Each year the Association for Academic Surgery sponsors the ''Fundamen
tals of Surgical Research'' course which is established for residents
who are beginning research training. A lecture outlining various aspec
ts of effective scientific presentations, such as that delivered at a
national or regional surgical meeting, is part of the course. Faculty
from our institution have organized this lecture for several years. Th
e lecture content has been revised each year to reflect the recommenda
tions of the participating residents and faculty. Herein, we summarize
the requirements for composing and delivering a scientific surgical p
resentation that is noted for its clarity, easily understood methods,
interpretable data, and scientific and/or clinical implications. (C) 1
997 Academic Press.