SOSu Membership Criteria

• Candidate Members
• Fellowship Trainees
• Honorary Fellows
• International Members
• National Affiliate
• Residents
• Senior Members
• Specialty Fellows​

Dues/year: 

Specialty Fellows - $50*
All accepted national member types - $0*
Section Affiliates - $60

Specialty Fellows

Surgery Boarded Specialty Fellow requirements:

1. Completion of an ACGME approved residency in general surgery or an equivalent residency accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).
2. Completion of an ACGME approved fellowship in pediatric surgery or an equivalent residency accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).

and

3. Have obtained special certification in pediatric surgery from the American Board of Surgery (ABS) or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC);
   or
4. Have the equivalent of two years specialized training in a pediatric center (such training is defined as full-time activity devoted to the candidate's specialty field including one year of senior responsibility and occurring in an acceptable hospital that delivers both inpatient and outpatient activity), and a devotion of seventy-five percent (75%) or more of the candidate's current operative practice, exclusive of minor surgical procedures, to the care of children over a minimum period of 5 years after training. This activity must be documented by a case list of all (adult and pediatric) operations performed in the one year prior to application, and is certified by the chief of surgery from each hospital in which the candidate practices.

Surgery applicants must submit:

• Completed application with specialized training information filled out, and a minimum of 75% of current surgical practice exclusive to the care of children documented.
• Copy of ABS Surgery and Peds Surgery board certificates. If the applicant does not have their pediatric surgery certification yet, a case list must be provided (see below additional requirements for case list).
  • If providing a case list instead of a special certification from the ABS or RCPSC, these additional requirements apply:
    • Letters of recommendation must come from: A) the program director of the training program, B) two members of the Surgical Section within the same district as the applicant, and C) a pediatrician (who is a member of the AAP) within the same district as the applicant.
    • A curriculum vitae must accompany the application.

Obstetrics and Gynecology Boarded Specialty Fellow requirements:

1. Completion of an ACGME approved residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology or an equivalent residency accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).
2. Board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology or by one of the other certifying organizations recognized by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
3. Adequate training and continuing activity in the surgical field in which the applicant is specializing, which shall include as a minimal requirement:
   1. Certification of completion of a fellowship program in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology.
      
      Or
   2. Have the equivalent of two years of specialized training in a pediatric center (such training is defined as full-time activity devoted to the candidate's specialty field including one year of senior responsibility and occurring in an acceptable hospital that delivers both inpatient and outpatient activity), and a devotion of fifty percent (50%) or more of the candidate's current operative practice, exclusive of minor surgical procedures, to the care of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology patients over a minimum period of 5 years after training. This activity must be documented by a case list of all (adult and pediatric) operations performed in the one year prior to application, and is certified by the surgeon-in-chief from each hospital in which the candidate practices.

OBGYN applicants must submit:

• Copy of ABOG or other qualifying OBGYN board certification
• Completed application with specialized training information filled out (residency and fellowship), and a minimum of 50% of current surgical practice exclusive to the care of children documented.
  • If providing a case list instead of OBGYN fellowship completion certification, these additional requirements apply:
    • Letters of recommendation must come from: A) the Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology where the individual is in practice, B) two members of the Surgical Section within the same district as the applicant, and C) a pediatrician (who is a member of the AAP) within the same district as the applicant.
    • A curriculum vitae must accompany the application.

Any exceptions to the above requirements maybe considered by the Executive Board only after special request by the Executive Committee of the Section on Surgery.

Candidate Members are pediatric surgeons who have recently completed a pediatric surgery residency training program but have not yet attained ABS certification in pediatric surgery. Applicants must devote at least 75% of their professional activities to infants, children, and adolescents under age 21.

Applicants must submit:

• A copy of a curriculum vitae
• One letter of recommendation from the director of their pediatric surgery residency (or gynecology) training program.

Fellowship Trainees are surgeons who are enrolled in a pediatric surgery fellowship training program in the U.S. or Canada. Once they complete their pediatric surgery fellowship program, they are automatically advanced to Candidate Membership.

Resident Members must be currently enrolled in a general surgery residency training program in the U.S. or Canada.

National Affiliates are Nurse Practitioners and Physicians Assistants who practice in the area of pediatric surgery.

Applicants must submit:

• One letter of recommendation from the chief of surgery at their main children’s hospital, and one letter from another pediatric surgeon who is a Specialty Fellow in the Section on Surgery
• Copy of curriculum vitae

International Members are Pediatric surgeons outside the U.S. or Canada whose operative practice, exclusive of minor surgical procedures, is composed of 75% or more in the care of children over a minimum of five years after training. This activity must be documented by a case list of all (adult and pediatric) operations performed in the one year prior to application, certified by the chief of surgery from each hospital in which the applicant practices.

Applicants must submit:

• A letter of recommendation from Chief of Surgery
• 2 sponsor letters from members of the Section on Surgery

Section Affiliate membership 

Pediatric Surgeons not eligible for Specialty Fellowship in the AAP, who reside outside the borders of the United States, Canada or Puerto Rico.

Affiliate applicants must submit:

• A copy of their curriculum vitae
• One letter from the chief of surgery at their main children’s hospital, and one letter from another pediatric surgeon who is a Specialty Fellow in the Section on Surgery.