SSAT - Annual Meeting

Reason #7: Opportunities to Give Back

At this year’s Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, the SSAT Giving Back Committee will highlight four goals accomplished since its inception in 2014.

Provide Travelling Fellowships to two surgeons practicing in developing nations. The Fellowships allow each of them to attend Digestive Disease Week (DDW) plus visit two institutions where they will be hosted by SSAT members. This year, the Fellowships have been awarded to Dr. Adewale O. Adisa from Nigeria and Dr. Sardar H. Arif from Iraq. Each will attend DDW. Dr Adisa will also visit Intermountain Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where he will be hosted by Drs. Ray Price and Peter Kingham. Dr. Arif will visit John Hopkins Hospital and Thomas Jefferson where he will be hosted by Drs. Timothy M. Pawlik and Charles J. Yeo. Join the SSAT in congratulating Drs. Adisa and Arif at the Opening Session on Sunday, May 17th, at 7:30 AM in Room 202B of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Under the leadership of the SSAT, DDW and its four sister societies are sponsoring a Virtual Food Drive which will benefit the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB). In the past year the CAFB distributed 42 million pounds of food (35 million meals) to more than 535,000 families, children, and seniors at risk of hunger through a network of more than 500 partner agencies. That’s more than 12% of Washington, D.C.’s overall population.

Our goal is to raise 100,000 USD. Every dollar donated can provide 2.5 meals. 100,000 USD would provide 250,000 meals! Members of the various societies can donate to this Virtual Food Bank either online between April 1st and May 31st or at the CAFB desk in the Grand Lobby on the street level of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center during DDW2015. We hope each of you will contribute. Click here to make a donation online today!
Join the SSAT and help the Capital Area Food Bank strengthen and fill in gaps in the hunger safety net under the Greater Washington Area. The SSAT is offering an opportunity to volunteer at the CAFB DC Warehouse. There are two shifts at the CAFB DC Warehouse:
- Saturday, May 16th from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
- Monday, May 18th from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Space is limited! Please email the SSAT if you are interested in volunteering. Please note this project typically involves packing and/or sorting donated food. It also can include packing for CAFB programs, and assisting with various other tasks at the food bank. All of these tasks are considered light/medium labor and typically involves standing up for up to three hours and lifting up to 35 pounds.
Lastly, The Giving Back Committee would like to develop an ongoing partnership with a hospital or university in a developing country. The committee will meet during DDW to discuss possible partnership initiatives on Tuesday, May 19th, from 8:00 to 11:00 AM in Room 302 of the Washington Convention Center. We encourage members and residents who are interested in Global Surgery to attend the meeting and share ideas to develop the best possible SSAT strategy. Please contact the SSAT if you would like to attend the SSAT Giving Back Committee meeting.

Not yet convinced you should attend this vibrant and essential meeting? Click here for more reasons you should register, or register online now!