Each year the Association for Academic Surgery sponsors the "Fundamentals of Surgical Research" course which is established for residents who are beginning research training. A lecture outlining various aspects 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. The lecture content has been revised each year to reflect the recommendations of the participating residents and faculty. Herein, we summarize the requirements for composing and delivering a scientific surgical presentation that is noted for its clarity, easily understood methods, interpretable data, and scientific and/or clinical implications.