Surgical Volunteerism Awards
The ACS/Pfizer Surgical Volunteerism Award—offered in four potential categories annually (domestic, international, resident, and military)—recognizes surgeons who are committed to giving back to society by making significant contributions to surgical care through organized volunteer activities. The awards for Domestic, International, and Military are intended for ACS Fellows in active surgical practice who engage in volunteer activities that go above and beyond their usual professional commitments or retired Fellows who have been involved in volunteerism during their active practice and into retirement. Resident Members and Associate Fellows (members of the Resident and Associate Society of the ACS) who have been involved in significant volunteer activities during their postgraduate surgical training are eligible for the Resident award. The military category of this award is intended to recognize active-duty Fellows who have performed volunteer and/or humanitarian activities beyond the course of assigned military duties. Surgeons in any surgical specialty are eligible for each of these awards.
For the purposes of these awards, “volunteerism” is defined as professional work donated for charitable clinical, educational, or other worthwhile activities related to surgery. Volunteerism does not necessarily require that care is uncompensated. Instead, volunteerism should be characterized by prospective, planned surgical care to underserved patients with no anticipation of commensurate reimbursement.
Academic Global Surgeon Award
This award is given in recognition of those surgeons who are committed to giving back to society by making significant contributions to surgical care through organized educational activities. The award is intended for ACS Fellows in active academic global surgical practice who are committed to applying research, training, and evidence-based advocacy to make significant contributions to surgical education and care in regions of inequities, or retired Fellows who have been involved in academic global surgery during their active practice and into retirement. Surgeons of all specialties are eligible for this award.
Surgical Humanitarian Award
The ACS/Pfizer Surgical Humanitarian Award is given in recognition of a Fellow who has dedicated most of their career to ensuring the provision of surgical care to underserved populations without expectation of commensurate reimbursement.
This award is intended to honor an ACS Fellow who has dedicated their surgical career to full-time or near full-time humanitarian efforts, rather than routine surgical practice. Examples include a career dedicated to missionary surgery, the founding and ongoing leadership of a charitable organization dedicated to providing surgical care to the underserved, or a retirement characterized by surgical volunteer outreach. Having received compensation for this work does not preclude a nominee from consideration and, in fact, may be expected based on the extent of the professional obligation.
