AWS Resident Travel Award

Through the generosity of the Association of Women Surgeons Foundation, the AWS is pleased to offer four scholarships of $500 each to AWS resident members to assist with their travel to the 2026 AWS Annual Conference in Washington, DC. Awardees will have the opportunity to network, learn, and develop new skills.

The AWS Resident Travel Award is made possible through the generosity of the AWS Foundation.

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Congratulations to the 2025 Resident Travel Awardees!

A reflection from Dr. Vasu Mathur:

The experience of attending my very first Association of Women Surgeons conference was motivating and thought-provoking. Presenting my paper on global surgery sparked insightful conversations about equity, access, and sustainable partnerships, and it was especially meaningful to connect with surgeons who share a commitment to these goals. I met residents, fellows, and senior surgeons at many stages of their careers, all navigating different challenges but motivated by the same desire to improve surgical care worldwide. Those exchanges felt like the start of lasting collaborations and mentorship.

I was also inspired by the panel on surgical discoveries and entrepreneurship, which highlighted how surgeons can translate ideas into real-world impact through innovation and leadership. Hearing candid stories about setbacks, breakthroughs, and creative problem-solving broadened my perspective on what a surgical career can look like. I left the conference with new ideas to explore, mentors to learn from, and stronger sense of purpose in pursuing global surgery. Needless to say, I hope to attend this conference every year and strive towards contributing to this wonderful community of women surgeons!