Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits
Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.
Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits
Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.
The ACS Clinical Congress 2024 in San Francisco, California, offered surgeons, residents, medical students, and other healthcare professionals, both domestic and international, opportunities to advance their surgical skills and knowledge and interact with their peers, ACS leaders, and staff.
Approximately 11,000 individuals participated in the event, with nearly 10,000 attending in-person and more than 1,000 engaging virtually and accessing the conference’s content on demand. All registrants can view on-demand content and claim continuing medical education credits through February 24, 2025; registration remains open for new participants.
This article summarizes some of the meeting highlights.
More than 1,800 surgeons were initiated into ACS Fellowship.
Convocation
This year, 1,894 surgeons from 74 countries were initiated into ACS Fellowship following an inspiring procession of ACS leaders and invited guests. Secretary Sherry M. Wren, MD, FACS, FCS(ECSA), presented the Great Mace.
During the hour-long program, eight international surgeons were conferred Honorary Fellowship, and the ACS Distinguished Service Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, and several other prestigious awards were presented. 2023–2024 ACS President Henri R. Ford, MD, MHA, FACS, led the installation of new officers, including Beth H. Sutton, MD, FACS, as President, Nancy L. Gantt, MD, FACS, as First Vice-President, and Dennis H. Kraus, MD, FACS, as Second Vice-President.
Andrew Graham Hill, MBChB, MD, EdD, FACS, FISS, FRACS, FRSNZ, Aukland, New Zealand
Jamal Hoballah, MD, MBA, FACS, Beirut, Lebanon
P. Ronan O’Connell, MB, MD, FRCSI, Dublin, Ireland
Shailesh Vinayak Shrikhande, MBBS, MS, MD, Mumbai, India
Catherine S. C. Teh, MD, FPCS, FRCSEd, Manila, Philippines
Layton F. Rikkers, MD, FACS, received the 2024 Distinguished Service Award for his years of dedication to the ACS through holding various leadership roles, including as First Vice-President. Among many other contributions, Dr. Rikkers helped create the popular ACS Surgeons as Leaders Course, which provides aspiring surgeon leaders with skills needed in the OR and board room.
The sixth ACS Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to David B. Hoyt, MD, FACS, past-ACS Executive Director (2010–2022). During Dr. Hoyt’s tenure as the leader of the ACS, he was instrumental in overseeing the development of guidelines for quality and safety, as well as surgical education and training. He also oversaw the initiation of the Stop the Bleed program and development of the Military Health System Strategic Partnership-ACS.
The 2024 Owen H. Wangensteen Scientific Forum Award was presented to Mary T. Hawn, MD, FACS, for her nearly 4 decades as a researcher of minimally invasive foregut surgery and a driver for improving surgical quality. Dr. Hawn also has extensively researched surgical quality measurement and national policy affecting surgical populations, which has informed policy about national surgical quality measurement.
Barbara J. Pettitt, MD, MHPE, FACS, received the Dr. Mary Edwards Walker Inspiring Women in Surgery Award for a career that has combined clinical care with surgical education while also contributing to research on surgical pedagogy. She has been recognized as being a highly regarded surgeon educator and is a longtime member of multiple organizations focused on advancing women in surgery.
USN Commander (Retired) C. William Schwab, MD, FACS, was honored with the fifth ACS Distinguished Lifetime Military Contribution Award for his many and ongoing contributions to trauma surgery and research, including on firearm injury prevention, contributions to military-civilian partnership in trauma care, and various leadership roles in trauma societies.
More in-depth articles about these award recipients are available in the October Bulletin).
A recording of Convocation, which includes the awards presentations and the ACS Presidential Address, is available at facs.org/convocation.
The 2023–2024 Officers, Officers-Elect, and Board of Regents gather for a photo during Clinical Congress.
Named Lectures
Clinical Congress featured eight Named Lectures, which provided attendees with opportunities to hear internationally renowned surgeons and healthcare experts share their insights on medicine and surgery.
Cardiothoracic surgeon Jessica S. Donington, MD, MSCR, FACS, delivered the John H. Gibbon Jr. Lecture, “Lung Cancer Revolution.” In her talk, Dr. Donington discussed changes in lung cancer care that have occurred in the last decade, including expanded screening efforts, more effective treatment, and a personalized therapeutic approach—all of which have had a notable impact on lung cancer mortality.
In addition to talking about the intersection of lung cancer, smoking cessation, and stigma, she detailed many of the evolving treatment techniques and noted that surgeons are playing a more important role than ever in curing the disease.
“We’re seeing dramatic changes in treatment strategies for all stages of disease, and in the last 3 years, it has all been centered in our world—resectable lung cancer,” Dr. Donington said.
