Profiles in ACS Leadership: A Few Questions for Amalia Stefanou, MD, FACS

Editor’s note: The Bulletin of the ACS publishes a series of articles profiling leaders of the College. The series is intended to give readers a look at the person behind the surgical mask and inspire members to consider taking on leadership positions within the organization and the institutions where they practice.

This month’s profile features Amalia Stefanou, MD, FACS, Chair of the Governing Council of the Young Fellows Association (YFA) of the ACS. She is a colon-rectal surgeon at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in surgery?

I really loved working with the surgeons when I was in medical school. The combination of problem solving, pace of the work, and complexity of the actual operations drew me in; I was hooked. I completed residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI, and then a colon-rectal surgery residency at John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County in Chicago, IL. As a colon-rectal surgeon, I take care of patients with benign anorectal problems to complex inflammatory bowel disease or cancer. It’s important to make connections with patients quickly to gain trust and have a treatment plan for them. I like being able to offer them some assurance and say, “Here’s what I think is wrong, and this is how we’re going to help you.” Being able to help them overcome their fears and seeing the look in their eyes when you have helped them get through a difficult situation is extremely rewarding.

What role has mentorship played in your journey to becoming YFA Chair?

I think mentorship is important to career development, but if you don’t think you have found the right mentor yet, you can still seek out others. Personally, I have connected with some impactful mentors by reaching out either in person or over email. I have met a lot of great leaders of the College and in surgery by emailing them and asking them a couple of questions about something I heard them say at a conference or I read in a paper they had published. This has led to several meaningful relationships for me that have shaped the trajectory of my career. Email and social media should not be underestimated as ways to build these relationships.

I work with residents and fellows, and it is always important and gratifying to mentor them as well. My goal is to be approachable, available, and supportive. Surgical training is a challenge and being there for my mentees is a way to give back to the surgical community. Professional development is really important, and we do not learn enough in training about topics like managing teams effectively and being an effective leader.

In what ways has membership in the ACS benefited you?

Membership in the ACS has benefited me in many ways. It allows me to get involved and serve on different committees. I have learned a lot about not only the College, but also about surgery on a broader scale in terms of advocacy, leadership, career development, and making contacts with colleagues across the country. That has been a wonderful experience for me because otherwise I never would have met these people with whom I can share common struggles and successes. These discussions with my colleagues in YFA and the ACS help me work through the challenges we face as surgeons. Serving on the YFA Governing Council and its committees has given me a lot of professional fulfillment that otherwise I think I’d be missing.

How did you get involved in YFA?

Knowing after I started my first job after training that I wanted to be more involved in the ACS, I applied after receiving an email with an open call for applications for the YFA Governing Council (GC). There was a formal process, including an interview. This showed me that ACS really is an organization that represents its surgeons. While a lot of my peers in YFA were involved in the Resident and Associate Society (RAS) prior to becoming Fellows, this is certainly not necessary, and anyone with interest should apply for positions within the College.

During my time on the GC, I have been on the Advocacy Committee, chaired the Communications Committee and wrote the quarterly newsletter, and have served as Vice-Chair and now Chair. These opportunities have been invaluable for developing leadership skills, networking, and feeling like I am contributing to the College.

The YFA has evolved over the past several years to increase participation and transparency in our appointment process, and this is important to include as many young Fellows as possible on the ACS committees and Advisory Councils. This gives young Fellows opportunities to make connections with the College’s leadership and each other. We have term limits for the Governing Council to ensure that young surgeons can continue to get involved and participate.

Young surgeons often are busy building their careers and balancing that with a personal life. How does YFA help them stay grounded and still be involved in the College and other societies?

That is important because I’ve noticed that’s the big difference between the membership of RAS and YFA. Residents often are looking to build their curriculum vitae through volunteer activities to apply for fellowships or secure positions in a practice or institution after they graduate from training. Young Fellows are already working in clinical practice, often with teaching, leadership, or research commitments as well. This is not even to mention family responsibilities. It’s a busy time in one’s career and our time, consequently, may be more limited.

Right now, the YFA is trying to focus on what we can do to support both early and mid-career surgeons. As surgeons, we all are goal driven, and Fellows in this time frame may be thinking about a change in the next couple years. Maybe they aspire to be a division head or department chair or some other leadership role and are wondering, “How do I get there from here?” I think the YFA should constantly be considering what our surgeon peers may need in terms of support from the College.

What advice do you offer to residents and young surgeons who are interested in ACS leadership positions?

I believe there is a place for everybody in the ACS. The first step is to decide what you are interested in and how you want to contribute. There are so many different committees, work groups, and advisory councils, and the YFA has liaisons to many of them. If an interested surgeon goes to the ACS website and spends some time researching opportunities, a wealth of information, including contact information, is available. People always are happy to have volunteers, so I would recommend you show interest, attend the meetings, and volunteer for something. Then be sure to complete the task. There are plenty of ways to get involved and so many opportunities for enthusiastic surgeons.

How do you maintain work-life equilibrium and your well-being?

It really is about planning and prioritizing. One week you may need to be at work more and the next week you’re home more. We have managed by prioritizing things by the week—thinking and talking about what we need to get done this week, what’s important, what’s not important. I think one should eliminate tasks or chores that are not enjoyable or necessary. For example, my husband and I order delivery dinner a few regular nights per week so that we can focus on what is important to us as a family and to our jobs.

When I am not in the hospital, I like to run and spend time with my family to maintain my well-being.

As your term as YFA Chair comes to a close this month, what’s next on your leadership agenda?

It has been a lot of fun to meet dynamic leaders within the College, a privilege to be part of program development, and collaborate with other young Fellows of the ACS. A few years ago, it never occurred to me that I would become the Chair of YFA, so this has definitely been a great experience. I really hope to stay engaged in the ACS in some capacity because I truly believe it is the largest support we have as surgeons on so many levels.