Surgeon Scientist Career Development Conference
Inaugural Surgeon Scientist Career Development Conference
October 9-10, 2025 | Duke University Campus, Durham, NC
Career development is a key component of the ASTS Surgeon Scientist committee mission.
The Inaugural Surgeon Scientist Career Development conference is designed to provide a career roadmap for early, mid, and late career surgeon scientists. The roadmap includes preconference video modules covering key aspects such as outcomes research, health services research, clinical trials, and basic science, highlighting the significance of finding one's 'why', or passion, and the value of persistence through challenges.
Registration Rates
| Member Rate | $550 |
| Non-Member Rate | $750 |
| Trainee/Associate Rate | $350 |
| Industry Rate | $850 |
Program
Thursday, October 9
All times are EST. Schedule is subject to change.
| 1:00 - 1:30 pm | Introduction & Welcome | Ginny Bumgardner, MD, PhD, FACS & Allan Kirk, MD, PhD, FACS |
| 1:30 - 3:10 pm | Becoming a Surgeon Scientist | |
| Starting a Career as a Surgeon Scientist- With Start-Up Funding | Keri Lunsford, MD, PhD, FACS | |
Starting a Career as a Surgeon Scientist- Without Start-Up Funding | Juliet Emamaullee, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACS | |
Finding Your "Why" as a Surgeon Scientist | Sylvester Black, MD, PhD, FACS | |
View of the Early Career Surgeon Scientist from Above (Perspective of the Center Director) | Satish Nadig, MD, PhD, FACS | |
Panel Discussion | Moderator: Ginny Bumgardner, MD, PhD
Panelists: Debra Sudan, MD, Allan Kirk, MD, PhD, Satish Nedig, MD, PhD, Sylvester Black, MD, PhD, Juliet Emamaullee, MD, PhD, Keri Lunsford, MD, PhD, Aleah Burbaker, MD, PhD | |
Career Development Breakout Table Discussions | Career level-specific breakouts - finding your focus workgroups. Group leaders to be determined. | |
| 3:10 - 3:30 pm | Break | |
| 3:30 - 5:00 pm | Being a Surgeon Scientist | |
Negotiating a Job as a Surgeon Scientist | Jason Wertheim, MD, PhD, FACS | |
How to Frame Your Ideas to Get Funding: Catching Reader's Attention with Specific Aims | Sylvester Black, MD, PhD, FACS | |
Navigating the NIH | Ali Zarrinpar, MD, PhD, FACS | |
| Grant Focused Breakout Table Discussions | Career level-specific breakouts and specific aims page feedback. Group Leaders to be determined. | |
| 5:30 - 7:00 pm | Networking Reception |
Friday, October 10
All times are EST. Schedule is subject to change.
| 7:00 - 8:00 am | Breakfast at the Trent Semans Great Hall Atrium | |
| 8:00 - 8:10 am | Introduction & Welcome to Day 2 | Ginny Bumgardner, MD, PhD, FACS |
| 8:10 - 10:00 am | Mentoring a Surgeon Scientist | |
Being an Active Surgeon Scientist Mentee | Aleah Brubaker, MD, PhD | |
| Tools for Being an Effective Mentor | Daniela Ladner, MD, MPH | |
Mentoring Across Career Stages | Peter Stock, MD, PhD | |
Peer to Peer Networks | Juliet Emamaullee, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACS | |
| Panel Discussion | Moderator: James Guarrera, MD Panelists: Ginny Bumgardner, MD, PhD, Satish Nadig, MD, PhD, Sylvester Black, MD, PhD, Aleah Brubaker, MD, PhD, Daniela Ladner, MD, MPH, Peter Stock, MD, PhD, Juliet Emamaullee, MD, PhD | |
| 10:00 - 10:15 am | Break | |
| 10:15 - 12:00 pm | Alternative Pathways to Becoming a Transplant Surgeon Scientist | |
Leveraging your Clinical Program for Research Development | Alfred Tector (III), MD, PhD, FACS | |
Collaborative Health Services & Outcomes Research | Daniela Ladner, MD, MPH | |
Industry Relationships and Clinical Trials | Allan Kirk, MD, PhD, FACS | |
| AI and Big Data Analysis | Abbas Rana, MD, FACS | |
Device Development and Intellectual Property | James Guarrera, MD, FACS | |
| Panel Discussion | Moderator: Debra Sudan, MD Panelists: Drew Barbas, MD, Alfred Tector (III), MD, PhD, FACS, Allan Kirk, MD, PhD, Daniela Ladner, MD, MPH, Abbas Rana, MD, James Guarrera, MD | |
| 12:00 - 1:00 pm | Lunch | |
| 1:00 - 2:30 pm | The Social and Professional Network | |
Developing Your Network & Establishing Multidisciplinary Networks | Lisa McElroy, MD | |
Expanding Visibility of Your Work | Matthew Hartwig, MD | |
Engaging With Philanthropy and Industry Funding | Stuart Knechtle, MD | |
Developing Your Elevator Pitch | Abbas Rana, MD | |
Breakouts: Elevator Pitch | Career level-specific breakouts and elevator pitch development session. Group Leaders to be determined. | |
| 2:30 - 3:00 pm | Break | |
| 3:00 - 3:30 pm | Keynote Speaker | Alfred Tector (III), MD, PhD, FACS |
| 3:30 - 4:50 pm | Getting to Yes for Transplant Publications | |
Thoughts from an Editor-In-Chief | Sandy Feng, MD, PhD | |
Manuscript Preparation | Keri Lunsford, MD, PhD, FACS | |
Abstract Writing & Publication | James Guarrera, MD, FACS | |
| Time Management When Publishing | Ali Zarrinpar, MD, PhD | |
| 4:50 - 5:00 pm | Closing Remarks | Ginny Bumgardner, MD, PhD, FACS |
Book Your Room at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club
By Phone: Reserve your room by phone at (919) 490-0999 and reference the ASTS Surgeon Scientist Career Development Conference 2 (Group ID# 1121429.
Online: Reserve your room online using this link.
Looking for more ways to engage with leaders in the field of transplantation?
Opportunity to register to join Duke Department of Surgery Continuing Medical Education program for the Southeast Regional Transplant Summit to be held Saturday October 11, 2025 on the Duke campus. Registration opening soon, check their website for further details.
The Southeast Regional Transplant Summit (the "Summit") brings together leaders in the field of transplantation to share the latest scientific advancements in the perioperative care of solid organ transplant patients. The Summit strives to facilitate the multidisciplinary adoption of new research results and practice guidelines in kidney, liver, lung, and pediatric multi-organ transplantation. This interactive conference features didactic and video-based presentations on current research as well as interactive debates and discussions of interesting and challenging case studies. Participants will engage in question-and-answer sessions and learn from transplantation experts. Afternoon organs-specific breakout sessions are available for focused learning.
The Summit is a unique program that is affordable, accessible, and tailored to meet the demands of today's busy healthcare providers.