The Kim Ephgrave Visiting Professor Program

Portrait of Dr. Kim Ephgrave smiling at the camera in a white coat

This program provides academic institutions with the opportunity to host leading women surgeons as speakers. Opportunities to lecture heighten the visibility of women surgeons while inspiring surgical residents and encouraging women medical students to pursue similar careers.

In addition, the Dr. Kim Ephgrave Visiting Professor Program promotes dialogue between practicing surgeons and the academic community. The program was recently named in memory of Dr. Kim Ephgrave who served in the AWS Leadership from 1997 – 2002 and as AWS President in 2000/2001.

Criteria:

Nominees must be current active AWS members.
Submission of a list of four prioritized topics for lecture, or areas of expertise.
Submission of a personal statement
Submission of a letter of AWS involvement.
Submission of one letter of recommendation attesting to qualifications for the AWS Visiting Professorship.
Submission of an up-to-date CV/Biosketch.
Nominees may self-nominate.

Each recipient will receive up to $1,000 in travel and lodging reimbursement for the speaking engagement. The Host Site will provide honoraria.

Qualifications & Responsibilities

Be a practicing surgeon member of the Association of Women Surgeons in good standing and in an active clinical practice in the United States or Canada.
Coordinate with the host institution to determine the optimal time for the visit. Visits usually include lectures, discussion groups, patient evaluation, patient rounds, and possibly operative procedures and take place over two days.
Interact professionally with local women surgical faculty, residents, and medical students as a representative of the AWS and AWS Foundation (AWSF).
Share information about AWS and the AWSF at appropriate opportunities.
Work with the host institution to plan the visit including travel and accommodation reservations.
Submit an expense form with appropriate back-up receipts to AWSF within 30 days after the visit.
Submit a report to AWSF summarizing the visit within 30 days of the visit that includes information about the experience and thoughts on the process and the overall program.

Announcing the 2025 AWSF Visiting Professor

Dr. Lisa Cannada

Dr. Cannada is an Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon. She is affiliated with Novant health, where she is the Director of Faculty Integration for the UNC School of Medicine Charlotte Campus, Medical Student Clerkship Director and Professor. She completed a 3-year term on the AAOS BOD in 2018 as the first female Chair of the Board of Specialty Societies. She was responsible for developing the current fellowship match process for orthopaedics. She is a member of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association and served on the BOD and received the first OTA DEI and Health Disparities Leadership Award in October 2022. She served as a president of the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society in 2011 and received the inaugural “She for She “ Award in 2022.

Dr. Cannada has made it her mission to make the path better for those that follow, by her work and leadership roles. In 2021, Drs. Cannada, Weiss, Shipley and Gianakos formed “Speak Up Ortho” to pave the way for change in orthopaedic surgery. Her clinical interests and research include both upper and lower extremity fractures and outcomes. She has over 240 publications and numerous presentations at national meetings. She could not do this without the support of her family, her husband Jeff and daughter Annalise and her parents, the late John W. Metcalf MD (OB-GYN) and her mom, Theresa Metcalf. Her favorite role is “soccer mom” and she looks forward to cheering on her daughter, a Division I Soccer player at Lipscomb University this upcoming season after her return from ACL reconstruction.

Dr. Cannada provides lectures in the following topic areas:

Snakes in the Grass: Occupational Hazards (Radiation Safety)
Mentoring: Preparing for our Future
Time for change: Bullying in Orthopaedics
Yes You Can-Tips for Research at all levels and Job Types
The Mangled Extremity
Heavy Metal: Periprosthetic and Interprosthetic Femur Fractures
The Humerus Made Easy
The Elderly Fracture Trifecta:Poor bone, poor skin, poor mobility
What They Don't Teach: Actions Speak Louder than Words
Social Media: Friend or Foe

Apply to Host the 2025 AWSF Visiting Professor

The AWS Foundation is no longer accepting applications for 2025!

Preference is given to those institutions with a high number of women trainees and a significant minority of women surgeons in the department. Both community and university training programs are encouraged to apply. The Chair of the Department of Surgery or surgery residency Program Director must complete this application. The AWS Foundation (AWSF) will provide a stipend of up to $2500 to cover travel and accommodation expenses for the Visiting Professor. The host institution will be expected to provide an honorarium to the Visiting Professor.

Host-Site Responsibilities:
• The Host Department of Surgery will sponsor this program and arrange for a two-day site visit.
• Provide opportunities for interaction between the visiting professor and local women surgical faculty, residents, and students. (Options include: reception, breakfast, luncheon, grand rounds, and surgery.)
• Arrange the specific details of the visit directly with the Visiting Professor.
• Arrange appropriate privileges and legalities if operative procedures involving the Visiting Professor are planned.
• Submit a follow-up report to AWS Foundation detailing your experiences with the Visiting Professor and this AWS Foundation Program.

The AWS Foundation will provide a stipend of up to $2500 to cover travel and accommodation expenses for the Visiting Professor. The host institution will be expected to provide an honorarium to the Visiting Professor.

Please see a sample itinerary here.