Rikkers Master Clinician Award
Rikkers Master Clinician Award honors an outstanding clinical surgeon in the SSAT for excellence and sustained contributions to clinical surgery, recognizing achievement rather than funding research.
Funder: Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
Due Dates: December 31, 2026 (Nominations) | January 2027 (Review) | February 2027 (Notification) | May 2027 (Announcement at DDW)
Funding Amounts: Annual recognition for clinical achievement, rather than research project funding
Summary: Recognizes an outstanding SSAT member for excellence in clinical surgery and sustained contributions over time.
Key Information: Nominees must be SSAT members; past presidents, previous Founders Medal recipients, and current Executive Committee members are ineligible.
Description
The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT) established the Rikkers Master Clinician Award in 2013 to recognize an outstanding clinical surgeon who exemplifies excellence in clinical surgery. Presented annually to an SSAT member, the award honors demonstrated clinical accomplishments and longitudinal contributions rather than a proposed research study or program of work.
A special SSAT committee selects the recipient based on information submitted by the nominator. The nomination documents the surgeon’s relevant activities and clinical accomplishments, with an additional colleague’s perspective on contributions over time. The recipient is recognized at the SSAT Annual Meeting, held at Digestive Disease Week (DDW).
