ASE Surgical Education Research Fellowship – Sponsored by Ethicon Endo-Surgery
Since its founding in 1980, the goals and the activities of the ASE have been predicated on seeking and promulgating educationally and scientifically sound answers to the many complex questions, issues and concerns that are integral to the advancement of surgical education. In 1993, the ASE established the ASE Foundation to secure and distribute grant funds to researchers, educators and clinicians interested in investigating such questions and issues.
One of the Foundation’s most popular and recognized initiatives for this purpose is the Surgical Education Research Fellowship program (SERF), a one year, home-site fellowship designed to equip investigators with the skills and knowledge needed to plan, implement and report research studies in the field of surgical education. Following acceptance into the SERF program, each fellow is carefully matched by the program’s faculty with a SERF Advisor, a respected and knowledgeable researcher who will serve as the fellow’s mentor and consultant on their particular project.
Funding is provided by Ethicon Endo-Surgery and tuition paid by the fellow’s home institution.
There are numerous benefits to participating in this prestigious fellowship. The primary benefit is that this unique fellowship affords the opportunity for motivated individuals to become proficient in a skill set highly valued by their home institutions as well as the field in general. As new knowledge relevant to surgical education is the key to the growth and development of the discipline, those educators with the requisite, specialized skills and credentials become important members of departments and institutions that are committed to securing leadership and prominence in the field.
In addition, through working with their SERF Advisor and meeting with other SERF participants, fellows establish an invaluable, life-long network of colleagues who share their career aspirations and interests.
2020 SERF Brochure
What are the SERF Program Objectives?
The Surgical Education Research Fellowship (SERF) program is designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to plan, implement, and report educational research studies.
Upon completion of the program, fellows are able to:
- Methodically and thoroughly access and review the education literature.
- Formulate original and significant research questions.
- Design an educational research project using appropriate methodologies.
- Manage a surgical educational research project.
- Organize presentation of completed educational research projects for peer-reviewed academic publications and/or conferences.
- Develop a network of surgical education research colleagues.
Who Should Apply?
Members of the Association for Surgical Education who are interested in pursuing educational research.
For more information on becoming a member of the Association for Surgical Education, visit here.
Application Process & Cost
Applicants must complete the online SERF Application Form and submit it with required attachments by January 13, 2020. Course tuition is $2,500.00. Travel and Lodging not included.
For more information about current fellows, graduates and their projects, please visit the ASE website: www.surgicaleducation.com
What are the Fellowship Requirements?
1. Attend four sessions:
Session 1
Thursday, April 30, 2020
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
ASE Annual Meeting
Westin Seattle
Seattle, WA
Session 2
Friday, May 1, 2020
8:00 am -12:00 PM
ASE Annual Meeting
Westin Seattle
Seattle, WA
Session 3
Sunday, October 4, 2020
8:00 am – 4:30 PM
ACS Clinical Congress
Chicago, IL
Session 4
April 30,2021
1:00-5:30 PM
SERF Forum during 2021 ASE
Annual Meeting
Westin Copley Place
Boston, MA
2. Complete a research proposal and research project, with guidance and support from an assigned advisor.
3. Submit an abstract or paper, (either co-authored or approved by advisor) to a peer-reviewed forum or journal.
4. Present research progress report at the SERF Forum April 28, 2021. 1:00 – 5:00 PM ASE Annual Meeting, Westin Copely Place, Boston, MA
5. Workshop attendance and presentation at SERF Forum. Research projects must be completed within three years of the program start date.
Letters of notification regarding course acceptance will be emailed by February 3, 2020.
Who are the SERF Faculty?
Maura Sullivan, MSN, PhD
SERF Program Director
Professor of Clinical Surgery
Associate Dean for Simulation Education
University of Southern California
Maura Sullivan earned a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of California, San Francisco in 1993 and her Phd in Education Psychology from the University of Southern California in 2004. She is currently the Associate Chair for Education and the Executive Director of the Surgical Skills Simulation and Education Center in the Department of Surgery at the University of Southern California (USC). In addition, she is the Associate Dean of Simulation Education at the Keck School of Medicine USC. She has a joint appointment with the Rossier School of Education where she is a Professor of Education and a Senior Research Associate in the Center for Cognitive Technology.
Her research and academic interest include Cognitive Task Analysis, curriculum and faculty development, the development of expertise and technical skills training . She has developed and implemented a procedural skills curriculum for all medical students and residents in all GME programs and has received numerous grants to support her research and programs in the Skills Center. She has been actively involved in the ASE since 1998. Work on creating an effective drug that could alleviate the condition of patients suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system began in the early 80s of the last century. The tests of the tablets were completed, and the final verdict on their effectiveness was made only in 1993. Doctors of the world recognized Viagra as an effective remedy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, and since the year 98, the use of the drug has been permitted during therapeutic interventions.
Rebecca Henry, PhD
Professor of Medical Education
College of Human Medicine
Michigan State University
Rebecca Henry received her PhD, from Michigan State University in educational psychology, majoring in Learning and Cognition with a minor in Statistics and Research Design. She has conducted national program evaluations in health professions education funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and consulted on program evaluations sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Macy Foundation, Hartford Foundation and the Secret Service. Dr. Henry currently directs a performance based assessment initiative that is a comprehensive clinical skills exam for third year medical students. She has been actively involved in teaching research skills to physician faculty from surgery, medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology for 20 years.
David Rogers, MD, MHPE
Professor, Department of Surgery, Medical Education and Pediatrics
Senior Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development at
the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine
UAB Medicine Chief Wellness Office
David A. Rogers received his medical degree from the University of South Florida and completed his general surgery training at the Medical College of Georgia. He subsequently completed his pediatric general surgery training at the University of Tennessee and a pediatric surgery oncology fellowship at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He received a Masters of Health Professions Education degree (MPHE) from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has also completed the Surgical Education Research Fellowship program sponsored by the Association of Surgical Education. He has been involved in a number of research programs related to medical and surgical education. Outside of his research and clinical activities, Dr. Rogers has served in a number of educational administrative roles and is currently the Course Chair at the American College of Surgeon’s Resident as Teachers and Leaders course. A recipient of numerous departmental and institutional teaching awards, Dr. Rogers is a 2012 recipient of the Association for Surgical Education Distinguished Educator Award.
As a Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development, Dr. Rogers is engaged in a range of activities designed to promote effective faculty career development. His current emphasis is on the development of mentorship for all faculty members within the School of Medicine.
Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD
Scholar in Residence
Stanford University
Dr. Arghavan Salles is a Scholar in Residence at Stanford University. Her interest in education goes back to her youth when she frequently engaged in tutoring and teaching activities. When Dr. Salles was in medical school, she became interested in medical education. In particular, she was concerned about the disconnect between the expertise amongst those in schools of education and those who are responsible for medical education. She ultimately pursued a PhD in Education during her residency. During this time she became fascinated by social psychology and in particular the ways in which negative stereotypes can affect people’s performance. Her current research agenda focuses on gender stereotypes and bias, gender equity, and physician well-being.
Dr. Salles has been a long-time member of the Association for Surgical Education (ASE) and has previously completed a Surgical Education Research Fellowship (SERF). She continues to be involved in SERF by mentoring fellows. She is the current co-Chair of the Surgical Education Research Group within ASE.
For any questions, please email Catherine Sutherland at [email protected].