The Scholarships Committee of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has announced the availability of the Nizar N. Oweida, MD, FACS, Scholarships for surgeons who serve small communities. The Oweida Scholarships provide up to three awards of $5,000 each to subsidize the participation of a Fellow or Associate Fellow serving a small community at the ACS Clinical Congress 2020 in Chicago, IL; alternatively, applicants may propose a plan for additional training or research appropriate to a rural surgeon. Applications are due to the ACS Scholarships Administrator no later than March 1, 2020.
Requirements
The Oweida Scholarship is available to an ACS member in any surgical specialty who meets the following requirements:
- Is a Fellow or Associate Fellow younger than age 55 on the date the application is filed
- Serves a small town or rural community in the U.S. or Canada
Activities
Awardees may use their award stipend to do one of the following:
- Attend the ACS Clinical Congress.
- Execute a well-defined proposal for travel or research to improve a rural surgeon’s performance.
Applicants must provide information regarding their work setting, including their hospital and the patients they see, as well as their participation in quality improvement activities in this setting. They also must indicate their career goals, explaining how they plan to transfer their newly acquired learning to their current situation.
Financial Support
Successful applicants will receive the sum of $5,000 to be used to defray expenses for attendance at the Clinical Congress or for the approved training or research opportunity. Cost categories include travel expenses, lodging and per diem, registration, and course fees.
- Scholars will make their own travel arrangements
- Awardees will be selected following review and evaluation of applications received
General application information
Applicants must submit a fully completed online application form provided by the College on its website. Applications must include the following:
- A copy of the applicant’s current curriculum vitae, no more than 10 pages in length
- Applicants must attach a one- to two-page essay discussing the following topics:
- The opportunity for which the applicant is applying (Clinical Congress attendance or a personal training or research project)
- The applicant’s reasons for submitting an application
- The applicant’s qualifications for the scholarship
- The applicant’s current practice in a rural or small community
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of the selection process in May 2020.
Award obligations
The Oweida Scholars will provide a narrative and financial report of their experiences at the conclusion of their awarded activity.
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of the selection process in May.
Questions can be directed to the ACS Scholarships Administrator at scholarships@facs.org or 312-202-5281.
