APSA Awards

The American Pediatric Surgical Association is proud to recognize the people and work that define excellence in pediatric surgery. From lifetime achievement and humanitarian service to groundbreaking research and meaningful collaboration, APSA celebrates the dedication, innovation, and compassion that move our field forward.

Individual Awards

Presented to APSA members who have made a lasting impact on pediatric surgery – through decades of service, a commitment to equity, or a career spent caring for the most vulnerable patients. These awards honor the people who have shaped who we are as a field.

• Distinguished Service Award
• James F. Densler Award
• Robert E. Gross Award for Excellence in Pediatric Research and Achievement
• Donald E. Meier Surgical Humanitarian Award

Scientific Awards

Recognizing the most outstanding abstracts and manuscripts presented at the APSA Annual Meeting, these awards celebrate scientific rigor and innovation – and the researchers and trainees asking the questions that will define the next generation of pediatric surgical care.

• Innovation Award
• Judah Folkman Memorial Awards Surgical Trainee
• Quality, Safety, and Value in Surgery Award
• Quick Shots of Distinction Surgical Trainees and Students
• Poster of Distinction Surgical Trainee

Collaborative Awards

Presented in partnership with peer organizations, these awards reflect APSA’s commitment to advancing pediatric surgery through meaningful collaboration. Some of our most impactful work happens when we work together.

• Eric B. Jelin NAFTNet-APSA Award for Best Abstract in Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy
• The Robert H. Bartlett Award for Innovation in Pediatric Critical Care and ECMO
• ACS-APSA Executive Leadership Program in Health Policy and Management
• APSA-PTS Pediatric Trauma Society Award
• JPS-APSA Award
• NEC Society Award

SOAPPS Awards

Dedicated to the nurses, advanced practice providers, and surgical support professionals who are at the heart of pediatric surgical care. These awards recognize the skill, compassion, and commitment that SOAPPS members bring to every patient and every team.

• SOAPPS Pediatric Surgical Care Excellence Award