The ASE Surgeon Empowerment and Leadership Fellowship (SELF 2.0) is a refinement of the original SELF program with the goal of empowerment of surgical educators through career advancement and leadership training. This is a one-year fellowship designed for mid-career surgical educators who are at least five years out of training. The curriculum spans over 30 hours of instruction and discussion primarily using a seminar style. The first 10 hours will be in-person at the ASE annual meeting followed by a monthly virtual meeting (total of 10 hours with monthly hour-long sessions) and culminating in 10 hours of in-person sessions at the subsequent ASE annual meeting. The preparation for the sessions will involve light reading and educational material supplemented by suggested reading lists. The final project for this program involves the completion of an Individualized Development Plan that the learners will be working on throughout the year.
Apply for SELF 2.0!
Applications open on Wednesday, October 15 at 9:00am Pacific and close on Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 11:59pm Pacific.
What are the SELF 2.0 Program Goals?
- Describe aspects of self-awareness associated with the development of a leader (topics such as vulnerability, resilience, emotional intelligence)
- Utilize principles learned to better manage relational attributes that are associated with advancement (topics such as team building, trust, conflict
management) - Understand characteristics of systems that allow for empowerment (topics such as change management, psychological safety, game theory)
- Enumerate paths for advancement of a surgical education career (topics such as professional identity and career advancement)
Application Process & Cost
Applicants must complete the online SELF 2.0 Application Form and submit it with required attachments. Course tuition is $2,500 for ASE Members and $3,000 for non-ASE members. Travel and Lodging to the 2026 and 2027 ASE Annual Meeting is not included.
Schedule
Session 1
Monday, April 27, 2026
8am-4pm
ASE Annual Meeting
Atlanta, GA
Session 2
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
8am-11:30am
ASE Annual Meeting
Atlanta, GA
Monthly Virtual Sessions
On Zoom beginning June 2026-March 2027
Sessions 3 & 4
Exact times TBD
ASE Annual Meeting
San Antonio, TX
Faculty
Mohsen Shabahang, MD, PhD
SELF 2.0 Co-Director
CMO, Surgical Services, WellSpan Health
Professor of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University
Mohsen (Mo) Shabahang, MD, PhD is a Professor of Surgery at the Thomas Jefferson University and presently the CMO of Surgical Services at WellSpan Health in Central Pennsylvania. He has been a clinician, surgical educator and healthcare leader. He has served the Association for Surgical Education in many roles, most recently as President in 2024-2025. His scholarly interests focus on leadership development. He is an ICF-certified coach (Associate Certified Coach) and is presently pursuing a Masters in Organizational Behavior at Case Western Reserve University.
Laura Torbeck, PhD
SELF 2.0 Co-Director
Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development
Indiana University
Laura Torbeck, PhD, is a Professor of Surgery, Vice Chair of Professional Development for the Department of Surgery, and an Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Torbeck champions professional development initiatives for surgery as well as for state-wide faculty. Her research interests include program evaluation, remediation practices, resident autonomy, and faculty development. Dr. Torbeck is a Board Certified Coach and strives to bring clarity to healthcare professionals looking to increase their vitality.
What happened to SELF 1.0?
While SELF enjoyed 5 years of success with providing ASE members with teaching and leadership development, the decision was made to expand SELF in a new direction and focus on providing career navigation and leadership development for mid-career surgeon educators as well as make room for future new programs that will target teaching development in a new way.
Apply for SELF 2.0!
For any questions, please email the ASE Office at info@surgicaleducation.com.