Submit Nominations for 2023 Mary Edwards Walker Inspiring Women in Surgery Award

The ACS Women in Surgery Committee (WiSC) has announced the call for nominations for the annual Dr. Mary Edwards Walker Inspiring Women in Surgery Award, to be presented at Clinical Congress 2023 in Boston, MA. The award will be presented in recognition of an individual's significant contributions to the advancement of women in the field of surgery. 

All nominations must be submitted online no later than 12:00 pm CT on Friday, May 19. The awardee will be notified by June 30. Visit the award web page to learn more.

2022 Awardee

Ernestine Hambrick, MD, FACS, FASCRS, was honored for leading initial colorectal cancer prevention programs, advancing women's careers in surgery.

In addition to holding a career of many firsts, including being the first woman diplomate of the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Dr. Hambrick embodied the spirit of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker in her creation of the STOP Colon/Rectal Cancer Foundation. During her career and from the personal experience of losing her only brother to colon cancer, Dr. Hambrick recognized that most colon-rectal cancers could be prevented with screenings.

Dr. Hambrick left her practice after 25 years as a colon-rectal surgeon to lead STOP Colon/Rectal Cancer Foundation, advocating tirelessly for the eradication of colon and rectal cancer and helping in having March designated as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The STOP Colon/Rectal Cancer Foundation closed after 10 years of work because it had achieved much of its mission to promote public awareness, preventative screening, early detection, and healthy lifestyle choices.

Do you know an inspiring woman surgeon like Dr. Hambrick?