UAB General Surgery Research Resident Connie Shao, M.D., was one of 16 trainees across the nation selected for the inaugural Association of Women Surgeons (AWS) Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion (DEI) Conference Award.

The award will sponsor the cost of registration to attend AWS’s two-day virtual conference, “Strength in Diversity”, as well as introduce Shao to leadership within AWS and the Society of Asian Academic Surgeons (SAAS), to increase societal engagement.

Four societies participated in the sponsorship of award winners: SAAS, The Society of Black Academic Surgeons (SBA), the Latino Surgical Society (LSS), and the Association for Academic Surgery (AAS). Shao was one of four representatives funded by SAAS.

Three award winners hailed from Harvard Medical School, while others represented Wake Forest, UCLA, and Rutgers, among others. Shao is delighted to represent the UAB Department of Surgery and attend the conference this year.

“It was an incredible honor to receive the inaugural AWS DEI award. At UAB, we take great pride in creating open and safe environments for all trainees and faculty to thrive, thanks to the visionary leadership of Drs. Britney Corey, Graeme McFarland, Sara Pereira, Colin Martin and Herb Chen,” said Shao. “The opportunity to attend this conference and further connect with leaders who are also in this space allows for collaborative discussions to continue across institutions as well. I hope to apply what I learn to keep lifting up those around us.”