Dr. Timothy Billiar is the recipient of the prestigious 2023 SUS Lifetime Achievement Award (LTAA). He was introduced by Dr. David Geller as the consummate surgeon-scientist, having served as the Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine for nearly a quarter of a century. Throughout his tenure, Dr. Billiar has mentored numerous past SUS Presidents and other Department Chairs and Deans worldwide.
During his acceptance speech, Dr. Billiar expressed gratitude and reflected on his career in academic surgery, highlighting the influence of colleagues and mentors. He recalled the inception of the LTAA at a SUS meeting 23 years ago, inspired by Dr. John Mannick’s dedication to the SUS. His speech then spotlighted several pivotal figures in his career. He celebrated the visionary Dr. Wolfgang Schraut and the steadfast Dr. Andy Peitzman, each of whom had a profound impact on his professional journey. Dr. Billiar was especially grateful for the unwavering support of Dr. Richard Simmons, who continues to serve as a mentor and friend.
Dr. Billiar also delved into the concept of “flow,” as explored in Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s seminal book, “Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience”. Through captivating anecdotes, he described the exhilarating state of immersion and joy found in surgery, science, and teaching—the “flow trifecta” of academic surgery. He underscored the addictive nature of this profound happiness and the preparation it requires, invoking Viktor Frankl’s wisdom on success and happiness as byproducts of dedication to a greater cause.
In closing, Dr. Billiar marveled at his extraordinary journey, echoing that his daily work has truly been “beyond his wildest dreams”.
