SSO is proud to facilitate two mentorship programs to continue to develop leaders at various stages of their career in surgical oncology.
SSO’s Presidential Scholars Program focuses on pairing early career surgical oncologists, those within five years of their first faculty/staff appointment, with distinguished leaders in the field of surgical oncology.
SSO’s Career Catalyst Mentorship Program (CCMP) provides support and development opportunities for mid-career surgical oncologists, those within 7-15 years post training, by pairing them with the leading surgical oncologists in the field that share leadership and scientific interests.
Applications are now open for the 2025 Mentorship Programs Cycle.
Please contact Andrea King, Director of Governance & Global Programs at andreaking@surgonc.org with any questions regarding SSO mentorship programs.
2025 Presidential Scholar Mentorship Program
Purpose
SSO’s Presidential Scholars program pairs mentees with distinguished leaders in the field of surgical oncology. The goal is to facilitate the mentees’ personal and professional growth by providing guidance, support, and knowledge transfer from the more experienced SSO members.
Structure
- This is a two-year commitment, beginning at SSO 2025 through SSO 2027.
- A cohort of approximately 15 mentee/mentor pairs will meet virtually at least twice per year and in-person at the SSO annual meeting.
- Additional in-person activities will be arranged when possible.
Award Details
Accepted mentees will receive a discount on meeting registration for SSO 2025 (not including any optional pre-meetings or sessions with an extra fee).
Applicant must meet the following criteria:
- A member of the SSO in good standing (2024 dues must be paid) to apply.
- Within 5 years of their first faculty/staff appointment and currently employed.
- Cannot have previously received an SSO International Career Development Exchange grant.
- If international, must have a current passport and be able to travel to the United States and obtain a travel visa to the United States if coming from a country where one is required.
The SSO reserves the right to evaluate and determine eligibility based on the information and justifications included in the requested materials.
Presidential Scholars must commit to:
- Complete an online information and agreement form distributed by SSO.
- Submit a summary report about the experience and complete any surveys sent during the program, along with any follow-ups requested by SSO.
- Submit any photos or videos taken during the SSO Annual Meeting and other activities for use on SSO’s social media, website, marketing materials, or for any other use in support of the program.
- Participants may be asked to record audio or video interviews regarding the experience.
Applicants must submit a CV and complete an online application consisting of the following questions:
- Why do you wish to participate in the program?
- How will this experience impact your professional development and strengthen your contribution to the field of surgical oncology?
- What are your overall career goals? Include a timeline and specifics.
- If you completed a clinical fellowship, when did that occur and what type of fellowship was it (e.g. CGSO Fellowship, Breast Fellowship; etc.)?
- How many years have you been on faculty/staff?
SSO member Mentors are an integral part of this program, serving as long-term professional contacts for participants. Mentors will be asked to:
- Meet virtually with their mentee at least twice per year and at the annual meeting.
- Serve as a long-term professional contact for their mentee.
| September 18, 2024 | Program launch announcement with detailed program information, application process, eligibility criteria, timelines, and applications. |
| October 2, 2024 | Applications close. |
| Sept-Oct, 2024 | Application review period. |
| November 4, 2024 | Notification Letters sent to applicants (no later than). |
| Nov-Dec, 2024 | SSO staff work to pair mentees with their SSO mentor. |
| March 27-29, 2025 | SSO 2025 |
2025 Career Catalyst Mentorship Program
Purpose
SSO’s Career Catalyst Mentorship Program (CCMP), provides career and leadership development opportunities for mid-career surgical oncologists. The program focuses on topics meant to educate mid-career surgeons on the diverse pathways to leadership in surgical oncology.
Structure
This is a one-year commitment, beginning at SSO 2025 through SSO 2026.
- A cohort of 8 participants will participate in a pre-meeting session on Wednesday, March 26 at SSO 2025.
- Following the meeting, the participants will each take part in a one-week observership with a US-based SSO member mentor between April 2025 and February 2026.
- The cohort will reconvene at SSO 2026 and may be asked to be involved in the educational activities for future cohorts.
- Monthly virtual sessions (schedule included below in Key Dates section) will take place for the cohort and mentors between SSO 2025 and SSO 2026, along with potential face-to-face networking opportunities at other meetings such as the ACS Clinical Congress.
