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Visiting Professorships

Advancing Excellence, Diversity, and Representation in Surgery

The Association of Women Surgeons (AWS) and the AWS Foundation (AWSF) are proud to offer a variety of Visiting Professorship programs in partnership with leading organizations. These initiatives support AWSF's mission to advance women’s careers in surgery and address gender disparities worldwide. Visiting Professorships enable surgeons to share their expertise, inspire the next generation, and promote diversity within the field of surgery. Through grand rounds, lectures, and meaningful interactions at host institutions, these professorships align with the AWS mission to inspire, encourage, and enable women surgeons to achieve their professional and personal goals.


AWSF Kim Ephgrave Visiting Professor Program

Now accepting host applications for the 2025 AWSF Visiting Professor, Dr. Lisa Cannada!

The AWSF Kim Ephgrave Visiting Professor Program provides an established surgeon the opportunity to be a positive role model for women in surgery. Apply today to share your professional and personal experiences with department chairs, faculty, residents, and students at a select host institution through grand rounds, walk rounds, lectures, research presentations and more.

Headshot of Dr. Lisa CannadaAWSF is thrilled to announce Dr. Lisa Cannada as the 2025 Kim Ephgrave Visiting Professor. Dr. Cannada is an Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon 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 entered the field when women represented less than 2% of practicing orthopaedic surgeons, and she has dedicated herself to advancing opportunities for women in surgery. Training institutions are invited to apply by April 24 to host Dr. Lisa Cannada. Preference is given to institutions in which women represent a significant minority of the department.

 


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

The AWSF Kim Ephgrave Visiting Professor Program is named after Kim Ephgrave, MD , who served as AWS President from 2000 to 2001. This program is funded by the generosity of our donors. Please consider supporting the AWS Foundation in providing opportunities for the educational and professional growth of women in surgery. Click HERE to view the full list of all the Dr. Kim Ephgrave Visiting Professors and Host Sites.

 

Learn More
Apply to Host Dr. Cannada
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Collaborative Visiting Professor Programs

AWS is thrilled to partner with leading surgical organizations to present annual Visiting Professor Programs. 

  • Latino Surgical Society and Association of Women Surgeons Visiting Professorship: The LSS & AWS Visiting Professors heighten the visibility of Latino surgeons and serve as positive role models for medical students and trainees of LatinX heritage. The 2024 LSS & AWS Visiting Professor is Mecker Moller, MD, FACS, DABS, MAMSE. She will be hosted by Weill Cornell Medical Center.

  • Society of Asian Academic Surgeons and Association of Women Surgeons Visiting Professorship: The SAAS & AWS Visiting Professorship is open to SAAS members within the first 10 years of their faculty appointment. The program increases the national visibility of rising stars in academic surgery. The 2024 SAAS & AWS Visiting Professor is Annabelle Fonseca MD of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who was hosted by Dr. Allan Tsung at the University of Virginia.

  • Society of Black Academic Surgeons and Association of Women Surgeons Visiting Professorship: The SBAS & AWS Visiting Professorship provides active SBAS and AWS members who are faculty members at the rank of Associate Professor and within 15 years of their faculty appointment the opportunity to serve as a visiting professor for the department of surgery at a host institution. The 2024 SBAS & AWS Visiting Professor is Dr. Christa Grant, who will be hosted by Wake Forest.