Christopher Ellison, MD, FACS, was installed during Clinical Congress as the 2022–2023 ACS President, succeeding Julie A. Freischlag, MD, FACS, DFSVS. At the end of Convocation, he delivered his Presidential Address and promoted his theme of Surgeons United. The full address, “Our Professional Journey: Surgeons United,” is available online in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
“The challenges we have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, more than ever, demonstrated that we are much better when we work together rather than apart,” said Dr. Ellison. “The idea of Surgeons United is essential.”
Dr. Ellison noted that despite differences of opinion within the profession, a surgeon’s perspective is often among the most respected in their communities. He urged surgeons to be a part of the social and political dialogue for the greater good and that by remaining true to the values of integrity, quality, and professionalism, surgeons can be a unifying force for patients and society.
Over the next year, Dr. Ellison said he plans to focus on enhancing ACS’s relevance within all surgical specialties, eliminating disparities in surgery, and solving the shortage of rural surgeons. He said that the addition of more than 2,300 initiates from 77 countries will play a crucial role in addressing these goals.
Dr. Ellison is the Robert M. Zollinger Professor of Surgery Emeritus at The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Medicine (COM), in Columbus, OH. He recently completed a 2-year term as the George W. Paulson, MD, Medical Heritage Center Scholar-in-Residence. He became an ACS Fellow in 1986, and his service to the College has been exemplary throughout his multifaceted career. He was a member of the ACS Board of Governors (1997–2003), President of the ACS Ohio Chapter (2003–2004), Chair of the Advisory Council for General Surgery (2013–2015), Chair, Advisory Council Chairs (2013–2015), and most recently, Chair of the ACS Foundation Board of Directors (2019–2021).
In addition to Dr. Ellison, Mary E. Fallat, MD, FACS, FAAP, was installed during Convocation as ACS First Vice-President; Anne G. Rizzo, MD, FACS, was installed as ACS Second Vice-President.
See the full list of 2022–2023 ACS Officers and Regents, and watch the Convocation Ceremony online (no Clinical Congress registration required).
