The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®) and the International Relations Committee offer International ACS NSQIP Scholarships for three surgeons from countries other than the U.S. or Canada who demonstrate strong interests in surgical quality improvement. Completed applications for the International ACS NSQIP Scholarships for 2018 and all supporting documentation must be received by the International Liaison Section by February 15.
The scholarships, in the amount of $10,000 each, provide the scholars with an opportunity to attend the 2018 ACS Quality and Safety Conference, July 21–24 in Orlando, FL, and meet with program leadership and surgeon champions from ACS NSQIP participating hospitals. (For more information about ACS NSQIP, go to facs.org/nsqip.)
Following the Quality and Safety Conference, the candidate is encouraged to visit one or two hospitals reflecting the candidate’s specific clinical interests. These hospitals should have strong quality programs.
Requirements
The International ACS NSQIP Scholarship requirements are as follows:
- Applicants must be graduates of schools of medicine.
- Applicants must submit their applications from their intended permanent institution.
- Applications will be accepted for processing only when the applicants have been in surgical practice, teaching, or research for at least one year at their intended permanent location, following completion of all formal training (including fellowships and scholarships).
- Applicants must be younger than 55 years of age at the time of application.
- Applicants must have demonstrated a commitment to surgical quality improvement.
- Applicants must submit a fully completed online application form provided by the College on its website. The application and accompanying materials must be prepared in English. Submission of a curriculum vitae only is not acceptable.
- Applicants must provide information regarding their work setting, including their hospital and the patients they see, as well as their participation in quality improvement activities. They also must indicate their career goals, describing how they plan to transfer their newly acquired learning to their current situation.
- Applicants must submit letters of recommendation from three of their colleagues. One letter must be from the chair of the department of the hospital in which they hold academic appointment or from a Fellow of the ACS residing in their country. The chair’s or the Fellow’s letter should include a specific statement detailing the nature and extent of the applicant’s involvement in quality improvement activities. These letters should be submitted by the person making the recommendation.
- Applicants are required to submit a curriculum vitae of no more than 10 pages.
- The International ACS NSQIP Scholarships must be used in the year for which they are designated; they cannot be postponed.
- Applicants who are awarded scholarships will submit a full written report of the experiences provided through the scholarships upon completion of their scholarships.
- An unsuccessful applicant may reapply only twice and only by completing and submitting a current application form, together with new supporting documentation.
- The scholarships provide successful applicants with the privilege of participating in the Quality and Safety Conference. Assistance will be provided in arranging hotel accommodations in the conference city.
All of the requirements must be fulfilled to qualify for consideration. For more information about the International ACS NSQIP Scholarship requirements and to access the application form, go to the ACS website. All applicants will be notified of the selection committee’s decision in May 2018. Questions should be directed to the International Liaison at kearly@facs.org.
