Program Director Responsibilities

  • The Program Director will participate in the monthly Program Directors’ Committee call. Calls are held on the fourth Monday of each month at 5pm ET/4pm CT/3pm MT/2pm PT.  A meeting invite will be sent out by AAST Staff with the connection information.  An agenda will be distributed the week before the meeting.
     
  • In addition to the monthly meetings, we host an in-person meeting during the AAST Annual Conference. Information on this meeting will be sent out in late summer.
     
  • We have provided a space on the AAST website for AAST-approved sites to share information on their program. Please send updated information at anytime to Bridget Lindbloom for inclusion on the site.
     
  • All fellows MUST log their cases into the AAST Acute Care Surgery Case Log system for both years of the fellowship. Case experience obtained at an international location may not be included unless the AAST has approved the international rotation. You can find more information on the caselog system here. 
     
  • Program Directors should encourage participation in the Fellow Education opportunities. 
    AAST Staff will provide regular reporting on your fellows participation in Fellow Education opportunities. 
    • Education Modules
      Fellows are expected to review all modules available on the AAST website.  There are currently 78 modules and more are added regularly.  
    • Meet the Mentors
      On Tuesdays at 3pm ET/2pm CT/1pm MT/12pm PT, throughout the year, We host the Meet the Mentors program exclusively for our fellows.  Both first and second year fellows are invited to attend.  This is a unique opportunity for fellows to interact with the leaders in the profession one-on-one. AAST Staff will distribute a meeting invite when Mentors are scheduled.
    • Journal Club
      Held on the first Tuesday of each month at 3pm ET/2pm CT/1pm MT/12pm PT, the journal club is by and for ONLY AAST Fellows featuring in-depth presentations and lively discussion. Articles will focus on areas covered by Meet the Mentor presenters or other timely topics.
       
  • The Program Director will ensure the Fellow(s) complete exams within the time given. The Program Director will receive an email from the AAST Central Office as to when the in-service and final fellowship exams will be administered via the AAST website. The In-Service exam is given at the beginning of the first/SCC year of the fellowship and the Final exam is given at the end of the second/ACS year.  Results will be distributed after all fellows complete the exam.
     
  • Once the fellows have completed the fellowship, the Program Director must notify the AAST Central Office of the new location of each fellow.
     
  • Fellows name(s) and email address(es) must be submitted to the AAST Central Office with anticipated year of completion of the program by the start of the fellowship year.
     
  • Changes to the curriculum from the originally submitted PIF must be sent in writing to the AAST Central Office for approval, and must detail the changes in the curriculum.
     
  • The Program Directors information MUST be kept current with the AAST Central Office. If the Program Director changes, a letter must be sent to the Acute Care Surgery Committee indicating the change and naming the new Program Director.