Benefits for Residents and Fellows

EAST is the only professional association dedicated to the development of the early and mid-career surgeon active in the acute surgical management of the ill and injured patient. EAST welcomes contributions from residents as well as surgeons completing trauma, surgical critical care, or acute care surgery fellowships.  Learn more about the various opportunities that EAST offers below and get involved!

If you are interested in becoming a member, visit the Join EAST page and apply.

Network Online

Access the Membership Directory to connect with more than 3,600 EAST members around the world. Make sure your profile is up-to-date so that your colleagues can find you, too.

Participate in the EAST Mentoring Program

Participate in the EAST Mentoring Program. The goal of this program is to promote the academic and personal growth of the early career trauma and acute care surgeon by providing extramural mentorship over a 1-year period with the goal of a long-term relationship being formed.

Serve on a Committee or Ad Hoc Task Force

The work of EAST's Divisions, Committees and Task Forces keeps the organization strong and relevant. A call for volunteers is conducted annually in the summer. Look for the email notification and choose a topic that fits your interests. Complete the online form by the deadline to be considered for an appointment. Appointments for the next volunteer year are finalized in November. To learn more about the work of EAST's various committees, visit the Get Involved on a Committee or Task Force page.

Develop Your Leadership Skills

Do you want to be a trauma surgery leader? Attend the Leadership Development Workshop at the EAST Annual Scientific Assembly in January. Each year EAST selects up to five early-career members and sponsors their course tuition for the three-year Leadership Development Workshop series. Applications for this scholarship open annually each summer.

Submit an Abstract for the EAST Annual Scientific Assembly

Held annually in January, the Annual Scientific Assembly is EAST's premier educational event that includes hands-on workshops, scientific sessions, networking events, community outreach opportunities and exhibits. EAST accepts abstract submissions for traditional scientific abstracts and video abstracts. Submit your abstract before the deadline.

Attend the "No Suit, No Problem" Networking Event

Attend the "No Suit, No Problem" networking event at the EAST Annual Scientific Assembly in January. Geared toward fellows and junior faculty, this is a great way to meet future colleagues, discuss career pathways, research development, and skill sets.

Participate in the EAST Fellows & Chief Residents Workshop

A successful career in trauma and acute care surgery requires mentorship, planning, and guidance. This workshop hosted at the annual assembly is designed to to help incoming fellows and chief residents choose the programs and jobs that match the future that best suites them. Register for this workshop once registration for the EAST Annual Scientific Assembly opens in the fall.

Propose a Practice Management Guideline

EAST Practice Management Guidelines (PMGs) feature evidence-based information to increase the scientific knowledge needed to enhance patient and clinical decision-making, improve health care quality and promote efficiency. Have an idea for a new PMG or an update to an existing one? Submit a proposal. If a PMG under development is in need of volunteers, a volunteer button will be activated. Learn more on the Practice Management Guidelines page.

Collaborate on an EAST Multicenter Trial

Achieve your research goals by collaborating with other centers by joining or starting an EAST Multicenter Trial. Learn more by visiting the EAST Multicenter Trials page.

Partner with Researchers

Are you an aspiring researcher? Partner with established researchers to develop trauma and acute care surgery research ideas through the EAST INVEST-C Research Hackathon which provides research mentorship, research design assistance, multicenter collaborations, statistical support, and editorial services to early career trauma and acute care surgeons using a combination of EAST members and other resources.

Apply to the EAST Oriens Award

This popular award gives fellows and residents the opportunity to compete in an essay competition on why they chose trauma and acute care surgery. One fellow and one resident award winner are named annually and invited to present their essays at the EAST Annual Scientific Assembly. Learn more by visiting the Oriens Award page.

Participate in the Raymond H. Alexander, MD Resident Paper Competition

The Raymond H. Alexander, MD Resident Paper Competition is a highlight session at the Annual Scientific Assembly for residents and fellows to present their scientific work. Winners in basic and clinical science are selected. Learn more here.

Submit an LOI for the EAST Multicenter Trial Junior Investigator Award

The EAST Multicenter Trial Junior Investigator Award is to assist a junior primary investigator to conduct and publish a multicenter trial assembling data from five or more centers which seeks to answer an important and novel question in the practice of trauma, acute care surgery, or surgical critical care.  Learn more here.

Apply for the John M. Templeton, Jr., MD Injury Prevention Research Scholarship

The intent of the John M. Templeton, Jr., MD Injury Prevention Research Scholarship is to help support a young investigator perform an interventional trial in the field of injury prevention. Learn more here

Apply for the EAST Trauma Research Scholarship

The EAST Trauma Research Scholarship is a career development award meant to support young investigators, who are judged on the basis of the merit of their proposal and their anticipated future contributions to the science and practice of trauma surgery. Learn more by visiting the EAST Trauma Research Scholarship page.

Apply for the John M. Templeton, Jr., MD Military Call to Service Scholarship

This annual scholarship supports 2-3 military trauma surgeons in the early stages of their career and service to attend the EAST Annual Scientific Assembly. Scholarship recipients are recognized for emulating a Call to Military Service and are expected to contribute to advancements in the treatment of the injured. Learn more here.

Collaborate on an EAST Monthly Literature Review

Volunteer to collaborate on an EAST Monthly Literature Review which features abstracts of relevant articles culled from a variety of professional journals. Contact Nakia Rounsaville at nrounsaville@east.org for opportunities.

Suggest an Idea for a Podcast

The EAST Careercasts are a series of audio interviews with leaders in the field designed to provide you with practical information regarding career development, leadership and career challenges. Have an idea for a topic or a speaker (including yourself)? Submit a proposal.

Volunteer at the Community Outreach Event

Consider a short-term commitment by volunteering at the EAST Community Outreach Event. Held during the Annual Scientific Assembly, this one-day event is coordinated by the EAST Injury Control and Violence Prevention Committee, with volunteers traveling into the community to deliver high-quality, high-profile injury prevention programs. Learn more about the Community Outreach Event  and sign up when the call for volunteers opens in the fall.

Be a Mentor to a Medical Student during Medical Students' Day

Hosted at the EAST Annual Scientific Assembly, EAST Medical Students' Day is a great opportunity for medical students to learn about the field of trauma surgery! Medical students are paired with EAST members for a day of networking and the opportunity to discuss interests and career goals and ask questions. 

Share Your Speaking and Research Interests

Add your speaking and research interests to the Speakers Bureau and join the growing list of EAST members who speak at local, national, and international conferences.  Need a speaker? Use the directory to find your next presenter.

Nominate an EAST Member

Nominate an EAST member for the John P. Pryor, MD Distinguished Service Award. This annual award presented at the EAST Annual Scientific Assembly recognizes EAST members who have distinguished themselves in the field of military casualty care. All members of EAST (civilian and military) are eligible. Learn more on the John P. Pryor, MD Distinguished Service Award page.

Connect on Social Media

There are so many ways to stay connected to EAST – even online! Join the conversation on FacebookTwitterLinkedIn, and YouTube for breaking news, reminders, relevant articles, and all the stories in between. Have a specific interest in trauma? EAST members add their voices to several Twitter accounts focused on discussing research, the field of trauma surgery, and injury control and violence prevention. Click here to learn how you can connect with them.