Association of Women Surgeons | LSUHS Chapter
ENGAGE. EMPOWER. EXCEL
Since 1981, the Association of Women Surgeons has been committed to supporting women surgeons at every stage of their careers. Although women now enter medical school at rates comparable to men, they remain underrepresented in surgical specialties and leadership roles. To address these disparities, AWS leads impactful initiatives focused on mentorship, professional development, advocacy, research, and community building.
MISSION: to inspire, encourage, and enable women surgeons to realize their professional and personal goals.
ENGAGE current and future women surgeons to realize their professional and personal goals. EMPOWER women to succeed. EXCEL in those aspirations through mentorship, education and a networking community that promotes their contributions and achievements as students, surgeons and leaders.
A student-led chapter supporting future surgeons through mentorship, advocacy, and professional development.
What We're Working On
- Women in Surgery Panels and Speaker Events
- Networking and Mentorship Opportunities
- Professional Development Workshops (mock interviews, CV-building)
- Surgical Education and Skills-Based Programming
- Collaborative Awareness Initiatives with Campus Partners
Programming is in progress. Stay connected for upcoming opportunities!
Supporting SAVE Initiatives
AWS helps plan events in addition to SAVE initiatives to amplify their impact and spread awareness within the medical student community. Since AWS at LSUHS was founded to start conversations about careers in surgery that are often left unaddressed, the chapter finds it especially important to shine a light on critical topics that SAVE also prioritizes, including Stalking Awareness Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Through this collaboration, the goal is to raise awareness, share resources, and help foster a safer, more supportive surgical culture.
Stalking Awareness Month 2026
Networking
AWS at LSUHS is actively involved in networking because meaningful connections are essential to supporting students interested in surgery, especially early in medical training. The chapter works to connect medical students with women surgeons, residents, and peers through panels, informal meet-and-greets, mentorship opportunities, and collaborative events. By creating accessible spaces for relationship-building and professional guidance, AWS aims to demystify surgical career paths, provide role models, and help students build the confidence and networks needed to navigate careers in surgery.
Professional Development
AWS at LSUHS is committed to professional development to help students feel prepared and confident pursuing careers in surgery. The chapter supports members through mock interviews, surgical education programming, and CV-building workshops designed to address the practical skills often learned informally. By offering structured opportunities to develop these competencies early, AWS helps students navigate the expectations of surgical training and build a strong foundation for future residency and leadership roles.
Fundraising
AWS at LSUHS funds its programming through a variety of student-led fundraising initiatives, including our annual Women in Surgery sweatshirt sale, themed raffles, giveback nights with local businesses, and other creative campaigns throughout the year. A portion of the funds raised directly supports AWS operations and programming, allowing us to host professional development events, panel discussions, networking opportunities, educational workshops, and community outreach initiatives for medical students interested in surgery. In keeping with our commitment to service and advocacy, select fundraising efforts also benefit Project Celebration, a local nonprofit supporting survivors of domestic violence in the Shreveport community. Through these efforts, AWS is proud to invest both in the growth of future women surgeons and in meaningful community impact.
More Information
AWS at LSUHS supports and empowers medical students interested in surgery through mentorship, education, advocacy, and community building. The chapter connects students with women surgeons and surgical residents, hosts career and skills-focused programming, and creates opportunities for leadership development and professional growth. Through panels, workshops, outreach initiatives, and collaboration with other student organizations, AWS at LSUHS works to foster an inclusive surgical environment while supporting members at every stage of their surgical journey. AWS at LSUHS is still awaiting the final step in the approval process of becoming an official Medical School Chapter, but has been approved to operate locally.
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