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2026 AWS Annual Conference

Advocacy: Speaking Out and Scaling New Heights for Our Patients, Our Profession, and Ourselves

Friday, September 25 & Saturday, September 26

Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel  | Washington, DC

 

AWS Conference Schedule 

*Subject to change. Stay tuned for details

Friday, September 25 

07:00am: Mentoring Breakfast and Exhibit Hall  

08:00am: Welcome & Advocacy Spotlight  

  • Dr. Elisabeth Potter 

 08:25am: Advocacy Panel  

  • Dr. Jessica Burgess 
  • Dr. Amy Liepert  
  • Dr. Anahita Dua 
  • Dr. Christen Russo 
  • Dr. Regan Williams  
  • Dr. Lillian Erdahl 

09:25am: AJS Top Papers Session

  • Nathalia Beller
  • Harnoor Kehal
  • Amy Morrison, MD

09:55am: Exhibit Hall & Networking Break 

10:30am: Starr Research Forum 

10:30am: Starr Research Forum

  • Session 1 - Pediatrics:
Dr. Anna Jose
Dr. Banan Otaibi
Dr. Grayson Stinger
Hannah Johnston
McKenna Dellinger
Dr. Andreina Giron
Paige Richards
  • Session 2 - Orthopedics:
Alaina Bryson
Angelica Bartler
Alexandra Wadhwani
Alexia Childress
Emilie Ginovker
Shreya Goel
Kelan Queenan
Casey Ostrowski
  • Session 3 - General Surgery, Vascular, Transplant, and Trauma:
Dr. Erica Archivolti
Abigail Jacobi
Fraol Bekele
Dr. Radha Bansal
Anoushka Kathiravan
Sweccha Bhatt
Dr. Zainab Mehdi
Zhuxuan Pan
Dr. Nicole Izhakoff

11:30am: Exhibit Hall & Transition  

11:45am: Keynote Address  

      • Dr. Dana Suskind  

12:45pm: Annual Business Meeting  

01:30pm: Presidential Address

02:00pm: Negotiation Session

      • Jessica Minesinger

02:30pm: Advocacy Spotlight

      • Dr. Paula Ferrada

02:50pm: Surgical Specialty Leaders Panel  

      • Dr. Tanaz Ferzandi 
      • Dr. Kelly Malloy 
      • Dr. Carolyn de la Cruz 
      • Dr. Elizabeth Brown  
      • Dr. Ugochi Okoroafor-Ridgway

03:50pm: Exhibit Hall & Networking Break 

04:20pm: Ergonomics & Disability Fireside Chat 

      • Dr. Geeta Lal  
      • Dr. Erin Garvey 

05:30pm: Starr Research Forum  

  • Session 4 - Thoracic, ENT:
Anya Chaudhry
Jaladhija Chalichama
Jasmine Yuan
Dr. Sarah Singh
Serena Persaud
Dr. Sujata Syamal
Dr. Titilope Sandra Saheed
  • Session 5 - Colorectal, Breast, Bariatric, Oncology:
Helen Wei
Dr. Isabel Pichardo
Kelsey Van Housen
Dr. Kylie Dickerson
Maya Blasingame
Dr. Sumita Mitra
  • Session 6 - Plastics, Urology, Gynecologic, Neuro, Orthopedic:
Alexandra DiGiovanni
Dr. Hanna Dieterle
Harshini Veena Suresh
Lily Karlson
Victoria Koffi
Kyra Vankirk
Mary C. McDonough

06:30pm: Wine & Cheese Reception 

Saturday, September 26 

*Subject to Change 

07:00am: Wellness Activity – Yoga  

08:00am: High School Outreach Program (invitation only) 

09:00am: Workshops  

      • Option A: Courageous Conversations - Dr. Sharon Stein  
      • Option B: Defining Surgical Identity - Dr. Martha Zeiger 
      • Option C: Pivoting and Responding to Challenges and Changes - Dr. Sareh Parangi, Dr. Lucy De La Cruz, and Dr. Sofia Wagemaker
10:45am: Workshops 
      • Option A: Surgical Ergonomics - Dr. Geeta Lal 
      • Option B: Advocacy Lab - Dr. Christina Colosimo, Dr. Jennifer Whittington
      • Option C: Turn Obstacles into Opportunities - Dr. Diem Vu and Dr. Shannon Foster

01:30pm: AWS Coach Training (invitation only) 

05:30pm: Medical Student and Resident Reception 

Sunday, September 27 

07:30pm: AWSF Awards Dinner & Gala 

Monday, September 28 

7:00am: Networking Breakfast and Diversity Panel 

    • Invited Partners: AOSA, LSS, NASS, SAAS, SBAS