Chapter news

South Dakota Chapter hosts joint meeting with North Dakota

The South Dakota Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) hosted its 64th annual meeting and 17th combined South Dakota/North Dakota Chapter Meeting April 21−23 at the Watertown Event Center. The meeting kicked off with a social event at the Terry Redlin Art Center on Thursday evening hosted by Edwin S. Gerrish, MD, FACS, Prairie Lakes Health Care Corporation, Watertown.

The 26 presentations of the scientific sessions involved six residents and three medical students. Representing the College were ACS President J. David Richardson, MD, FACS, and Christian Shalgian, Director, ACS Division of Advocacy and Health Policy, who both presented updates on College activities. The invited guest speaker, John A. Weigelt, MD, DVM, FACS, recipient of the 2015 ACS Distinguished Service Award, gave two scientific presentations. Entertainment at the annual banquet dinner was provided by the chapter’s own Kirke Wheeler, MD, FACS, before he left the next morning on a medical mission to the Dominican Republic.

Brendan Feehan, a third-year medical student at Sanford School of Medicine, Rapid City, SD, received the 2016 Chester B. McVay, MD, Award from John H. Lee, MD, FACS, President of the South Dakota Chapter, after his presentation. The South Dakota Chapter established the award in 1989 in memory of Dr. McVay, a renowned general surgeon in Yankton, SD. A committee annually selects a Sanford student for the award based on the student’s clinical or research surgical paper.

The North Dakota Chapter will host the next combined chapter meeting April 28−29, 2017, in Fargo.

Northern California Chapter presents inaugural Thomas R. Russell, MD, FACS, Resident Research Award

The Northern California Chapter of the College (NCCACS) hosted its annual Scientific Meeting April 29−30 at the Claremont Hotel, Berkeley, CA. The meeting began with the 2016 NCCACS Surgical Trainee Research Paper competition, organized by David T. Cooke, MD, FACS. A receptive and enthusiastic audience responded to five abstracts selected from approximately 30 submissions; volunteer judges scored the presentations. The winner of the competition, Hakan Orbay, MD, PhD, a resident at the University of California (UC), Davis, received the inaugural Thomas R. Russell, MD, FACS, Resident Research Award at a luncheon on April 30—a highlight of the meeting. Dr. Russell had been an active member and supporter of the NCCACS, including serving as Chapter President. His daughter Jackie, a veterinary student at UC Davis, was in attendance for the award presentation.

David Spain, MD, FACS, NCCACS President, was the presiding officer at the collegial President’s Dinner.

The program featured a number of local and national leaders of the ACS. A plenary session titled Wellness and Resiliency for the Surgeon featured talks on burnout and its detrimental effects for surgeons (Mickey Trockel, MD, clinical assistant professor, psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Stanford Medicine), resiliency for the surgeon (Julie A. Freischlag, MD, FACS, Past-Chair, ACS Board of Regents) and the importance of surgeon participation in the hospital environment, as well as at the regional and national levels (Adella M. Garland, MD, FACS, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose).

A session on colorectal surgery included Cindy J. Kin, MD, FACS, assistant professor of general surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, who discussed advances in colorectal surgery; Julie Thacker, MD, FACS, Duke University, Durham, NC, who described the experience of implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs and its effects on the ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP^®), and Ryan M. Green, MD, PhD, FACS, Medical Anesthesia Consultants, Walnut Creek, CA, who discussed implementation of an ERAS program from the anesthesiologist’s perspective.

A third session emphasized achieving quality in surgery, with presentations by Mary Hawn, MD, FACS, chair, department of surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, (Surgeons Leading Quality); Gregory J. Jurkovich, MD, FACS, professor and vice-chairman, department of surgery, UC Davis Health System, Sacramento (Surgical M and M: Personal Responsibility vs. System Protection from Error) and Christina Maser, MD, FACS, University of California San Fransisco (UCSF) Fresno, (A Surgeon’s Guide to Thyroid Nodules).

Mary C. McCarthy, MD, FACS, ACS Second Vice-President-Elect, gave a presentation on the value of College membership. Gregory Victorino, MD, FACS, Committee on Trauma (COT) Region IX Chief, introduced the winning resident trauma papers presented by Vincent Chong, MD, UCSF East Bay, postgraduate year (PGY)-6 (basic science) and Sara Higginson, MD, UCSF Fresno, PGY-5 (clinical).

