Dr. Sean Langenfeld Is ACS Communities New Editor-in-Chief

Sean J. Langenfeld, MD, FACS, FASCRS, chief of the division of colon and rectal surgery and Jon S. Thompson Endowed Professor of Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, has been named Editor-in-Chief of the ACS Communities. He will succeed Tyler G. Hughes, MD, FACS, who served as the inaugural Editor-in-Chief of the Communities since its launch in August 2014.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to build on the amazing foundation created by Dr. Hughes and the ACS team,” Dr. Langenfeld said. “The ACS Communities platform is an invaluable tool that supports practicing surgeons and allows us to provide the best possible care for our patients, and so I greatly value the trust that has been placed with me to captain the ship.”

Dr. Langenfeld will begin his new role on February 1 after shadowing Dr. Hughes in January.

In his new position, Dr. Langenfeld will be responsible for overseeing and reviewing new postings and making sure they adhere to the Communities Code of Conduct. He also will help to start conversations and promote ACS content, such as articles in the Bulletin, the ACS Brief, and other publications, in their relevant communities.

Dr. Langenfeld has proven to be a leading voice in how medical professionals, including surgeons, should and do interact with social media.

In addition to serving on the ACS Young Fellows Association Social Media subcommittee, chair of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) social media committee for almost 10 years, and creator and moderator of the 1,000+ member ASCRS closed Facebook group, Dr. Langenfeld has given talks, led courses, provided commentaries, delivered podium and poster presentations, held visiting professorships, led grand rounds, and authored peer reviewed articles and book chapters on the dangers and power of social media in the healthcare space.