The Excellence Academy of the German Society for Vascular Surgery (DGG) for junior academics

Vascular surgery is one of the fastest growing surgical specialties in German medicine. Nevertheless, strong efforts have to be made to educate and support young vascular surgeons with high potential and enable them to apply for academic posts. Therefore, the German Society of Vascular Surgeons (DGG) is going to establish an Excellence Academy to promote junior scientists and future head surgeons. By introducing the Excellence Academy the DGG aims to strengthen the academic and scientific claims and secure the future for vascular surgery in Germany. The minimum prerequisites for application to the Exellence Academy are a completed qualification as specialist for vascular surgery and membership of the DGG. Candiates can apply by submitting a comprehensive letter of motivation, the complete curriculum vitae, a current catalogue of operations, a list of publications and a list of third party fund raising and be supported by a letter of recommendation from the head of the department or another equally qualified mentor. After positive evaluation and acceptance into the Excellence Academy, participants will subsequently be trained via the course system of the private academy of the DGG and supported by an experienced academic mentor, who evaluates the assets and shortcomings of the candidate and recommends potential training courses to improve surgical, scientific, teaching and management skills. Every year the candidates will be reevaluated and seconded by mentoring and networking to enable them to apply for highly reputable academic posts. Training in the Excellence Academy is considered as concluded with the first supported application of the member of the Excellence Academy for an academic position as head of department and is documented with a certificate. With this instrument for promoting the next generation of executive managers, the DGG aim to support motivated members in their careers and to maintain and further strengthen the future viability of the discipline. © 2017, Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH.