Christiana Shaw, MD, a surgical oncologist from the UF Department of Surgery, is among a group of 65 esteemed surgeon educators inducted into membership in the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators® on September 30, 2022, during a program event in Chicago. This is the fifth cohort of members inducted into this distinguished Academy.
Shaw is a dedicated surgeon educator whose experience in the field includes an expert in surgical removal of cancers, focusing on cancers of the head and neck, skin and connective tissue, and breast. With two years of additional training dedicated to the complex care of the cancer patient, she is well versed in the latest surgery and treatment options.
Her expertise also includes surgical solutions for cancers of the adrenal, thyroid and parathyroid glands, as well as sarcomas, melanomas, and breast cancer. She offers sensitivity, compassion and a high level of care to her patients, and welcomes the challenge to provide cures from the most complex cases.
The ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators works to advance the science and practice of education across all surgical specialties. Individuals are selected as Members, Associate Members, or Affiliate Members following a stringent peer review process. This year’s class includes Members (27 Inductees), Associate Members (36 Inductees), and Affiliate Members (2 Inductees). The first inaugural class was inducted in 2018 and the Academy has since grown to include 301 Members, Associate Members, and Affiliate Members who represent six surgical specialties other than general surgery. Inductees are from 22 states and the District of Columbia. They come from seven countries in addition to those from the United States.
Once inducted, Academy members actively engage in advancing the Academy’s programs and goals, which are to advance the science and practice of innovative lifelong surgical education, training, and scholarship in the changing milieu of health care; foster the exchange of creative ideas and collaboration; support the development and recognition of faculty; underscore the importance of lifelong surgical education and training; positively impact quality and patient safety through lifelong surgical education and training; disseminate advances in education and training to all surgeons; and offer mentorship to surgeon educators throughout their professional careers.
“This Academy of preeminent surgeon educators has been making landmark contributions to surgical education and is introducing many transformational changes in surgical education that will endure into the future,” said Ajit K. Sachdeva, MD, FACS, FRCSC, FSACME, MAMSE, Director of the ACS Division of Education and co-chair of the Steering Committee of the Academy. “We look forward to leveraging the expertise of the members as we explore innovations that will continue to advance the field of surgical education and positively impact the careers of surgical educators.”
Academy members collaborate on and publish significant works of scholarship and participate in fireside chat
s, Grand Rounds Series, and the Academy Symposium, an annual conference that brings together Academy members to exchange best practices and discuss critical topics in surgical education. Through dynamic programming, Members have addressed the impact of the COVID pandemic on surgical training, physician wellness, and disparities in surgical education, among several other initiatives. The Academy continues to focus on outreach to surgeon educators from across the globe, with a special emphasis on engaging surgeon educators from low-middle income countries. With this year’s induction ceremony, the Academy will include more than 50 international members, representing 24 countries outside of the U.S.
“In addition to the recognition bestowed on highly deserving individuals, the Academy is a vital, living body. It is a think tank, an impactful organization that explores and cultivates new innovations and interventions in an effort to establish best practices in surgical education,” said L.D. Britt, MD, MPH, DSc(Hon), FACS, FCCM, FRCSEng(Hon), FRCSEd(Hon), FWACS(Hon), FRCSI(Hon), FCS(SA)(Hon), FRCS(Glasg)(Hon), MAMSE, past president of the ACS, and co-chair of the Steering Committee of the Academy.
To learn more about the Academy of Master Surgeon Educators, please visit the Academy’s homepage.