The new Sherman Prize, rewarding outstanding achievements in addressing the challenges of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, is now accepting nominations.

The Sherman Prize for Excellence in Crohn’s and Colitis will recognize outstanding contributions by health care professionals, medical researchers, public health advocates and educators who are advancing patient care, medical research and public service in the field of Crohn’s and colitis. Two or more annual prizes of $100,000 will be awarded, as well as a $25,000 Sherman Emerging Leader Prize for an individual who demonstrates high potential in the area of Crohn’s and colitis.

Crohn’s and colitis are diseases that can have tremendous physical and emotional effects on patients who suffer from them. While progress has been made in fighting these diseases, much can be done to improve education and care.

Nominations for the Sherman Prize will be accepted until June 6, 2016, with finalists selected in the summer. Award winners will be announced in fall 2016.

To be eligible, nominees must live and work in the United States and demonstrate achievement in the last decade, with preference give to those who more recently have made significant contributions.

NOMINATIONS

Six new patient videos are now available in the Patient Education Library in the video section! These brief, 3-4 minute videos discuss Anal Warts, Anal Cancer, Colon Cancer, Pruritis Ani, Rectal Cancer, and Rectal Prolapse. Help your patients learn more about their condition in the office or show them where to find them from the comforts of home.

The ASCRS thanks the Public Relations Committee for their ongoing efforts to ensure the availabilty of easy-to-understand videos about common diseases and conditions diagnosed in the field of colon and rectal surgery.

The ASCRS is pleased to announce the availability of five new patient education videos in the Patient Resource Library. An all-new video on the J-Pouch is now offered, along with the release of four videos in Spanish.

Popular videos on Colon Cancer, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Diverticular Disease, and Abscess and Fistula were recently reworked with a Spanish narration dubbed over the original audio. The ASCRS encourages its members to refer these videos to their patients to help better explain their disease in their native language.

Surgical site infections are classified into three categories based upon the location and depth of infection. These include superficial, deep and organ surgical site infections. The classification system most commonly used is based upon that published by Horan et al in 1992, and this system is the basis for that used by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the National Healthcare Safety Network, and the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). Click here to read more.

The April 6th deadline is today! Register now for the 2015 Annual Meeting to enjoy the early bird discounted rate.

There are several ways to extend the impact of your registration with events and workshop. Programs of special interest will enhance your educational experience. For example:

• Question Writing Workshop – Open to all attendees
• Healthcare Economics in the ACA Era
• Quality Initiatives in Clinical Practice
• Laparoscopic Nuts & Bolts and Robotic Rivets
• Technical Pearls – How It's Really Done
• Navigating a Career Path in Colon and Rectal Surgery
• Ostomies: Location, Creation and Complications
• Medical Legal Symposium: How to Protect Yourself
• Enhanced Perioperative Care Pathways and Postoperative Pain Management

Check out the full preliminary program for details about the meeting or plan things to do while you're in Boston.

The meeting will be held at the Hynes Convention Center & Sheraton Boston Hotel, approximately 15 minutes from Boston Logan International Airport. The deadline for hotel reservations is April 27, 2015 so make your hotel reservation today.

Register online today by logging in to your member account. Or print the meeting registration form and return it by mail or fax to (847) 290-9203 with your payment.