53rd Annual Meeting at Digestive Disease Week 2012 Don’t miss the SSAT 53rd Annual Meeting, to be held in San Diego, California, from May 18-22, 2012, in conjunction with DDW – the most prestigious event in the field of digestive diseases. Abstract Submission: Abstract and video submissions are no longer being accepted for the 53rd Annual Meeting. Registration & Housing: SSAT member registration and housing for the 2012 Annual Meeting is now open at the DDW Website. Register before the Early Bird deadline of April 11, 2012, and registration is only $95 USD (and complimentary for Candidate and Resident SSAT members).

Upcoming Awards:

Karen and Josef E. Fischer International Traveling Fellowship for Surgeons in Academic Practice
The goal of this traveling fellowship is to promote interaction and learning among junior academic surgeons in the SSAT with surgical units overseas. One awardee each year will be funded to visit International GI Surgery units and an International Meeting. A stipend of up to $5,000 will be provided to the Traveling Fellow to defray reasonable costs for travel, lodging, and meals. Please note that the application process is now entirely online, and only online applications will be considered. The application deadline is February 1, 2012.

ACS/SSAT Health Policy and Management Scholarship
The American College of Surgeons and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract are offering an annual scholarship to subsidize attendance and participation in the Executive Leadership Program in Health Policy and Management at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. The 2012 course takes place May 20–26, 2012. The application deadline is February 1, 2012. Read more and apply.

SSAT Career Development Research Award for Clinical/Outcomes/Education Research
This award for young investigators who have not been funded by a National Institutes of Health R01 Award or equivalent ($20,000 per year for two years) is to assist in the development of young faculty members engaged in clinical, outcomes, and/or educational research in digestive diseases. The application deadline is February 29, 2012.

Carol and Tom R. DeMeester Traveling Fellowship for Surgeons within the U.S. or Canada
The goal of this traveling fellowship is to promote interaction and learning among SSAT members within the United States or Canada. The travelling fellow will visit a University-affiliated or academic practice of his/her choosing, within the United States or Canada, for a period of 6 to 10 days, under the sponsorship of a Society member at the hosting institution. A stipend of up to $3,500 will be provided to the Traveling Fellow, to defray reasonable costs for travel, lodging and meals. Please note that the application process is now entirely online, and only online applications will be considered. The application deadline is March 1, 2012.

SSAT Foundation The Board of Trustees of the SSAT Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of the Layton F. Rikkers, MD, Master Clinician Fund. This tribute fund acknowledges Dr. Rikkers' exceptional record of service and leadership for the SSAT and his longstanding commitment to excellence in clinical surgery. The purpose of the unrestricted Rikkers Fund is twofold: To help the SSAT achieve its ongoing mission of research and education by advancing the science and practice of surgery in the treatment of digestive disease; and To honor an outstanding surgical clinician at the SSAT meeting at Digestive Disease Week via presentation of an annual Layton F. Rikkers Master Clinician Award. Please consider a generous donation to the Layton F. Rikkers Master Clinician Fund at this time. The Foundation welcomes secure online donations via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express), as well as gifts of checks and securities. The endowment of this fund will truly be a fitting tribute to Dr. Rikkers. SSAT Members may donate via the Members Only Area; non-members may donate via the public donation page.