University of California San Francisco

Muriel Steele Society Annual Events

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Muriel Steele Society Annual Events

Across each of the MSS committees, numerous events are hosted each year to support the different facets of life as women or gender minority surgeons, including surgical skills sessions, research symposiums, wellness sessions, inspiring grand rounds events, and many others.

MSS Grand Rounds 

Muriel Steele Society Grand Rounds - The Muriel Steele Society Grand Rounds are an annual event where MSS hosts a visiting speaker to discuss critical topics related to advancing gender parity in surgery. Prior speakers have discussed a wide range of topics, including gender exclusion or differences in research outcomes, the unique challenges that surgeons face when becoming a parent and the lessons learned from fighting to expand healthcare access and advocacy for access to quality healthcare for Native Americans. 

Bonfire & S'mores

The annual MSS Bonfire is an opportunity for both the incoming and outgoing surgical subspecialty residents to meet each other and faculty in a relaxed environment at Ocean Beach. 

Research Symposium

The MSS Research Committee organizes biannual research symposiums to provide the opportunity for trainees to learn and explore the current state and future directions of research. Several topics of past research symposiums include exploration of different research pathways (with Drs. Valerie Weaver, Simon Chu, Sara Ackerman, Alexis Colley, Amrita Basu & Mignote Vilma); insights and guidance for publishing in academic journals (with Drs. Julie Ann Sosa & Sandy Feng); and the art of scientific manuscript writing (with Dr. Pamela Derish). 

Gowning and gloving 

Twice a year general surgery residents and senior medical students host a skills session for junior medical students at the UCSF Mission Bay campus. This both teaches the essential skills of how to gown and glove, as well as provides an opportunity for medical students to ask questions about surgery, including how to succeed on their surgical clerkships or how to approach possible faculty mentors. 

Suturing potluck 

Each fall senior medical students in MSS host a potluck at one of their homes, providing a relaxed, informal space for students to connect with one another, share a meal, and learn the basics of suturing and knot-tying. 

Seminars 

Throughout the year MSS hosts seminars on a wide range of topics critical to navigating a career in surgery as a woman or other gender minority. Topics include: negotiations for a first job, different research pathways, promotions in academic career tracks, how to write papers and grants, how to manage chronic pain and ergonomics in surgery, microaggressions, #HeforShe, and more!