Surgery names new EAST and Nicholson Scholarship award recipients

Following the annual Nicholson Scholar Grand Rounds presentation, Dr. Danielle Kay (PGY 5) was recognized as the 2020 recipient of the Charles H. Nicholson Clinical Tour Fellowship and Dr. Brent Hillard (PGY 4) is the 2019 recipient of an Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST) travel scholarship. Dr. Andrew Bernard, section chair of Trauma, Acute Care, and Critical Care Surgery, presented the awards.

The announcement was made at the annual Nicholas Scholar grand rounds presentation. Caroline Neff, MD, the 2019 Nicholson Scholar, gave a comprehensive presentation on the history of minimally invasive techniques in rectal surgery. She concluded with a brief description of new applications for Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEM), including taTME (Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision) for the treatment of rectal cancer. 

The Nicholson fellowship was established in memory of Dr. Charles H. Nicholson, a respected Lexington surgeon. His colleagues from the Lexington Clinic, Drs. William “Bill” Walton, Michael Daugherty, and Ed Nighbert, founded the travel fellowship as an enduring memorial to their partner and friend. He firmly believed that visiting and studying under experts in other centers, cities, or parts of the world is a worthwhile experience for surgical residents to pursue.

The EAST travel scholarship, awarded to Dr. Hillard, provides travel money to attend the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma [EAST] Annual Scientific Assembly during their PGY4 year.

Congratulations to Drs. Kay and Hillard on their respective awards.