Beth H. Sutton, MD, FACS, who has spent much of her career balancing private practice with ACS leadership, was installed as the 105th President of the ACS during the Clinical Congress 2024 Convocation in San Francisco, California.
Dr. Sutton is a general surgeon from Wichita Falls, Texas, where she maintained a private surgical practice for many years.
For her presidential year, Dr. Sutton has chosen the theme of “Excelling Together.” In addition to highlighting the special ability of the College to unite surgeons across disciplines, practice types, and career stages, Dr. Sutton explained her vision of excellence, “I would like to encourage all our Fellows and our other members in all surgical disciplines to keep the personal connection between one surgeon and one patient.”
Background and Career Highlights
Dr. Sutton’s interest in medicine began early in childhood, with the gift of a book on the human body she received from a great-aunt. After years of interest, she entered Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, in 1972.
She had her first exposure to surgery at Baylor, an experience that made her certain surgery was the path for her. “The first time I saw an operation, I had done the physical examination for a patient who was about to have a coronary artery bypass the following day, and the cardiologist told me that I needed to attend the surgery. So I went, and the surgeon was very welcoming, and the anesthesiologist allowed me to stand next to him behind the ether screen so that I could look over. For the first time, I saw a live beating heart. Then I was able to watch the surgeon take the vein grafts and sew them into place, thereby bringing blood to the muscle of the ventricle. At that moment, I thought it would be wonderful to be a surgeon and fix things.”
After medical school, she completed an internship at the St. Paul Hospital at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, followed by a residency in general surgery at Scott & White Memorial Hospital, in Temple, Texas.
ACS Service
An ACS Fellow since 1984, she has held many leadership roles within the College. She is a Past-President of the North Texas ACS Chapter, a past Governor-at-Large representing North Texas (2004–2010), and a past member of the Board of Governors (BoG) Executive Committee (2008–2010). Her ACS leadership also includes nearly a decade on the Board of Regents (2012–2021), including a year as Chair (2019–2020).
Dr. Sutton is a past member of the ACS Advisory Council for General Surgery and many ACS committees, including the Committee on Healthcare Disparities, Committee on Professional Opportunities for Senior Members, Committee on Transition to Practice (Mastery in General Surgery), and Committee on Preceptorship for Practicing Surgeons. She also has been a member of the ACS Women in Surgery Committee and ACS Committee on Optimal Access/Healthcare Disparities. Finally, she has served as a faculty member of the Surgeons as Leaders course.
Beyond her roles with the College, she has held leadership positions within many surgical organizations for much of her career. Dr. Sutton is a past president of the Texas Surgical Society, a past local president of the American Cancer Society, and a current member of the Board of Directors of the American Board of Surgery. In addition, she previously has served as a president of the Association of Women Surgeons (AWS).
Honors and Awards
Recognition of Dr. Sutton’s contributions to surgical leadership include a Distinguished Alumna in General Surgery Award from her former residency program at Baylor Scott & White Health. She also is a four-time winner of the United Regional Health Care System Department of Surgery Quality Champion Award, and for her contributions to advancing women in surgery, she has been a recipient of the AWS Foundation’s Nina Starr Braunwald Award.
Leadership Vision
However far she has moved into leadership positions, Dr. Sutton has never lost her focus on the quality of care and the level of trust between surgeons and their patients. “Surgical care remains a critical initiative that we must maintain,” she said. “The skills are commonly available through programs from the College, but the technical skills are only part of the process. We need professional skills and the ability to relate to patients. And most importantly, we need to relate to them and communicate with them in a way that lets them know we care so that they feel free to trust us.”
The introductory video about Dr. Sutton that was played at Convocation is available to view below.
