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SUS/AAA Jumpstart Program

Junior Underrepresented Mentorship and Promotion Start Program

  • About
  • Leadership
  • Our 2024-2026 Cohort
  • Curriculum/Timeline
  • Contact

Curriculum/Timeline

Year 1

September 2024: Program Kick-Off (Virtual)

October 2024-February 2025: Professional coaching and leadership development sessions

October 18, 2024: Association for Academic Surgery Fall Courses in San Francisco, CA

  • Mandatory attendance for Lead:Coach:Transform (LCT) – The Power of Coaching Mindsets and Skillsets for Transformation by JCD Advisors, LLC. Didactics combined with highly interactive opportunities, breaking into groups to practice new skills, individual assessments, and reflection, creating plans to take learning to the next level by applying it to real-world roles.
  • Complimentary registration provided by the AAS
  • Travel and accommodations covered by grantee institution
  • Attend the AAS Executive Council meeting on Saturday, October 19th, 2024 (TENTATIVE)
  • Network and meet AAS officers and leaders

November 2024: 90-minute Virtual Learning & Practice Session via Zoom by JCD Advisors, LLC. Brief review and preview of content from the in-person session at Fall Courses

  • Heavy focus on application via case studies, coaching demonstrations, coaching practice, and real-time scenarios facing the cohort members.
  • Recorded for review and absent members

December 2024: 90-minute Virtual Learning & Practice Session via Zoom by JCD Advisors, LLC

  • Brief review and preview of content from last session
  • Heavy focus on application via case studies, coaching demonstrations, coaching practice, and real-time scenarios facing the cohort members
  • Recorded for review and absent members

January 2025: 90-minute Virtual Learning and Practice Session via Zoom by JCD Advisors, LLC

  • Brief review and preview of content from the last session
  • Heavy focus on application via case studies, coaching demonstration, coaching practice, and real-time scenarios facing the cohort members
  • Recorded for review and absent members

January-September 2025: six hours are available to each cohort to be used at their desired pace with JCD Advisors, LLC. The intent is to experience strong coaching as well as to prepare for and/or debrief opportunities cohorts are having to utilize their coaching skills in their various roles.

February 11-13, 2025: Attend Academic Surgical Congress in Las Vegas, NV

  • Complimentary registration provided by the AAS and SUS
  • Travel and accommodation covered by grantee institution
  • One day mandatory attendance for Lead:Coach:Transform (LCT)- The Power of Coaching Mindsets and Skillsets for Transformation by JCD Advisors, LLC. Didactics combined with highly interactive opportunities, breaking into groups to practice new skills, individual assessments and reflection, creating plans to take learning to the next level by applying it to real-world roles.

March 2025-May 2025: Monthly AAS and SUS Faculty Mentoring Sessions

  • Individual mentoring session with a leader from the AAS or SUS
    • Discussion of career development
    • Guidance on getting involved and becoming active in surgical societies
    • Appointment to a national committee on the AAS

Twice Annually: Meet with home institutional Department Chair

  • One on one session with the Department Chair
  • Discussion of career development plan
  • Discussion of path to leadership plan
  • One on one meeting with the institutional Promotion and Tenure Officer

Serve on an AAS Committee: Self-nominate for committee participation. Nominations open August, October, and December

April/May 2025: Virtual check-in after the Academic Surgical Congress with JUMPSTART Committee Leads

  • Within the 2-year program, participanrs will attend an additional meeting in a specialty or affinity group of choice. Participant will:
    • Attend the meeting
    • Travel and accommodations covered by grantee institution
    • Network with organization’s leaders and officers
    • Attend sessions on professional development/leadership

Year 2


Preparing for Promotion Seminar: Attend three web-based seminars on the promotions process to learn about tips, tricks, and the pitfalls of getting promoted

Leadership Capstone Course TBD: Preparation for final deliverable- promotions packet

February 2, 2026: Society of University Surgeons Mid Career Academic Surgery Professional Development Course, Orlando, FL

  • Attend SUS Mid Career Course
  • Travel and accomodations covered by grantee institution
  • Complimentary registration provided by the SUS
  • Network and meet with SUS Officers and Leaders

February 3-5, 2026: Attend Academic Surgical Congress, Orlando, FL

  • Complimentary registration provided by the AAS and the SUS
  • Travel and accomodations covered by grantee institution
  • Mentorship meeting with Chairs of Surgery (AAS and SUS leaders)

Serve on an AAS Committee: Self-nominate for committee participation. Nominations open August, October, and December

Virtual webinar with ACS Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Final deliverable:

  • One page write up that outlines future plans
  • Write promotions packet
    • Capstone Presentation/Graduation (Virtual one on one)
  • Structured interview with JUMPSTART Committee
  • Completed SUS application if applicable

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