Advocate of the Year

• Attend the annual Advocacy Summit
• Serve on an ACS committee
• Attend in-district meetings
• Host a site visit/facility tour/training
• Present on the value of ACS advocacy efforts
• Join state chapter lobby days
• Contribute to ACS publications
• Participate in press/op-ed opportunities
• Provide advocacy testimonials
• Recruit surgeon advocates
• Share advocacy-related content via social media
• Become an issue expert

Congratulations to the 2023 SurgeonsVoice Advocate of the Year, Jason P. Wilson, MD, MBA, FACS, a board-certified breast and melanoma surgeon based in Clearwater, Florida.

The distinct honor was presented at the Annual Business Meeting of Members during Clinical Congress 2023. Dr. Wilson was selected for his unwavering commitment to the College’s advocacy and political efforts. He is active in the American College of Surgeons having been the Young Fellows Association Liaison to the General Surgery Coding and Reimbursement Committee, the YFA Governing Council Advocacy Workgroup Chair, and on the SurgeonsPAC Board. He is active within the FL Chapter as the current secretary, a Governor, and the State Chair of the Commission on Cancer.

Dr. Wilson is active within the Florida Medical Association serving on the Council on Legislation and the Florida Medical Association PAC Board Executive Council. He also serves as medical director of surgical practices for the West Region with BayCare Medical Group.

Dr. Wilson understands how critically important it is to continue to educate and engage with lawmakers in Washington DC to effect change and protect surgery’s voice in the halls of Congress. That is why this year there was no better choice than to select Dr. Wilson for this honor.

The following runners-up were also recognized for their outstanding participation: Marion C.W. Henry, MD, MPH, FACS, FAAP; James C. Jeng, MD, FACS; Daniel P. Schaefer, MD, FACS; John H. Armstrong, MD, FACS; Don Selzer, MD, FACS; Alisha Reiss, MD, FACS; Shannon Foster, MD, FACS.

Congratulations to the 2022 SurgeonsVoice Advocate of the Year, John H. Armstrong, MD, FACS, a board-certified General Surgeon based in Ocala, Florida.

The distinct honor was presented during Clinical Congress 2022 at the Annual Business Meeting of Members. Dr. Armstrong was selected based on several criteria, including his unwavering commitment to the College’s advocacy and political efforts. He serves as a member of HPAC, an Advisory Member of the PAC Board, Legislative Committee Member, and Chair of the Committee on Trauma Advocacy Pillar.

Few understand better just how critically important it is to continue to educate and engage with lawmakers in Washington, DC, to effect change and leverage surgery’s voice on Capitol Hill. Special thanks and congratulations again to Dr. Armstrong.

The following top contenders were also recognized for their outstanding participation: Daniel Schaefer, MD, FACS, Marion Henry, MD, MPH, FACS, FAAP, James Jeng, MD, FACS, William Kasper, MD, FACS, Krista Kaups, MD, FACS, Mark Dobbertien, MD, FACS, William Kasper, MD, FACS, Steven Schechter, MD, FACS, Nancy Gantt, MD, FACS, Amy E. Liepert, MD, FACS, and Charles B. Rodning, MD, FACS.

During the Annual Business Meeting of Members at Clinical Congress 2021, the Advocate of the Year award was presented to Marion C. W. Henry, MD, MPH, FACS, FAAP, for her strong commitment to advancing and supporting ACS advocacy activities and programs. Dr. Henry leads by example, serving as a member of the ACS Health Policy Advisory Council (HPAC) and the Advisory Council for Pediatric Surgery, in addition to her involvement with multiple national committees centered on surgical education, women in surgery, and pediatric surgeons.

The following runners-up were also recognized for outstanding participation: Amalia L. Cochran, MD, FACS; Mark A. Dobbertien, DO, FACS; James W. Fleshman, MD, FACS, FASCRS; Nancy L. Gantt, MD, FACS; Steven Schechter, MD, FACS; and, Hunter B. Wessells, MD, FACS.

During Clinical Congress 2020, the Advocate of the Year award was presented to Jay J. Doucet, MD, FACS, for his commitment to the College’s advocacy and political efforts, particularly through his involvement with the ACS Health Policy Advisory Council (HPAC).

The following runners-up were also recognized for outstanding participation: John H. Armstrong, MD, FACS; Shannon M. Foster, MD, FACS; Soha Ghossaini, MD, FACS; Marion C.W. Henry, MD, MPH, FACS, FAAP; Atul N. Jani, MD, FACS; Krista L. Kaups, MD, MPH, FACS, FAAP; Deborah A. Kuhls, MD, FACS; Joe H. Patton MD, FACS; and Kristan Staudenmayer, MD, MS, FACS.

During Clinical Congress 2019, the Advocate of the Year award was presented to Sherry Cavanagh, MD, FACS, for her commitment to the College’s advocacy and political efforts, particularly through her involvement with the ACS Health Policy Advisory Council (HPAC). 

The following runners up were also recognized for outstanding participation: Stephanie Bonne, MD, FACS; Mark A. Dobbertien, DO, FACS; Tanaz Ferzandi, MD, FACS; Marion C.W. Henry, MD, MPH, FACS, FAAP; Meghana Kashyap, MD; Amy E. Liepert, MD, FACS; James W. Suliburk, MD, FACS; Alan G. Thorson, MD, FACS; and Brett Tracy, MD.

During Clinical Congress 2018, the inaugural Advocate of the Year award was presented to Alan G. Thorson, MD, FACS, for his commitment to the College’s advocacy and political efforts, particularly through his involvement with the ACS Commission on Cancer.

The following runners up were also recognized for outstanding participation: Amanda Arrington, MD, FACS; Annabel Barber, MD, FACS; Amalia Cochran, MD, FACS; Charles Coren, MD, FACS; Mark Dobbertien, MD, FACS; Ross Goldberg, MD, FACS; Marion Henry, MD, FACS; Mark Kashtan, MD; Amy Liepert, MD, FACS; Joshua Mammen, MD, FACS; Katherine McHugh, MD; Subhasis Misra, MD FACS; Alisha Reiss, MD; and Brett Tracy, MD.