Resident teams from UC Davis, UCSF, UCSF East Bay, UCSF Fresno, and Stanford University had a lively competition in Surgical Jeopardy (arranged and moderated by Dr. Cooke) with the UCSF Fresno team winning for the second consecutive year. Teams from these institutions also competed in a Laparoscopic Bowl with three-person teams vying to complete skills tasks first and with fewest mistakes. Jonathan L. Pierce, MD, FACS, associate clinical professor and surgical director, Center for Virtual Care, UC Davis, planned and coordinated this event; the UCSF Fresno team prevailed once again. Residents and fellows in training also participated in a breakfast roundtable discussion on planning for life after training, including contract negotiation.

The meeting was planned by the program committee, chaired by Krista L. Kaups, MD, MSc, FACS (NCCACS President-Elect), with support from Christina McDevitt, NCCACS Executive Director.

Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter presents most interesting cases

The Southwestern Pennsylvania (SWPA) Chapter of the ACS hosted its Presentation of Most Interesting Cases May 16 at the LeMont Restaurant in Pittsburgh. Chapter President Christopher J. Bartels, MD, FACS, welcomed attendees and facilitated the evening’s presentations. The SWPA ACS Council invited surgical residents to submit abstracts for consideration and selected the following cases for presentation:

• Glucagonoma Presentation and Treatment: Not Just an ABSITE [American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination] Question, Rachel P. Tindall, MD, Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Health System
• Multiply Injured Trauma Patient with Inominate Artery Laceration, James Ackerman, MD, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Mercy
• Portal Venous Anomaly Associated with Giant Intrahepatic Duodenal Diverticulum, Michael A. Archer, DO, Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Health System
• Primary Hepatoma and Primary Renal Cell CA with Portal Vein Thrombus, Mark Scaife, MD, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Mercy
• Paradoxical Portal Anatomy in a Young Male with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Ravi N. Ambani, MD, Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Health System

Following the presentations, Dr. Tindall won for Most Interesting Case, and Dr. Archer was selected as runner-up.

Ohio Chapter installs new officers at annual meeting

The Ohio Chapter of the ACS hosted its annual meeting May 6−7 in Columbus, presided by Nancy L. Gantt, MD, FACS, Chapter President. Highlights of the meeting included the Ohio oration, which was delivered by Steven M. Steinberg, MD, FACS, division of trauma, critical care and burn, department of surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, and the resident paper competition and mock orals.

New officers were installed and include the following surgeons: Walter S. Cha, MD, FACS, President; Scott M. Wilhelm, MD, FACS, President-Elect; Cari A. Ogg, MD, FACS, Secretary; and Timothy A. Pritts, MD, FACS, Treasurer. The Ohio Chapter was well-represented at the ACS Leadership & Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC, including participation in a productive break-out session on chapter goals followed by advocating on Capitol Hill.

Philadelphia surgeons collaborate at dinner meeting

The Metropolitan Philadelphia Chapter of the ACS (MPACS) and the Philadelphia Academy of Surgery hosted an annual joint dinner meeting May 16 at the Sheraton Philadelphia Society Hill. Nearly 200 members of the surgical community attended this year’s meeting, and 13 exhibitors were on hand to discuss the latest in products and services. ACS Secretary Edward E. Cornwell III, MD, FACS, FCCM, FWACS, was the keynote speaker and gave a presentation on Outcomes Research and Its Impact on Trauma Care: Who, Why, When. Before the dinner meeting, the ACS Committee on Applicants, chaired by Michael A. DellaVecchia, MD, PhD, FACS, FICS, interviewed 21 candidates for Fellowship in the ACS.

Returning to this year’s program was the Resident Poster Competition, with 24 posters submitted from seven institutions; the top posters were awarded cash prizes. The first-place winner in the basic science category was David D. Aufhauser, MD, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and first-place winner in the clinical category was Victoria M. Gershuni, MD, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Second place in the basic science category was Patrick E. McGovern, MD, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and second place in the clinical category was Thaer Obaid, MD, Einstein Healthcare Network.

MPACS members elected their 2016−2017 executive officers at the annual business meeting. Jeffrey W. Kolff, MD, FACS, Abington Health Care, was elected President; Jeffrey L. Butcher, MD, FACS, TriState Colon & Rectal Associates, was elected President-Elect; Sameer A. Patel, MD, FACS, Fox Chase Cancer Center, was elected Vice-President; Amit R. Joshi, MD, FACS, Einstein Healthcare Network, was elected Secretary; and Gary S. Xiao, MD, FACS, Drexel University, was elected Treasurer. Stephanie M.P.N. Fuller, MD, FACS, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Rosalia Viterbo, MD, FACS, Fox Chase Cancer Center, were elected Council Members-at-Large.

The 2017 chapter meeting will take place May 22 at the Sheraton Philadelphia Society Hill.

Florida Chapter hosts webinar on rectal cancer center accreditation

The Florida Chapter of the ACS hosted a webinar June 13 on the Rationale and Reality of Rectal Cancer Center Accreditation. Faculty included ACS Regent Steven D. Wexner, MD, PhD(Hon), FACS, director, Digestive Disease Center; chair, department of colorectal surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida; affiliate professor, Florida Atlantic University College of Medicine; clinical professor, Florida International University College of Medicine; and clinical professor of surgery University of South Florida, Weston; and Mariana Berho, MD, chair of pathology and laboratory medicine, Cleveland Clinic Florida; affiliate professor, Florida Atlantic University College of Medicine; and clinical professor, Florida International University College of Medicine.

Attendees digitally joined Drs. Wexner and Berho as they discussed outcomes following rectal cancer surgery, including the rates and variance of morbidity, recurrence, survival, and constructive permanent colostomy. Significant improvements in these outcomes have been repeatedly demonstrated through accreditation and center of excellence programs in Scandinavia, Belgium, and the U.K.

Florida Chapter presents abstract awards at annual meeting

The Florida Chapter hosted a Resident Research Competition at its recent Annual Meeting in Tampa. First-, second-, and third-place prizes were awarded in the ACS Commission on Cancer and combined basic and clinical science oral presentation categories. In addition, a first-place award was presented to the winner of both the medical student poster presentation and the resident poster presentation. The 2016 Resident Research Competition winners were as follows:

Commission on Cancer

• First place: Ahsan Raza, MB, BS, University of Florida (UF), Gainesville, PGY-5
• Second place: Dr. Raza
• Third place: Sangeetha Prabhakaran, MB, BS, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, PGY-10

Basic Science/Clinical Science

• First place: Dr. Raza
• Second place: Juan C. Mira, MD, UF, Gainesville, PGY-2
• Third place: Cristen Litz, MD, pediatric surgery research fellow, All Children’s Johns Hopkins Education, St. Petersburg, FL, PGY-4

Resident Poster Winner

• Juliet Ray, MD, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, PGY-5

Medical Student Poster Winner

• Michelle Zeidan, UF

ACS President participates in Brooklyn-Long Island Chapter dinner meeting

ACS President J. David Richardson, MD, FACS, (center) spoke about the Challenges for Surgeons in the Future at a dinner meeting in June hosted by the Brooklyn-Long Island Chapter, attended by approximately 60 surgeons. James Rucinski, MD, FACS (second from left), received the Joseph Cunningham, MD, FACS, Mentorship award. Other attendees included (from left) Gene F. Coppa, MD, FACS, Chapter Secretary/Treasurer; John McNelis, MD, FACS, FCCM, Brooklyn-Long Island Chapter President; and Jeff P. Weiss, MD, FACS, Chapter Vice-President.

Gov. Bruce Rauner speaks at Illinois Chapter annual meeting

The 66th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Illinois Chapter of the ACS took place May 18−20 at Memorial Medical Center for Learning and Innovation in Springfield, IL. A highlight of this year’s program was a presentation by Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, who spoke about the difficulties of passing a balanced budget in Illinois. He also noted that the state’s computer programs need to be updated, which would save the state a significant amount of time and money.

Program co-directors Dawn Wietfeldt, MD, FACS, FASCRS, and Paul Pacheco, MD, FACS, created an interesting and diverse program. Gary C. Vitale, MD, FACS, spoke on Flexible Endoscopy in Surgical Practice, and Gary L. Dunnington, MD, FACS, discussed Measuring and Improving Performance in Surgical Training. Walter J. Pories, MD, FACS, ACS Second Vice-President, spoke on The Surgical Cure of Diabetes? Really? and provided an update on ACS activities.

Included in the program were presentations on hernias, cancer therapies, aneurysms, carotid artery stenting, endoscopy, colorectal surgery, general surgery, population health, and duty hour restrictions.

A dinner event took place at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. At this event, the Founders Competition awards were presented. The first-place prize of $500 and a plaque were awarded to Abigail M. Cochran, MD, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (SIUSOM), for Diminishing Wound Breakdown after Pressure Sore Closure with Assistance of the VAC (vacuum-assisted closure) Device. The second-place prize of $300 was awarded to Lauren Hutchinson, MD, SIUSOM, for New Insights for Botulinum Neuromodulator Targets for Correction of the Nasolabial Fold and Midface Rhytids: An Anatomic Study and Introduction of the Malar Levator Muscle. There was a tie for third place: $200 each was awarded to Chelsea C. Snider, MD, SIUSOM, for Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid-1 Channel Blockade As Possible Mechanism of Botulinum Toxin Type-A in the Treatment of Chronic Pain, and to Michael Ruebhausen, MD, SIUSOM, for A Bioengineered Graft to Heal Full Thickness Wounds. A total of 13 residents from SIUSOM and University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria participated in this year’s competition.