In the Herand Abcarian Lecture, “We Have Come a Long Way…Where Do We Go from Here?,” colorectal surgeon Ann C. Lowry, MD, FACS, spoke on the generation of surgeons that she has observed in her 40-year career and made observations on the past, present, and future of surgery.
She described the positive changes in gender and racial demographics of surgeons, but also looked at the ongoing challenges with attrition and burnout for modern practitioners. Recruitment, wellness, and mentoring programs are being implemented, but even still, “we need to do better,” Dr. Lowry said, especially in changing surgical culture.
“Organizations can establish well-meaning policies, but if the culture is not consistent with those policies, then change doesn’t happen,” she said.
Otolaryngologist—head and neck surgeon Mark C. Weissler, MD, FACS, delivered the John J. Conley Ethics and Philosophy Lecture, “Surgical Professionalism and Autonomy in the 21st Century.” In his talk, he discussed the longstanding moral contract that surgeons enter into when joining the profession, which in the 20th century was focused on trust between surgeons and patients, which implied autonomy and self-regulation for surgeons.
However, Dr. Weissler noted, the 21st century has seen external stressors begin to erode those two cornerstones of modern surgery, including the corporatization of medicine, burdensome or ill-advised policy, and ever-growing expectations for successful treatment of surgical disease.
Addressing these stressors will take a comprehensive effort from physicians and health leaders, he said and suggested that professional organizations also have a role to play.
“Large organizations such as the ACS can and should focus on moral advocacy that is truly directed at what is best for patients. Adopting an attitude of professional altruism can have a beneficial impact that carries over into regulatory power and surgeon well-being,” Dr. Weissler said.
Noteworthy Academic Programming
Clinical Congress was anchored by expansive academic, scientific, and educational programming.
New in 2024 were Opening Day Thematic Sessions that focused on specialty content such as artificial intelligence, cardiothoracic surgery, education, neurosurgery, quality, and vascular surgery, as well as multidisciplinary content that spanned the duration of the conference.
In addition to Didactic and Skills Postgraduate Courses, Clinical Congress 2024 provided attendees with access to 108 expert-led Panel Sessions, including:
The popular “10 Hot Topics in General Surgery” session, hosted by ACS Past-President E. Christopher Ellison, MD, FACS, and ACS Regent Kenneth W. Sharp, MD, FACS, which this year covered ultrasound in inguinal hernia, clinical approaches to transgender patients with breast mass, and more
Interesting Great Debates, expanded this year to include two sessions where experts on opposing sides discussed the use of whole blood in pediatric patients and angioembolization, as well as rib fracture fixation and whether general surgeons should cover bariatric and colorectal emergencies
An update on artificial intelligence (AI) in “Generative AI Tools for Surgery: Will AI Change My Practice?,” which examined the surgical risk assessment calculator, how effective use of AI requires high-quality data, and regulatory concerns
Three Special Sessions were offered, providing attendees with an in-depth look at important topics in surgery:
The ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators Special Session: “Value of the ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators across the Surgical Specialties” highlighted the importance of the Academy in recognizing surgeon educators and engaging them in advancing surgical education in all discipline
“Behind the Curtain of Trauma Activation Fees—Impact, Potential, and Peril for Modern Trauma” explored the nature of trauma activation fees, their place in the trauma system, best practices for appropriate utilization of trauma activation fees, and how surgeons can engage to shape the issue
“Complying with New CMS Age Friendly Measure” detailed how the ACS Geriatric Surgery Verification Program can help hospitals meet the regulatory requirements of the eponymous and mandatory measure while also improving patient outcomes, reducing costs, and increasing surgical capacity
The Named Lectures, Panel Sessions, and Special Sessions are available for registered attendees via the on-demand platform.
Hands-On Events
Two hands-on, simulation-based learning stations returned this year in the Exhibit Hall—the Surgical Ergonomics Clinic and Surgical Metrics Project.
The third ACS Surgical Ergonomics Hands-On Clinic for practicing surgeons and surgery residents generated significant interest and had approximately 100 participants, emphasizing the importance of health and well-being in the physically demanding field.
Ergonomic coaches helped participating surgeons learn about the ACS Surgical Ergonomics Recommendations, while applying them in a simulated environment at three stations with open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery equipment. In addition, a certified physical therapist will share different stretching exercise protocols that can be implemented in the OR, between cases, or at home.
