2023 Excelsior Surgical Society Newsletter

President's Message

Dear Members of the Excelsior Surgical Society, friends, and colleagues,

It has been my great honor to serve all of you as the seventh President of the re-invigorated Excelsior Surgical Society (ESS) during this past year. As the House of Military Surgery within the ACS, all of us have a role in fulfilling our three-part mission: preserving the lessons of the past, improving care in the present, and anticipating challenges of the future.  

This past year has been both busy and productive for our society. Our membership has grown, and our members have become much more engaged in the vital work of our organization: preparing and delivering webinars, engaging in committee activities, and supporting our 2022-2023 ESS initiatives. But as they say in mountaineering, most accidents happen on the descent, so we need to keep up the great momentum to finish the year strong.

I would also like to include some brief updates on some of this year’s initiatives. The second printing of Surgeon to Soldiers is progressing nicely. We hope to have a sample of some of the content available at the ESS Symposium during ACS Clinical Congress in Boston. Our SVS 2.0 Task Force has representatives appointed from the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (Peggy Knudson, MD, FACS) and the Society for Vascular Surgery (Erin Koelling, MD, FACS). Stay tuned for further updates on this exciting project. 

Finally, we now have ESS “swag”! Thanks to the hard work of Daniela Abuzatoaie, we will have ESS jackets for sale in the ACS Central Area of the Exhibit Hall and journal books and pens at the symposium.

And speaking of the symposium, I look forward to connecting with many of you in Boston. We have moved our in-person annual business meeting from Saturday to Sunday, so be sure to show up early Sunday morning if you want to vote on ESS business. Voting for ESS officers will continue through the beginning of the symposium as we have done in the past. However, be sure to start thinking about nominations for ESS officers and honorary/distinguished ESS members today. We have a great program lined up for you, so mark your calendars and plan to join us!

Thank you all again for the tremendous honor of serving as your president this year.

With great respect,

Jeremy W. Cannon, MD, SM, FACS
Colonel (Retired), USAF Reserve, MC
President, Excelsior Surgical Society

We look forward to seeing everyone during the Excelsior Surgical Society Symposium during the 2023 ACS Clinical Congress in Boston. While visiting Boston take time to learn about some of our nation’s rich national, military, and medical history. You will be visiting Boston during the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, an event pivotal to our nation’s founding, which occurred December 16, 1773.

At Boston National Historical Park is the Bunker Hill Monument, commemorating the first major battle of the Revolutionary War on June 17, 1775. Boston physician and patriot General Joseph Warren was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. John Warren, his younger brother and Continental Army surgeon during the Revolutionary War, founded the nation’s third medical school—Harvard Medical School—in 1782.

Finally, be sure to attend the Excelsior Surgical Society Reception, Tuesday, October 24, 1730–2000, at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Paul S. Russell, MD Museum of Medical History and Innovation and learn about the storied history of MGH since its founding in 1811.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Army, United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the Department of Defense, the United States government, or the American College of Surgeons.