AWS Coaching Program
Learn more about the AWS Coaching program below!
What is the AWS Coaching Program?
Burnout among surgical trainees is a challenging problem facing hospitals and programs nationwide, and studies show that burnout disproportionately affects women. We have come up with a unique program to address this and take action. Since 2018, we have been training AWS members to coach our residents with great success!
We tailor this program to the specific issues facing women surgery residents such as gender bias, microaggression, and work-life integration. While surgery residents have many evaluators, letter-writers and mentors, they rarely have the opportunity for a faculty member to reflect on their development throughout their training in a coaching role. The coaching project is focused only on the resident’s individual personal and professional development, not their career development. The goal is to help each and every one of our residents excel and progress throughout their training with the tools to combat burnout, as we are all lifelong learners with growth potential. We are looking for 40 practicing surgeons and 80 residents to participate in the seventh year of the program.
For any questions, please email [email protected].
Apply to be a Resident Coachee!
- All applicants must be current members of AWS.
- Coachees will meet virtually with their coach to discuss experiences and set goals every three months, for a total of three meetings. Each meeting will last 40 to 60 minutes.
- Coachees must complete a short "homework assignment" prior to each meeting.
- There will be two surveys coachees must complete, one at the beginning of the program, and one at the conclusion.
- Prior residents who have participated in similar programs have shown reduced burnout, improved well-being, better coping skills, and improved workplace relationships.
What does it mean to have a coach?
You will meet with your coach every three months (three total meetings) to review your experiences, reflect, and set learning goals for the next three months. In these sessions, coaches will ask you to explore big picture goals for the year, and short-term goals for the next few months. They will ask you to consider what you are doing well, what makes you feel good about your work, what brings you joy, and what your strengths are. With guidance from your coach, you will use these positive experiences and reflections to understand how to explore challenges and improve areas of your life including work-life integration, microaggressions at work, gender bias, and navigating your personal and professional development. Coaches will not provide residents with letters of recommendation as a part of this program in order to place the focus of this program on personal and professional development rather than on career development.
What is the time commitment?
We anticipate the time commitment to be about 40 minutes to an hour for each meeting with your coach. You will also be asked to complete a 10-15 minute "homework" assignment prior to each meeting. There will be three coaching meetings with your coach during the program. Since all the meetings are remote (phone or video chat), they are easier to schedule around your prior time commitments, compared to in person meetings. You will also be asked to complete surveys at the beginning and conclusion of the program (requirement for program involvement).
What do I get out of this?
The coaching program is a great way to have a meaningful relationship with a faculty member and to connect with someone in a different geographic area and area of interest than you. Prior residents who have participated in such programs have shown reduced burnout, improved well-being, better coping skills, and improved workplace relationships.
Who can be a coachee?
Coachees must be current members of the Association of Women Surgeons, in residency, fellowship or research time during residency for the academic year 2026 - 2027.
Apply Now to Be a Coach!
Coaching applications are closed for the 2026 cycle.
Information for Coaches (AWS Faculty):
- We are recruiting 40 practicing surgeons who are current AWS members to train as Professional Development coaches.
- AWS will host three (3) mandatory Coach training sessions. One will be in-person on September 26 at the AWS Conference in Washington, DC, and the other two (2) will be hosted virtually in early 2027. (While welcome to attend for a refresher, coaches who have attended the in-person training in the past are exempt from the mandatory in-person training).
- All coaches will be assigned two residents.
So what does it mean to be a coach?
Professional Development Coaches will be trained in positive psychology techniques. After training, you will be assigned two residents who are interested in a field other than your own. You will be responsible for meeting with them every three months (three total meetings) to review their experiences, encourage reflection, and set learning goals for the next three months of rotations. You are welcome, but not obliged, to meet with them more often or for a longer period. In this role as a coach, you will not be asked to write letters of recommendation for your residents. Meetings will take place remotely over Zoom, FaceTime, or Skype. To prepare for these meetings, you will be provided with session guides and updated, online training videos. There will be periodic check-ins with our trainers to review coaching skills throughout the program. We are recruiting 40 practicing surgeons to train as Professional Development Coaches. Prior coaches are welcome to rejoin and continue in the program.
What is the time commitment?
You will be asked to attend the mandatory coaching session held on during the Annual Conference, as well as webinar boosters to refresh your training prior to your second and third sessions with your coachees. Each of these sessions will be approximately 2 hours in length. We anticipate the time commitment to be about 40 minutes to an hour for each meeting with your coachee. Since all the meetings are remote (phone or video chat), they are easier to schedule around your other time commitments, as compared with in person meetings.
What do I get out of this?
The coaching program is a great way to have a meaningful relationship with our residents, participate in their development, stay active in AWS, and connect with other physicians engaged in the program. The faculty training sessions focus on leadership development, positive psychology, and feedback skills, which have been described as incredibly helpful to prior coaches and have been shown to reduce burnout and improve coping skills in faculty, as well as their coachees. Additionally, this is volunteerism that can be added to your CV. In addition, our preliminary data shows that coaches benefit from this training as well! Plus, you have new skills to bring back to your institution and share with your residents. New coaches must be able to attend the mandatory training session on September 26 in DC.
Who can be a coach?
Coaches must be current members of the Association of Women Surgeons, practicing surgeons (completed residency or fellowship) and be available to participate in the coaching training.
For any questions, please email [email protected].
