traveling to Washington, DC.
Awards
Awards for the top three abstracts in the “Quick Shot” competition will be announced immediately before the Hill Visits on April 15. The three winners will receive the following:
- First place: $500
- Second place: $250
- Third place: $100
Key Dates
- January 15, 2024 – Deadline for submissions. Abstracts should be sent to acschapters@facs.org.
- January 2024 – Approximately 10 abstracts are chosen for each category.
- January 2024 – Authors are notified and are required to apply for one of the Leadership and Advocacy Summit Resident Travel Awards.
- April 13-16, 2024 – Leadership and Advocacy Summit
- April 13-14 – Authors set up posters in the Summit poster area.
- April 14 – Quick Shot presentations take place immediately following the Leadership portion of the Summit.
- April 15 (time TBD) – Authors chosen to display their abstracts will have the opportunity to discuss their research with Summit attendees.
- April 16 – Three winning abstracts of the Quick Shot competition are announced.
