Future Leader Scholarships Resident and Fellows
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is proud to present 10 resident/fellow scholarships for the 2027 ASPS Advocacy Fly-In. Future Leader Scholarship recipients will receive complimentary hotel accommodations at the Hilton Washington DC National Mall The Wharf for one night. Registration includes dinner on February 24, as well as breakfast and lunch on February 25. Awardees are responsible for the cost of all other meals and transportation to the Fly-In.
Requirements
Applicants must be:
- An ASPS resident or fellow member in good standing
- A legal United States resident
- Able to participate in the entire Advocacy Fly-In program
Important Dates
- August 31, 2026: Application opens
- October 21, 2026: Application closes
- Early November: Award notification
Testimonials
"Attending the ASPS Advocacy Summit as a Future Leader Scholarship recipient during residency was an incredible experience that had a lasting impact on my career as a plastic surgeon. It provided firsthand exposure to the legislative and advocacy issues that will directly shape the future of our specialty and, ultimately, the care we provide to our patients. Having the opportunity to engage directly with ASPS leadership, connect with fellow residents and surgeons who are passionate about advocacy and participate in conversations on Capitol Hill gave me a true seat at the table. The experience reinforced for me that advocacy is an essential part of being a leader in plastic surgery and empowered me to become more actively involved in shaping the future of our specialty."
Kristina Buller DO, MS
PGY-6 Integrated Plastic Surgery Resident
University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine
"Attending the 2025 ASPS Advocacy Summit as a Future Leader Scholar was an incredibly valuable experience for my professional development as an aspiring academic plastic surgeon and health services researcher. I gained a better understanding of how ASPS sets legislative priorities and advocates for policies affecting our patients and specialty, while also gaining firsthand experience communicating with policymakers. The opportunity to connect with other plastic surgeons engaged in advocacy further reinforced the importance of incorporating advocacy into my career. I am grateful to ASPS for the opportunity and would strongly encourage other students, residents and fellows to apply."
Caleb Haley, MD, MSc
PGY-6 Integrated Plastic Surgery Resident
University of Michigan Medical School
"I attended the 2025 Advocacy Summit during my second year of residency. This was an eyeopening experience for me to better understand how advocacy can make a difference in our field for both physicians and patients. Having been selected for the Future Leaders Scholarship, I was able to attend the meeting and learn about the importance of advocacy in our field and how to succinctly present our 'ask' to members of congress who would be voting on bills such as the lasting smiles act and breast cancer coverage that directly impacts our patient's abilities to obtains the care they need. I was also able to network with other plastic surgeons around the United States who are also interested in political activism and policy."
Christina Shabet, MD, MBA
PGY-3 Integrated Plastic Surgery Resident
University of Michigan Medical School
Registration Information
Registration is now open for all ASPS members who are legal U.S. residents, including active candidates for membership, as well as residents and fellows. To reserve your place at the Advocacy Summit, please click the "Register Now" button and fill out the registration form. Once you have completed the form, ASPS staff will contact you to confirm your registration.
Registration is complimentary for all domestic ASPS members, including residents and fellows.
Registration Deadline: February 3, 2027
*The registration closing date is a soft deadline. Registrations may continue to be accepted through the day of the event, subject to event capacity. Members registering after February 3 are not guaranteed access to the ASPS hotel room block.
Guests of ASPS members and non-members interested in attending should email advocacy@plasticsurgery.org for additional information. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis based on event capacity.
Having Trouble Registering?
Please contact advocacy@plasticsurgery.org for assistance.
Cancellations
Space is limited at the ASPS Advocacy Fly-In, and we kindly request that if you are unable to attend, please notify our team promptly. This will give one of your colleagues the opportunity to participate in the event. Please email advocacy@plasticsurgery.org with a notice of cancellation.