This year’s iteration of the Surgical Metrics Project, the fourth since it was initiated in 2019, offered an opportunity for individual surgeons to learn more about the future of digital healthcare and optimizing their practice. Participants had the opportunity to become research participants themselves by completing short but challenging operative tasks while wearing motion sensors on their fingers and EEG sensors on their foreheads to record motions and thought processes.
Awards and Honors
Practicing surgeons, residents, and medical students were recognized for their contributions to advancing the art and science of surgery, domestic and international volunteerism, leadership in residency, and much more. Visit Clinical Congress News for a complete listing of the awards, honors, and dedications provided at this year’s conference.
Annual Business Meeting
The Annual Business Meeting of Members convened on October 22, with Dr. Sutton presiding. Following a series of reports from the Board of Regents (BoR), Board of Governors (BoG), ACS Foundation, and the ACS Professional Association Political Action Committee, new ACS Officers and other officials were elected for 2024–2025.
The President-Elect is Anton N. Sidawy, MD, FACS, a renowned vascular surgeon who is the Lewis B. Saltz Chair of Surgery and professor of surgery at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, DC.
Dr. Sidawy said the appointment “fills me with pride and the satisfaction that others see me as a passionate servant leader and consensus builder.”
The First Vice-President-Elect is trauma surgeon Anne C. Mosenthal, MD, FACS, the chief academic officer at Beth Israel Lahey Health—Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts. The Second Vice-President-Elect is pediatric surgeon Edward M. Barksdale Jr., MD, FACS, the chief surgical officer at the Chicagoland Children’s Health Alliance and a professor of surgery at The University of Chicago, both in Chicago, Illinois.
The new Chair of the BoR is renowned gastrointestinal surgeon Fabrizio Michelassi, MD, FACS, the Lewis Atterbury Stimson Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine, and surgeon-in-chief of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine, both in New York. The Vice-Chair is trauma and critical care surgeon Lena M. Napolitano, MD, FACS, professor of surgery and associate chair for the Department of Surgery at the University of Michigan School of Medicine in Ann Arbor.
Four surgeons were elected to initial terms on the BoR:
Audra A. Duncan, MD, FACS, professor of surgery and chair/chief of vascular surgery at Western University in London, Ontario (3-year term)
Arun K. Gosain, MD, FACS, division head of plastic surgery at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Illinois (3-year term)
Sanjay R. Parikh, MD, FACS, division chief of otolaryngology—head and neck surgery at Seattle Children’s Hospital, Washington (3-year term)
Daniel L. Dent, MD, FACS, professor of surgery in the Division of Trauma and Emergency Surgery at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (2-year term)
In addition, seven surgeons were reappointed to the BoR: James W. Fleshman, MD, FACS, FASCRS, Shelly D. Timmons, MD, FACS, Carol L. Brown, MD, FACS, Andrea A. Hayes Dixon, MD, FACS, FAAP, Dr. Napolitano, Kenneth W. Sharp, MD, FACS, and Philip R. Wolinsky, MD, FACS.
The following Officers of the BoG Executive Committee were elected:
Chair: Marion Henry, MD, FACS, professor of surgery at UChicago Medicine in Illinois
Vice-Chair: Cherisse D. Berry, MD, FACS, division chief of acute care surgery at NYU Langone Health in New York (also serves as Education Pillar Lead)
Secretary: Robert D. Winfield, MD, FACS, division chief of acute care surgery at The University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City
The following surgeons were elected to the BoG Executive Committee for a 1-year term:
Member Services Pillar Lead: Rohan A. Joseph, MD, FACS, a general and bariatric surgeon at HCA Florida Capital Surgical Specialists in Tallahassee
Advocacy Pillar: Alisha D. Reiss, MD, FACS, a general surgeon at Wayne HealthCare in Greenville, Ohio
In addition, three Pillar Leaders were reappointed for 1-year terms: Wendy Ricketts Greene, MD, FACS, Diversity Pillar Lead; Sundeep G. Keswani, MD, FACS, Quality, Research, and Optimal Patient Care Pillar Lead; and Joseph V. Sakran, MD, MPH, MPA, FACS, Communications Pillar Lead.
Member Engagement Activities
Clinical Congress 2024 provided attendees and their guests with opportunities to participate in social and wellness activities, including 5K guided running tours through San Francisco, yoga, a steps challenge, and a scavenger hunt. The annual Taste of the City on the last night of the conference offered an informal venue for attendees, their families, and guests to experience San Francisco’s unique dining and cultural scene.
Clinical Congress 2025
The next Clinical Congress will take place October 4−7, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois. Abstract submission begins mid-December, and housing reservations are underway.
Experience Clinical Congress 2024 through the meeting data and other at-a-glance numbers, including number of in-person and virtual registrants.
