surgeON Leadership | Lead with Confidence. Connect Globally.

surgeON Leadership

Developing Confident Leaders for Every Surgical Career

An Exclusive Global Leadership Circle for Surgeons

Lead with Confidence. Build a Global Community. Shape Your Future.

Technical excellence is only one part of becoming an exceptional surgeon.

Every surgeon—regardless of specialty, career stage, or practice setting—needs leadership skills. Whether you lead an operating room, a private practice, a hospital service, a research team, a residency program, a humanitarian mission, or simply guide patients and colleagues through difficult decisions every day, leadership influences patient care, professional fulfillment, and the success of the teams around you.

Leadership is not reserved for department chairs or academic careers. It is an essential surgical skill.

Yet communication, negotiation, resilience, conflict resolution, team leadership, mentorship, and strategic career development are rarely part of formal surgical training.

surgeON Leadership was created to bridge that gap.

This exclusive, application-based Global Leadership Circle brings together surgeons from around the world to develop practical leadership skills while building a trusted international community of colleagues who learn from and support one another throughout their careers.

Whether you practice in private practice, a community hospital, academia, military medicine, humanitarian surgery, or public health, this program is designed to help you become a stronger leader with confidence, authenticity, and purpose.

Why Leadership?

Every surgeon leads.

Some lead operating rooms.

Some lead practices.

Some lead research teams.

Some lead humanitarian missions.

Others lead by inspiring colleagues, mentoring trainees, improving patient care, and creating positive change within their organizations.

Leadership is not defined by a title.

It is reflected in how we communicate, build trust, make decisions, resolve conflict, support our teams, and influence those around us.

The surgeON Leadership Circle provides a confidential environment where surgeons from around the world learn together through coaching, discussion, reflection, and shared experiences.

Participants gain practical leadership tools while building an international network of colleagues who continue supporting one another long after the program ends.

The Leadership Circle

The program begins with an intimate three-session Leadership Circle led by Prof. Sabine C. Girod, Professor Emerita of Surgery at Stanford University and President & Co-Founder of surgeON.

Participation is intentionally limited to only five surgeons selected worldwide.

The small cohort creates an environment where every participant is known, heard, challenged, and supported. Through coaching, guided discussion, reflection, and peer learning, participants develop practical leadership skills while learning from colleagues representing different countries, cultures, healthcare systems, specialties, and career stages.

What You Will Explore

Session 1 – Leading Yourself

• Discover your authentic leadership style

• Identify your strengths and values

• Build confidence and resilience

• Develop greater self-awareness

Session 2 – Leading Others

• Communication and difficult conversations

• Negotiation and conflict resolution

• Building trust

• Leading multidisciplinary teams

Session 3 – Leading Your Career

• Creating your personal leadership vision

• Building influence regardless of practice setting

• Mentorship and sponsorship

• Developing your long-term leadership roadmap

The emphasis is on practical leadership skills that participants can immediately apply in their professional and personal lives.

Program Highlights

• Only 5 surgeons selected worldwide

• Admission by application only

• Surgeons from every specialty and career stage are welcome

• Three live Leadership Circle sessions

• Interactive coaching—not lectures

• Live online with Prof. Sabine C. Girod

• Confidential and supportive small-group discussions

• Practical leadership skills for every surgical career

• International peer learning and networking

• Membership in the surgeON Leadership Global Community

• Ongoing surgeON-facilitated peer leadership gatherings

• Opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and lifelong professional friendships

Selection Process

Participation is by application only.

Each Leadership Circle is intentionally limited to five surgeons selected worldwide to create an exceptional learning environment built on trust, openness, and meaningful dialogue.

Applications are reviewed to assemble a diverse international cohort representing different countries, specialties, practice settings, career stages, and leadership aspirations. Diversity of perspectives enriches the learning experience and strengthens the global community participants will build together.

Selection is based on an applicant's commitment to personal growth, willingness to contribute to peer learning, and enthusiasm for becoming an active member of the surgeON Leadership Global Community.

Beyond the Leadership Circle

The three coaching sessions are only the beginning.

Upon completing the Leadership Circle, participants become members of the surgeON Leadership Global Community.

To help participants maintain the relationships developed during the program, surgeON will facilitate regular virtual peer-to-peer leadership gatherings, creating opportunities to reconnect, discuss career challenges, celebrate successes, mentor one another, exchange ideas, and develop international collaborations.

Community Participation

surgeON Full Access Members

Participation in the surgeON Leadership Global Community and all surgeON-facilitated leadership gatherings continues for as long as members maintain an active surgeON Full Access Membership.

Non-Members

Participation in the surgeON Leadership Global Community and surgeON-facilitated leadership gatherings is included for one year following completion of the Leadership Circle.

After the first year, continued participation is available by becoming a surgeON Full Access Member, allowing participants to remain connected with future cohorts and the growing international network.

Program Investment

surgeON Full Access Members

Included at no additional cost with an annual surgeON Full Access Membership (CHF 125/year).

Your membership includes:

• Participation in the Leadership Circle

• Unlimited access to surgeON educational resources

• Accredited continuing education

• Live educational events

• Ongoing participation in the surgeON Leadership Global Community

• Continued access to surgeON-facilitated peer leadership gatherings

Non-Members

CHF 150

Includes:

• Three live coaching sessions with Prof. Sabine C. Girod

• Personalized coaching in a small international cohort

• Membership in the surgeON Leadership Global Community

• One year of participation in surgeON-facilitated peer leadership gatherings

• Opportunities for mentoring, collaboration, and international networking

Registration is for the complete three-session Leadership Circle. Individual sessions are not available.

Faculty

Sabine C. Girod, MD, DDS, PhD, FACS

Professor Emerita of Surgery, Stanford University

President & Co-Founder, surgeON

Prof. Girod has spent her career building international collaborations, leading global educational initiatives, mentoring surgeons worldwide, and developing innovative educational programs that connect surgeons across cultures and healthcare systems.

Drawing on decades of experience in academic medicine, nonprofit leadership, global surgery, and international collaboration, she brings a practical, inclusive perspective on leadership that is relevant to surgeons in every specialty, practice setting, and career stage.

Join Us

Leadership is not defined by your title.

It is reflected in how you care for patients, support colleagues, inspire teams, navigate challenges, mentor the next generation, and create opportunities for others.

Join five surgeons from around the world. Develop lifelong leadership skills. Build meaningful international relationships. Become part of a global community that continues long after the final session.

DECLARATION: In accordance with criterion 13 of document UEMS 2023.07.rev “EACCME® Criteria for the Accreditation of Live Educational Events (LEEs)” and the Standard v. Commercial or Promotional Conflict of Interest, published by the American Dental Association Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP), all surgeON presenters sign a Conflict of Interest form to document all perceived or actual conflicts of interest for the last 3 years, whether due to a financial or other relationship. This document can be viewed at the beginning of the event or on request by emailing info@surgeon-events.org No fee, honorarium or arrangement for re-imbursement of expenses in relation to the this event has been provided to the speaker.