What Events and Conferences Does AWS Host?

Updated

The Association of Women Surgeons (AWS) hosts a mix of in-person conferences, virtual programs, networking events, and outreach initiatives. Its flagship gathering is the Annual Conference, supported year-round by virtual programming, a conference-adjacent Networking Breakfast, a fundraising Gala, and the Rebecca Crumpler High School Outreach Program. Most events are designed for members and prospective members across the career spectrum—from medical students to practicing surgeons—though some, like the Gala, also serve a fundraising role for the AWS Foundation.

Annual Conference

The Annual Conference is AWS's central event, with recent and upcoming editions listed as the 2024 Annual Conference and 2025 Annual Conference. Past conference content is preserved in a Past Conferences section, and recorded sessions feed into the Past Webinar Library, so members who miss a live event can still access material afterward.

If you are deciding whether to attend, the practical value is concentrated in three areas: clinical and career programming, mentorship and networking, and exposure to AWS leadership and award programming. The site does not publish pricing or registration deadlines in the material available here, so check the conference page directly for current dates, fees, and whether virtual attendance is offered.

Virtual Programs

AWS runs an ongoing Virtual Programs track, listed alongside the Calendar in the Events section. These are the lowest-barrier way to engage with AWS, since they do not require travel. The Past Webinar Library functions as an on-demand archive of earlier sessions.

Virtual programming is also where several recurring series live, including the Speaker Directory-linked sessions and the Signature Speaker Series. For someone testing whether AWS is worth joining, attending a virtual program first is a reasonable low-commitment step.

Networking Breakfast

The Networking Breakfast is listed as a standalone event, separate from the Annual Conference listing. It is a smaller-format, relationship-building event rather than a lecture-based one. If your goal is meeting other women surgeons rather than collecting CME-style content, this is the event type to prioritize.

Gala and Foundation Events

The Gala is AWS's fundraising event, tied to the AWS Foundation. Related listings include:

  • 2026 Gala
  • Donor Recognition, Annual Giving, Monthly Donors, Founders Circle, and Endowments
  • In Honor Of Gifts
  • AWSF Gala, AWSF Highlights, Generosity in Action, Sustaining the Surgeon, Moving Forward, Expanding Horizons, and the AWSF Annual Report

These are donor-facing rather than career-development events. Attend or give if you want to support the Foundation's mission; they are not a substitute for the conference or virtual programs if your goal is professional development.

Rebecca Crumpler High School Outreach Program

The Rebecca Crumpler High School Outreach Program is AWS's pipeline event aimed at high school students, named for Rebecca Crumpler, the first African American woman to earn an M.D. in the United States. It sits under the Events section alongside the conference and gala. This is the event to look at if you are a surgeon or trainee wanting to volunteer for outreach, or an educator looking for a program to connect students with.

Other Event-Related Opportunities

Beyond the core events, AWS lists Sponsor AWS Events and Past Events, plus a set of adjacent opportunities that function like events or programs:

  • Visiting Professorships & Host Institutions and Visiting Professorship and Host Site — institution-hosted talks
  • Breaking the Glass Ceiling — a named series
  • Better Mentor, Bigger Impact and the AWS Surgical Mentorship Program
  • Clinical Practice Coaching Program
  • Journal Club and Medical Students resources
  • AJS Call for Abstracts — abstract submissions tied to the American Journal of Surgery

How to Choose What to Attend

If your goal is… Start with…
Broad career and clinical content Annual Conference
Low-commitment first contact Virtual Programs / Past Webinar Library
Meeting people in person Networking Breakfast
Supporting the Foundation Gala and donor programs
Pipeline and outreach work Rebecca Crumpler High School Outreach Program
Academic visibility AJS Call for Abstracts, Visiting Professorships

Practical Notes

AWS was founded in 1981 and reports roughly 3,700 members of all genders across more than 40 countries, so events draw an international audience. The site lists Join Membership Categories, Member Benefits, and Member Login, which suggests some event access or registration is tied to membership—confirm on the specific event page whether membership is required before registering. Dates, formats, and any fees are not specified in the available site material, so verify those directly on the Calendar and individual event pages.