American Journal of Surgery (AJS) leadership has appointed General Surgery Research Resident Connie Shao, M.D., as chair of the Student and Resident Scholars (STARS) Committee. General Surgery Research Residents Meixi Ma, M.D., and Lauren Theiss, M.D., will also be members of the committee.

The STARS committee is composed of four medical students, seven residents, and three attendings hailing from Mount Sinai, OHSU, UTMB, the University of Wisconsin, Johns Hopkins, MCW, the University of Washington, and UAB. The committee is dedicated to establishing the community, resources, and mentorship to make academic surgery accessible to all trainees by cultivating diverse, equitable, and inclusive surgeon leaders with a deep understanding of the research process from design to dissemination.

UAB Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery Assistant Professor Jessica Fazendin, M.D., and University of Washington Medicine Cardiothoracic Surgery Assistant Professor Shakirat Oyetunji, M.D., MPH, will serve as faculty leaders of the STARS Committee. UAB Director of the Division of Gastrointestinal (GI) Surgery Gregory Kennedy, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Editor of the AJS for GI Surgery, will serve as the third faculty mentor.

“It’s an honor to serve on a committee dedicated to providing early academic exposure and fostering positive mentoring relationships to help trainees understand and participate in the world of academic surgery,” said Fazendin.