ACS/ASBrS International Scholarship

This scholarship will be awarded to surgeons specifically working in breast cancer surgery in countries other than the US and Canada to improve the quality of breast cancer surgical services. Preference will be given to applicants from developing nations. The scholarship, for $5,000, provides the scholar with an opportunity to attend the annual meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS), April 26 – 30, 2023, in Boston, Massachusetts. The scholar is also invited to visit the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) headquarters in Chicago, IL, to learn about the standards for a breast cancer program/database and the importance of multidisciplinary breast cancer care.

The awardee will receive complimentary registration to the American Society of Breast Surgeons annual meeting and one available postgraduate course at the meeting (restrictions apply). Assistance will be provided to obtain preferential housing at an economical hotel in the ASBrS meeting city. Hotel and travel expenses will be the awardee's responsibility, to be funded from the scholarship award.

To qualify for this award by the selection committee, all requirements must be fulfilled.

Basic Requirements

Applicants must be graduates of schools of medicine who have completed their surgical training and are practicing attending surgeons.
Applicants must be members in good standing of both the American College of Surgeons (Associate Fellow or Fellow) and the American Society of Breast Surgeons (Active or Associate Member).
Applicants must be at least 30 years old, but under 50, on the date that the complete application is filed.
Applications will be accepted for processing only when the applicants have been in surgical practice, teaching, or research for a minimum of one year at their intended permanent location, following completion of all formal training (including fellowships and scholarships).
Applicants must show evidence of commitment to high-quality breast cancer surgery, to surgical teaching, and to improving access to breast cancer surgical care in their community.
Applicants must submit a fully completed application form, located on the ACS website. The application and accompanying materials must be prepared using a computer and submitted in English. Submission of a curriculum vitae only is not acceptable.
Preference will be given to applicants who have not already experienced training or surgical fellowships in North America.
Applicants must submit independently prepared letters of recommendation from three of their colleagues. One letter must be from the chair of the department in which they hold a clinical or academic appointment or from a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons residing in their country. The chair’s or the Fellow’s letter is to directly address the applicant’s commitment to high-quality breast surgery, surgical teaching, and improving access to breast surgical care locally. The other two letters of recommendation should be from colleagues who can address the applicant’s breast cancer surgical, clinical, and teaching abilities and practice. Letters of recommendation should be submitted by the individuals making the recommendation.
The scholarship must be used in the year for which it is designated. It cannot be postponed.
Awardees are expected to provide a written report upon their return home specifically focusing on the value of the visit to the awardee and the potential beneficial effect to the breast cancer patients in the country of origin.
Unsuccessful applicants may reapply only twice and only by completing and submitting a current application form provided by the College together with new supporting documentation.

Open call for applications is in October. The deadline to apply is December 15. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of the selection process in February.

Apply Online

Additional documents and questions are to be directed to the Scholarships Administrator: scholarships@facs.org or Scholarships Administrator, American College of Surgeons, 633 N. Saint Clair St., Chicago, IL 60611-3295.