John Provan Award

“If we do not get faculty back into the teaching process we will only compound the poor development of clinical reasoning and increase the reliance of our students on technologic investigations to make the diagnosis for them.”
-John Provan
Canadian Journal Surgery, February 1995

About John Provan Outstanding Surgical Educator Award

This award is sponsored by the Canadian Association of Surgical Chairs (CASC). The award was first presented in 1993. The award is presented and will remain in the custody of the winner for a period of two (2) years. Each award recipient will have her/his name permanently affixed to the award. A smaller award sculpture will remain with the award recipient and will be suitably engraved.

About John Provan:

Head, Division Vascular Surgery, Wellesley Hospital, 1978
The W.T. Aikins Faculty Teaching Award, 1987
Outstanding Surgical Educator Award, 1993
Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education, 1995
Scotland
Died July 25, 1996

“If we do not get surgeons back into the undergraduate educational process, we may at worst forfeit our right to be part of a university and at best will deny students the opportunity to be exposed to the excellence in teaching and problem solving that many surgeons now demonstrate.”
-John Provan
Canadian Journal Surgery, March 1985

Purpose:
To recognize outstanding contribution to undergraduate surgical education in Canada.

Eligibility:
The achievements must have occurred in Canadian undergraduate surgical education.

Nominations:
Nominations may be made by any Canadian involved in undergraduate surgical education (e.g. teacher, trainee). Each nomination must have at least one seconder who is an eligible nominator. Nomination must include reasons for nomination. See below checklist for John Provan Award for Excellence in Surgical Teaching for documentation to include in your nomination.

Deadline:
Eligible nominations must be completed and received by the CUSEC by: 2023 deadline CLOSED. The award is given every two years; the next award will be granted in 2025.

Checklist for the application process:
1.    Two letters of support from:
a.    Chair of Surgery sending the nomination; and either
b.    Faculty Member with knowledge of the candidate’s achievements; OR
c.    Education leader or Associate Dean of Undergraduate Medicine Program
2.    Documents indicating important contributions made to undergraduate surgical education
at the medical school
3.    Faculty appointment exceeding 5 years
4.    National and/or international involvement and recognition for innovations in undergraduate
surgical education
5.    Evidence to support important surgical contributions made to curriculum development and
LCME accreditation at the medical school
6. Recipient of teaching awards (university based and/or national)
7. Evidence of research in undergraduate surgical education and publications relating to surgical
education
8. Current curriculum vitae (CV) with statement of teaching philosophy
9. Teaching dossier (unless included in CV)

Submit to:
Dr. Erica Patocskai, CUSEC Chair
Email: cusecinfo@gmail.com

Award Committee:
A 3 person committee will consider nominations and recommend a successful candidate to the Chair of the CASC for final approval prior to the award presentation.

Presentation:
To be made at the C-CASE Conference. The successful candidate will learn of the award at the conference.

Past Award Recipients:

2023 - Abdollah Behzadi, University of Toronto