The AWS Journal Club is an international peer-to-peer teaching curriculum that is focused on landmark papers in the field of general surgery with which all students and residents should be familiar. Student and resident members of AWS will have the opportunity to apply to present one of the landmark papers chosen for the journal club curriculum on a global platform.  We are also seeking residents and attendings to serve as mentors and moderators for each journal club session. The presentations will take place as a zoom event hosted by AWS, available internationally to all members and non-members of AWS. 

Fall Session 2026: Fluid Resuscitation

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Journal Club Goals:

To provide an international platform for student members to present articles from a list of landmark papers in surgery with which all surgery residents should be familiar. Articles for presentation will cycle every 2 years to ensure that landmark trials are continuously taught to and appraised by each new cohort of AWS members. To understand the evidence based practice behind some of the most common medical management decisions for surgical patients. To create an interactive model for journal club engagement within AWS. To provide access to journal club engagement for all medical students pursuing general surgery. To encourage professional development amongst student members by synthesizing a journal club article into a PowerPoint presentation.

Frequency:

Once quarterly, 2 year rotating cycle of journal club topics covered

Journal Club Structure

Each journal club session will consist of 3 student presenters, each paired with a resident mentor. Additionally, one session moderator will be present at each of the quarterly journal club sessions. The journal club sessions can be attended by all AWS members and non-members who want to attend the presentations, engage with the literature, and ask questions. Journal club sessions have predetermined topics and articles for presenters to choose from. A complete list of article selections for the two-year journal club cycle, explanations of moderator, mentor and presenter roles and expectations, application considerations and a sample schedule are included in the document linked below. 

View Articles and Journal Club Curriculum

Journal Club Participants

Student Presenters: DO/MD student any year, priority given  to those who have completed surgery clerkships. Interested parties will need to review the presentation requirements listed below and fill out the Application for Student Presenters. 

Mentors: Residents (PGY1-PGY4). Each journal club mentor will be paired with one student presenter. Pairings will be based on articles of interest. When a mentor and a presenter select the same article of interest out of the options listed for the academic year, they will be paired together. Interested parties will need to fill out the Application for Mentors.

Session Moderators: Chief residents, fellows, or attendings that will participate in one journal club meeting to oversee the three presentees scheduled for that quarterly session. Moderators would need to be available for the duration of the journal club meeting (1 hour 15 minutes) to facilitate discussion after presentations and evaluate presenters. Moderators should also provide feedback to each presenter at the end of the session. Interested parties will need to fill out the Application for Moderators.

Presentation Guidelines and Timeline

Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis for each quarterly session. We look forward to your future involvement with our Journal Club Curriculum!