Cardinal Lead New AAST Associate Member Council

August 6, 2020

Dr. Kovi Bessoff

Dr. Lisa Knowlton

Two members of the Stanford Surgery community have been elected to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma's (AAST) new Associate Member Council. Dr. Lisa M. Knowlton, an assistant professor in the Division of General Surgery, has been named the inaugural president of the council while General Surgery Resident Dr. Kovi Bessoff will chair the Scholarship, Awards and Development Committee.

"It is a tremendous honor to lead such a talented and diverse group of trainees and junior faculty," said Knowlton. "I look forward to working with my colleagues to further strengthen clinical, research and education programs for Associate Members."

Although still early in her surgical career, Knowlton says she has already received "outstanding support" from the broader AAST community. In April, the organization announced that Knowlton was the recipient of $50,000 in grant funding for her research. "It is now my mission to actively pay it forward to AAST members-in-training by generating new opportunities for collaboration and mentorship," she said.

According to AAST President and Division of General Surgery Professor Dr. David Spain the Associate Member category is a new venture by AAST with the goal of engaging trainees and junior faculty earlier in their careers.

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with members of the AAST to promote the organization's mission of research and scholarship in order to improve the care that we provide to injured and ill patients," said Bessoff. "AAST provides a wealth of resources for trauma and acute care surgeons, and I look forward to helping make these more accessible to young surgeons pursuing a career in trauma and critical care."

The AAST inducted 12 new members with Stanford affiliations at their annual meeting last September.