The American Foundation for Surgery (AFSH)/Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) Hand Surgeon-Scientist Award recognizes a young orthopaedic hand surgeon who has demonstrated success as both a clinician and a researcher, and provides a base of financial support that will ensure sufficient protected time to develop a long and productive career in academic surgery.

The award is designed to support young faculty members at teaching institutions with accredited programs in orthopaedic surgery.  Applications are invited from individuals who demonstrate success in research by receiving extramural research funding in 2009 or later under one or more K08 or K23 awards from the National Institutes of Health.

The award provides up to $75,000 per year for up to five years, subject to annual review. This support is intended to replace clinical practice salary lost by redirecting time to research, and help offset the recipient’s reduced clinical productivity.  Recipients will be required to provide written progress reports each year on the anniversary of the start of funding.

Preference will be given to fund researchers who are conducting clinical/translational research with an emphasis on improving clinical care. Applicants must be members of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.

Applications are now being accepted and must be received by the American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand no later than December 1, 2009.  For more information, please contact Sarah Meyer Hughes at (847) 384-1436 or smeyerhughes(AT)assh.org

Applications due: December 1, 2009

This award is subject to availability.

Only newly funded K08/K23 awardees (in 2009 and beyond) will be considered for funding to begin in 2010.