Medical Student Program

The Medical Student Program is now at capacity, and when registering for Clinical Congress 2024 as a medical student, these sessions will not appear on the session page. 

When registering, medical students will be able to check a box to be added to the waitlist. Please note that there is no guarantee of access to the program. 

Any spots that open for the wait list will be processed by late August or early September.

The ACS Division of Education invites students from all four years of medical school to participate in this in-person program designed specifically for medical students considering a career in surgery. Programming varies from day to day, and current medical students are welcome to attend all or select portions of the three-day program from Saturday October 19 to Monday, October 21.

The program is offered at no cost. Medical students who wish to attend this program must register for both Clinical Congress and the Medical Student Program and be a current medical student as of October 2024.

Please note that attendance is limited, and early registration is strongly encouraged. Your registration will be pending until receipt of a verification letter that you are a current medical student.

Day 1: Saturday, October 19, 2024, 11:15 am–6:00 pm PT
Day 2: Sunday, October 20, 2024, 1:00–6:00 pm PT
Day 3: Monday, October 21, 2024, 12:45–5:00 pm PT

Medical Student membership is only $20 and covers all years of medical school. Please note that it may take 1-2 weeks for your application to be reviewed and approved.

Call for Abstracts

Medical students attending the ACS Medical Student Program at Clinical Congress 2024 in San Francisco, California, are invited to submit abstracts in one of the following three categories:

• Basic science research
• Clinical science research
• Education, outcomes, and innovation research

The top 48 abstracts will be invited to present during the Medical Student Program ePoster Session. A winner and runner-up will be selected from each research category. Medical students who are selected to present at the Medical Student Program ePoster Session will be registered for the Medical Student Program if they have not already done so.

The ACS invites students from all 4 years of medical school to participate in the in-person Medical Student Program, which is designed specifically for medical students considering a career in surgery. Programming varies daily, and current medical students are welcome to attend all or select portions of the multiday event. More information on this year’s program will be available in the coming months.

Abstracts are due Friday, July 12.

Review the submission guidelines, and contact Cassie Buchignani at cbuchignani@facs.org or 312-202-5289 for more information.

Planned presentations and activities include:

• Different Faces of Surgery
• Keynote Speaker
• Mastering the Surgical Residency Interview
• Residency Skills Workshop
• Mock Interview Practice
• Networking with Specialty Surgeons and Surgical Residents

• ePoster Session: Saturday, October 19, 2024, 2:15 pm–4:05 pm
• International and Osteopathic Medical Student Session: Sunday, October 20, 2024, 11:30 am–12:45 pm
• Networking Event with Surgery Program Directors (MS4s only): Monday, October 21, 2024, 5:00–6:00 pm

Saturday

Special features of Saturday’s program will include a discussion of the multifaceted nature of surgery, as well as the keynote speaker, Andre Campbell, MD, FACS, FACP, FCCM, MAMSE, FCCOS. Later in the day, there will be a networking event with surgeon representatives from different surgical specialties and practice settings.

Also incorporated in this program is the Medical Student Program ePoster Session, during which 48 medical students will present their research in one of three categories: Clinical Research; Basic Science Research; or Outcomes, Innovation, or Education Research.

Sunday

Special features of Sunday’s program will include a panel highlighting various options for professional development during residency. This presentation will be followed by breakout sessions. Medical students in years three and above will be welcomed to a resident panel discussing decision making on the path to residency and beyond as well as an interactive session providing teaching tips for rising residents. Junior students are welcome to join roundtable sessions to learn more about preparing for residency by discussing how to be a cut above, away rotations and VSLO, elements of an effective personal statement, and the residency application process.

If you are an international or osteopathic medical student, there will be a special session before the program starts to address the unique challenges and provide the tools and resources to succeed.

Monday

Monday’s program will include a Fireside Chat with ACS President-Elect, Beth Sutton, MD, FACS, and the Chair of the ACS Board of Regents, Anthony Atala, MD, FACS. This will be followed by a presentation by Ajit K. Sachdeva, MD, FACS, FRCSC, FSACME, MAMSE, Director, ACS Division of Education. Afterward, students will learn the critical elements of the residency interview from an in-depth panel discussion and will then conclude the day refining their interviewing skills during an interactive practice session with surgeons.

MS4s are invited to an informal networking event with residency program directors following the mock interview practice with surgeons.

For additional information about the ACS Medical Student Program, please contact Cassie Buchignani at 312-202-5289 or cbuchignani@facs.org.