- The session topics for 2025 are under development, however, a sample of topics from 2024 is listed below:
- Understanding Financials Without Getting an MBA
- High-Level Themes on Strategic Leadership
- Becoming a New Leader
- My Journey to Leadership from each program track
- The session topics for 2025 are under development, however, a sample of topics from 2024 is listed below:
Award Details
Each of the accepted participants will receive the following:
- A stipend of $2,500 USD to assist with travel arrangements, which will be provided in advance of their institutional visit via electronic means. No checks or cash will be issued.
- Complimentary registration to SSO 2025 and the pre-meeting session.
- A 5-day observership at a US based institution with an SSO Member Mentor.
- SSO will match the participant with a host based on shared professional and scientific interests in areas including but not limited to:
- Hospital Administration
- Hybrid or Community Practice Systems
- Education Leadership
- Academic Surgical Leadership
- Cancer Center Directorship
- Research Leadership
- SSO will match the participant with a host based on shared professional and scientific interests in areas including but not limited to:
Applicant must meet the following criteria:
- An Active member of the SSO in good standing (2024 dues must be paid) to apply.
- 7-15 years post-fellowship or completion of surgical oncology training and currently employed.
- Cannot have previously participated in any of the following SSO programs:
- Presidential Scholars
- International Career Development Exchange
- Career Catalyst Mentorship Program
- If international, must have a current passport and be able to travel to the United States and obtain a travel visa to the United States if coming from a country where one is required.
The SSO reserves the right to evaluate and determine eligibility based on the information and justifications included in the requested materials.
CCMP participants must commit to:
- Complete an online information and agreement form distributed by SSO.
- Submit a summary report about the experience and complete any surveys sent during the program, along with any follow-ups requested by SSO.
- Submit any photos or videos taken during the SSO Annual Meeting and other activities for use on SSO’s social media, website, marketing materials, or for any other use in support of the program.
- Participants may be asked to record audio or video interviews regarding the experience.
- Meet any requirements obligated by the institution where they will complete their observership.
- Commit to participate in SSO 2025 and SSO 2026.
- Commit to participate in at least three quarters of the monthly online sessions that will take place between SSO 2025 and SSO 2026.
Applicants must submit a CV and complete an online application consisting of the following questions:
- Why do you wish to participate in the program?
- How will this experience impact your professional development and strengthen your contribution to the field of surgical oncology?
- What are your overall career goals? Include a timeline and specifics.
- If you completed a clinical fellowship, when did that occur and what type of fellowship was it (e.g. CGSO Fellowship, Breast Fellowship; etc.)?
- How many years have you been on faculty/staff?
- Which track are you MOST Interested in exploring with a potential mentor partner? Select one:
- Hospital Administration
- Hybrid or Community Practice Systems
- Education Leadership
- Academic Surgical Leadership
- Cancer Center Directorship
- Research Leadership
- Have you attended any leadership development programs in the last 3 years? If so, please describe.
SSO member Mentors are an integral part of this program, serving as institutional hosts and long-term professional contacts for participants. Each will be invited to present on their “Journey to Leadership,” outlining their career path and lessons learned along the way.
Mentors will be asked to:
- Participate in the pre-meeting sessions at SSO 2025 and SSO 2026.
- Participate in monthly virtual sessions throughout the year, when available.
- Host their mentee for a 5-day observership at their institution.
- Serve as a long-term professional contact for their mentee.
| September 18, 2024 | Program launch announcement with detailed program information, application process, eligibility criteria, timelines, and applications. |
| October 2, 2024 | Applications close. |
| Sept-Oct, 2024 | Application review period. |
| November 4, 2024 | Notification Letters sent to applicants (no later than). |
| Nov-Dec, 2024 | SSO staff work to pair mentees with their SSO mentor/institutional host. |
| March 26, 2025 | Pre-meeting session at SSO 2025. Time TBD Attendance is mandatory. |
| March 27-29, 2025 | SSO 2025 |
| April 2025 – February 2026 | Participant visits Mentor institution.
Topics will be distributed as soon as they are finalized. |
Please contact Andrea King, Director of Governance & Global Programs at andreaking@surgonc.org with any questions regarding SSO mentorship programs.