At the Illinois Chapter Business Meeting, the following new Officers were elected: Paul E. Pacheco, MD, FACS, and Amy L. Halverson, MD, FACS, Councilors; Mark Kuhnke, MD, FACS, Governor; Daniel M. Chase, MD, FACS, President-Elect; and Magesh Sundaram, MD, FACS, Cancer Chair. The members voted to donate $1,000 to the ACS Foundation.

Next year’s meeting will take place in Champaign. A joint meeting with the Chicago Metro Chapter is tentatively planned for 2018.

ACS Switzerland Chapter hosts Swiss Congress of Surgery

The Swiss members of the International Surgical Society and the Fellows of the Switzerland Chapter of the ACS met June 2 at the Swiss Congress of Surgery in Lugano.

Walter P. Schweizer, MD, FACS, President of the ACS Switzerland Chapter, who also is a delegate to the International Surgical Society, offered welcoming remarks at the opening reception.  He noted that the Switzerland Chapter will play an important role in organizing the World Congress of Surgery 2017, which was originally scheduled to take place in Argentina but has been moved to Switzerland, and will take place August 13−17, 2017. Dr. Schweizer is organizing a program committee for this meeting that will be charged with developing a world-class event including high-quality scientific sessions, along with opportunities for networking and leisure activities. The meeting of European ACS chapters that took place in June in Lisbon, Portugal, will serve as a template for organizing the 2017 meeting. Representatives from the International Surgical Society and European Governors will plan for Clinical Congress 2016 in Washington, DC. In addition, chapter members discussed the need to recruit more Swiss surgeons to pursue Fellowship in the ACS and to become chapter members.

ACS Federal District Chapter of Mexico to host COT Region 14 meeting

ACS Governor Moises Zielanowski, MD, FACS, has reported that the ACS Federal District Chapter of Mexico will host the eighth Annual Meeting of the Region 14 ACS Committee on Trauma, which will take place this year at the Hotel Geneve in Mexico City September 1−2. Furthermore, a meeting on General Topics in General Surgery will take place October 6−7 at the American British Cowdray Medical Center, Mexico City.

Thailand Chapter offers education and quality programs

In addition to offering the Advanced Trauma Life Support^® (ATLS^®) Course, the Thailand Chapter of the ACS has recently started offering the ACS Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma Course for residents, and is preparing instructors to deliver the Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support Course this fall, reported Preecha Siritongtaworn, MD, FACS, ACS Governor. In addition, the chapter organized a basic science paper competition for presentation at the 46th World Congress of Surgery, held by the International Society of Surgery meeting last August in Bangkok. The award-winning paper was titled Is Concomitant Cholecystectomy with Bariatric Surgery in Asymptomatic Patient Necessary? Lastly, the chapter conducted an international conference, Colorectal Diseases Symposium 2015, at the Bangkok-Phuket Hospital in December.

Lebanon Chapter holds annual meeting

The ACS Lebanon Chapter held its Annual Business Meeting on May 13, at which the following new officers were elected:

• Jamal Hoballah, MD, FACS, Governor
• Muhamad Tarek Berjawi, MD, FACS, President
• Ahmad Zaatari, MD, FACS, President-Elect
• Muhammad Younis, MD, FACS, General Secretary
• Karim Nawfal, MB, BS, FACS, Treasurer
• Five new council members: Wael Kabalan, MD, FACS; Rami Nasr, MD, FACS; Joe Naoum, MD, FACS; Mohamad Wehbe, MD; and Yousef El-Douaihy, MD, FACS
• Ghassan Nawfal, MD, FACS, Past-President

According to Dr. Younis, the chapter participated in several activities in the last six months after a successful scientific congress, which was held in collaboration with the annual meeting of the Lebanese Society of General Surgery. The activities on October 30 included a special lecture on The Management of Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma, delivered by Richard D. Schulick, MD, FACS, chairman, surgery department, University of Colorado, Denver. At a chapter scientific session hosted in February, Daniel B. Hindshaw, MD, FACS, professor of surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, gave a lecture titled Surgeons and Suffering—End of Life Care. The chapter is planning a regional congress November 5−7 in collaboration with the ATLS region 17 meeting, along with a special lecture on ethics in August and other scientific symposia and workshops in such specialties as ophthalmology, otolaryngology, and urology.