Michael Awad

Michael Awad, MD, PhD, MHPE, FACS, is a Professor of Surgery in the Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Division of General Surgery, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He obtained his MD and PhD in Pathobiology from Alpert Medical School, Brown University, in 2001. He completed his general surgery residency at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 2008, including a visiting registrar position at The John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University, in 2006, and a fellowship in laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery at Legacy Health Systems and Oregon Health & Science University in 2009. Board-certified in general surgery, Dr. Awad directs the Robotic Surgery program at BJC HealthCare, the Washington University Institute for Surgical Education (WISE), the WISE Simulation Fellowship, and the Foregut Surgery Program. He has also served as associate dean for medical student education and director of the Integrated Surgical Disciplines Clerkship.

Dr. Awad's expertise lies in minimally invasive surgical techniques, including laparoscopic, robotic, and endoscopic procedures for benign esophageal and gastric disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, paraesophageal and hiatal hernias, achalasia, gastroparesis, peptic ulcer disease, and gallbladder conditions. His research focuses on surgical simulation, curriculum design, robotic surgery clinical outcomes, foregut surgery databases, and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery. Key publications include "Awareness and Perceptions of Flexibility in Surgical Training: Insights From a National Survey of Surgical Fellowship Program Directors" (Journal of Surgical Education, 2025), "Flexibility in Surgical Training Does Not Affect American Board of Surgery Board Eligibility or Certification" (Journal of Surgical Education, 2025), "Doing Less Later: Seniorization of General Surgery Resident Operative Experience in the Entrustable Professional Activities at Veterans Affairs Hospitals" (Journal of Surgical Education, 2025), and "Failing to prepare: the erosion of intraoperative cholangiography in the rising surgical workforce" (Surgical Endoscopy, 2025). He has earned the Washington University School of Medicine Clinical Teacher of the Year Award in 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2022, the Phillip J. Wolfson Outstanding Teaching Award in 2016, the John Benson Professionalism Article Prize, and induction into the American College of Surgeons Academy of Master Surgeon Educators. Dr. Awad was President of the Association for Surgical Education in 2023, chairs the Resident and Fellow Training Committee of the American Foregut Society and the Education and Training Committee of the Association for Surgical Education, and serves on the SAGES Board of Governors.