Community Surgeons Travel Awards

The Community Surgeons Travel Awards provide international surgeons with the opportunity to attend and fully participate in the educational activities of the ACS annual Clinical Congress. These awards aim to support surgeons from community or regional hospitals or under-resourced academic departments in countries outside the U.S. and Canada.

Highlights

$4,000 travel award for international surgeons to attend the ACS Clinical Congress.
Complimentary registration for Clinical Congress and one postgraduate course.
Preference for surgeons in community/regional hospitals or under-resourced academic departments outside the U.S. and Canada.

Eligibility Criteria

Must be a graduate of a medical school with completed surgical training.
Must be aged 30 to 49 at the time of application submission.
Must have practiced, taught, or conducted research for at least one year at their permanent location post-training.
Must demonstrate commitment to high-quality surgery, surgical teaching, and improving access to care.
Preference given to those without prior U.S. or Canadian training/fellowships.

Location

Applicants must be from countries outside the United States and Canada. Applications must be submitted from the applicant’s intended permanent location.

Age

30 to 49 years old at the time of application submission.

Application Requirements

Fully completed application form (available on ACS website).
Curriculum vitae (CV) – CV submission alone is not acceptable.
Three independently prepared letters of recommendation: One must be from the department chair or a Fellow of the ACS in the applicant’s country.
All materials must be submitted in English.

Essay

Applicants must demonstrate their commitment and impact in their community.

Letter Requirements

Three letters of recommendation.
- One must be from a department chair or ACS Fellow.
Letters must address the applicant’s commitment to surgery, teaching, and access to care.
Letters must be submitted directly by the recommenders.

Award Obligations

The award must be used in the designated year (it cannot be postponed).
After returning home, awardees must submit a written report detailing the visit's value and impact on patient care.
Unsuccessful applicants may reapply only twice with new applications and documentation.

FAQ

Deadline: July 1 (for the following year’s Clinical Congress).
Congress Dates: September 26–29, 2026 (Washington, DC).
Contact: scholarships@facs.org | 312-202-5161
Mailing Address: Scholarships Administrator, American College of Surgeons, 633 N. Saint Clair St., Chicago, IL 60611-3295

Additional documents can 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. For questions, please call 312-202-5161.