Foundation: Awards

Nina Starr Braunwald Award

The AWS Foundation recognizes service by giving this award to a member or non-member surgeon in recognition of outstanding contributions to the advancement of women in surgery.

Past Award Winners:

  • Susan Miller Briggs, MD, MPH, FACS (2009)
  • M. Margaret Kemeny, MD, FACS (2008)
  • Nancy Ascher, MD, FACS (2007)
  • The American College of Surgeons (2006)
  • Karin Muraszko, MD, FACS (2005)
  • Barbara Lee Bass, MD, FACS (2004)
  • Mary C. McCarthy, MD, FACS (2003)
  • Susan M. Love, MD, FACS (2002)
  • Linda G. Phillips, MD, FACS (2001)
  • Anna Marie Ledgerwood, MD, FACS (2000)
  • Patricia Numann, MD, FACS (1998)
  • Leslie J. Kohman, MD, FACS (1997)
  • Patricia K. Donahoe, MD, FACS (1996)
  • Kathryn D. Anderson, MD, FACS (1995)
  • Olga Jonasson, MD, FACS (1994)
  • Claude Organ, MD, FACS (1993)

Olga Jonasson Distinguished Member Award

This award is named in memory of Olga Jonasson, MD, who was the first female chair of an academic department of surgery and a leader in the American College of Surgeons. The award is given to a member surgeon who exemplifies the ideals and mission of the assocation. Nomination Deadline was June 1, 2009.

Past Award Winners:

  • Kimberly Ephgrave, MD, FACS (2009)
  • Dixie Mills, MD, FACS (2008)
  • Myriam Curet, MD, FACS (2007)
  • Leigh Neumayer, MD, FACS (2006)

Distinguished Member Award

A part of the AWS Foundation awards since 1990, the Distinguished Member Award was given to a member surgeon who exemplified the ideals and mission of the assocation. It was renamed in 2006 to the Olga Jonasson Distinguished Member Award.

Past Award Winners:

  • Patricia Lowery, MD, FACS (2005)

  • Linda Brodsky, MD, FACS (2004)

  • Adrienne Krausz, MD (2003)

  • Lena M. Napolitano, MD, FACS (2002)

  • Margaret Dunn, MD, FACS (2002)

  • Mary McCarthy, MD, FACS (2001)

  • Sylvia Ramos, MD, FACS (2001)

  • Julie Ann Freischlag, MD, FACS (2000)

  • Karen S. Guice, MD, FACS (1999)

  • Joyce Majure, MD, FACS (1998)

  • Gloria Sarto, MD, PhD (1998)

  • Barbara Lee Bass, MD, FACS (1997)

  • Carol Scott-Connor, MD, FACS (1997)

  • Maria Allo, MD, FACS (1996)

  • Barbara Kinder, MD, FACS (1996)

  • Frances K. Conley, MD, FACS (1995)

  • Sally Abston, MD, FACS (1994)

  • Tamar Earnest, MD, FACS (1994)

  • Jessie Ternberg, MD, FACS (1994)

  • Hughenna Gauntlett, MD, FACS (1993)

  • Nina Starr Braunwald, MD, FACS (1992)

  • Olga Jonasson, MD, FACS (1992)

  • Alma Dea Morani, MD, FACS (1992)

  • Patricia Numann, MD, FACS (1991)

  • Christine Haycock, MD, FACS (1990)

Claude Organ Honorary Member Award

Formerly the Honorary Member Award, this is given to individuals supportive of the goals of the association. It is being renamed in 2007 in honor of Claude Organ, MD, FACS, who was an avid supporter of AWS and the proud recipient of our first Nina Starr Braunwald Award.

Past Award Winners:

  • John Davis, MD (2009)
  • Carlos Pellegrini, MD (2009)
  • Michael Zinner, MD, FACS (2008)
  • Frank Lewis, MD (2007)

Honorary Member Award

Another AWS Foundation award which started in 1990, the Honorary Member Award is given to individuals supportive of the goals of the association. It is being renamed in 2007 in honor of Claude Organ, MD, FACS.

Past Award Winners:

  • Professor Averil Mansfield, CBE, FRCS, FACS (2006)
  • Morris Kerstein, MD, FACS (2005)
  • Courtney M. Townsend, Jr., MD, FACS (2004)
  • Ajit Sachdeva, MD, FACS (2003)
  • Karen Licitra (2002)
  • Monica Maillet, PhD (2001)
  • John T. Preskitt, Sr., MD, FACS (2000)
  • David Majure (1999)
  • Debra A. DaRosa, PhD (1998)
  • Judith K. Keel (1997)
  • Linn Meyer (1995)
  • Marlys Witte, MD (1994)
  • Janet Bickel, MA (1992)
  • Ellen More (1992)
  • Judith Briles, PhD (1990)

AWS Awards

Outstanding Woman Resident Award

AWS Foundation seeks nominations each year for the AWS Outstanding Resident Award. Nominees will be  surgical trainees who are in primary residency training in either general surgery or a surgical specialty and who demonstrate potential as future leaders in surgery.

Past Award Winners:

  • Nancy Cho, MD (2009)
  • Lesly Dossett, MD (2009)
  • Traci Hedrick, MD (2009)
  • Amy Vertrees, MD (2009)
  • Jennifer Waljee, MD (2009)
  • Jennifer LaFemina, MD (2008)
  • Erika Adams Newman, MD (2007)
  • Louisa L. Pecchioni, MD (2006)
  • Leora Balsam, MD (2005)
  • Gretchen P. Purcell, MD, PhD (2004)
  • Patricia Turner (2003)
  • Melina Kibbe (2002)
  • Anna Santos-Quinones (2001)
  • Carol Sawmiller (2000)
  • Janice Cormier (1999)

Patricia Numann, MD, FACS Medical Student Award

Established to encourage and support female medical students pursuing a career in surgery, the winner is chosen based on her expressed interest in surgery, potential leadership qualities or research contributions to the field of surgery, response in a personal statement, and letter of recommendation. Nominees should be in the clinical years of medical school at the time of receiving the award in October.

Past Award Winners:

  • Juliet Emamaulee (2009)
  • Aminata Sallah (2008)
  • Rebecca Snyder (2007)
  • Ann Vaughters (2006)
  • Erika Manning (2005)
  • Kelley Hutcheson (2004)
  • Sudha Jayaraman (2003)

Medical Student and Resident Poster Competition

The Association of Women Surgeons (AWS) offers an annual Medical Student and Resident Poster Competition. The poster competition is for female medical students interested in surgery and surgical residents. It is designed to facilitate an interaction and idea exchange between students, residents and faculty members of various institutions. Selected student and resident authors will have an opportunity to meet and answer questions regarding their research at the AWS meeting held in October each year in conjunction with the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress. Authors selected to participate in the poster contest are asked to register for the AWS conference. Judging is done by a panel with prizes awarded for the top student and resident posters. The top student and resident poster winner each receive a $500 cash award.

The 2009 Medical Student winner was Stephanie Chang. Click here for a copy of the winning poster
The 2009 Resident Winner was Dr. Jennifer Steiman. Click here to view the winning poster.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.