2025 AWS Annual Conference
Women Surgeon Pioneers: Shaping the Future of Surgery

Friday, October 3 & Saturday, October 4
Chicago, Illinois

 

AWS Conference Schedule

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3
*Subject to change
  • 7:00am-8:00am: Continental Breakfast, STARR Poster Presentations, and Exhibitor Networking
    • Student Speakers: Mehreen Ali Pasha, Charlotte G. Burch, Estefani Cota, Jacqueline Friskey, Julia Isber, Yuleen Kaur, Kathryn Radulovacki, Carrie N. Reaver, Raheyma N. Siddiqui, Martina Zamponi, Joyce Zhuang
    • Resident Speakers: Fayrouz F. Abu-Hamdan, MD; Emma G. Burke, MD; Kayla Iannarelli, MD; Anna Mary Jose, MD; Sharon Joseph, MD; Ioannis Liapis, MD; Carolina M. Larrain, MD ;Vasundhara Mathur, MD; Elizabeth M. Reynolds, MD; Titilope Sandra S. Saheed, MD

  • 7:20am-7:50am: AJS Top Papers: Christina Colosimo, MD; Annika Hiredesai; Barbara Stewart Schwartzberg, MD 

  • 8:00am-9:05am: Welcome and Keynote, "From Trailblazing to Transformation: Building a Surgical Culture that Works for All," 
    • Speaker: Dr. Callisia Clarke

  • 9:05am-10:35am: Pioneering Women Leaders
    • Speakers: Barbara Bass, MD, FACS; Mary McCarthy, MD, FACS, FRCSEd(Hon), DFSVS, MAMSE; Patricia Numann, MD, FACS; Valerie Rusch, MD, FACS

  • 10:35am-11:15am: Exhibitor Networking

  • 11:15am-11:30am: Fellowship Grant Report: “HER2 Discordance Between Primary Breast Tumor and Nodal Metastasis and Relationship to Oncotype Score” 
    • Speaker: Nimmi Kapoor, MD, FACS

  • 11:30am-1:00pm: Pioneering Surgical Innovations
    • Speakers: Geeta Lal, MD, MSc, FACS, FRCSC; Lauren Ramsey, MD, MBA; Nova Szoka, MD

  • 1:00pm-2:15pm: Business Meeting/Lunch
  • 2:15pm-3:15pm: Likeable Badass: Fireside Chat
    • Speaker: Alison Fragale, PhD

  • 3:15pm-4:15pm: Exhibitor Networking / Book Signing

  • 4:15pm-5:15pm: Pioneering Advocacy Strategies for Women Surgeons
    • Speaker: Margaret Tracci, MD, JD, FACS

  • 5:15-6:15pm: Pioneering Your Authentic Self
    • Speakers: Paula Ferrada, MD, FACS, FCCM, MAMSE; Stephanie Goff, MD, FACS, FSSO; Sharon Stein, MD, FACS, FASCRS

  • 6:30pm-7:30pm: Group Photo, Wine & Cheese Reception

  • All Day: Professional Headshots with Rebekah Butler

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4
*Subject to change

  • 7:00am-8:00am: Wellness Activity 

  • 8:00am-2:00pm: Rebecca Crumpler High School Outreach Program 

  • 9:00am-10:30am: Workshops A (choose one option below - workshop ticket required)
    • Navigating the Glass Cliff
      • Speakers: Heidi Bahna, MD, FACS, FASCS; Herb Chen, MD, FACS; Vivian Gahtan, MD, FACS; Salewa Oseni, MD, MPH, FACS; Dana Telem, MD, MPH, FACS; Heather Yeo, MD, MHS, MBA, FACS
    • Artificial Intelligence in Surgery

      • Speakers: Heather Lyu, MD, MBI; Jamie Robinson, MD, PhD; Gopika SenthilKumar, PhD; Rachyl Shanker, MD

  • 10:45am-12:15am: Workshops B (choose one option below - workshop ticket required)
    • Toolkit for Difficult Conversations
      • Speaker: Laurie Paschal, MBA, MPH
    • Social Media for Surgeons & Trainees

      • Speaker: Karlee Lau Loftin, MD; Elizabeth Malphrus, MD, MPP; Lauren Ramsey, MD, MBA

  • 1:30pm-4:30pm: The AWS Coaching Program - Session #1 (invitation only)

  • 5:30pm-7:00pm: Medical Student and Resident Reception

  • All Day: Negotiating Sessions with Jessica Minesinger (appointment required)

 
ADDITIONAL EVENTS IN CHICAGO

Sunday, October 5
7:30pm-10:00pm: AWSF Awards Dinner & Gala (ticket required)

Monday, October 6
7:00am-9:00am: Networking Breakfast

 

Click HERE For Digital Schedule