Nevada Chapter meeting covers a range of hot topics in surgery
The Nevada Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) hosted its first all-day statewide meeting October 7 in Las Vegas. The day started and ended with Stop the Bleed® training sessions. Deborah Kuhls, MD, FACS, FCCM, President of the Nevada Chapter, emphasized the importance of continuing annual statewide meetings. She also praised surgeons for their comradery and care of those injured in the October 1 shooting in Las Vegas and highlighted the College’s initiatives in firearm injury prevention and advocacy. James Dylan Curry, MD, FACS, Chapter President-Elect; Jennifer Baynosa, MD, FACS, Chapter Secretary-Treasurer; and Christopher McNicoll, MD, Resident and Associate Society Representative, led several sessions.
Nevada Chapter: From left: Allison McNickle, MD; Paul Chestovich, MD, FACS; Syed Saquib, MD; Dr. Curry; Dr. Kuhls; Steven Lorch, MD; Camille Spenner, Chapter Executive Director; and Douglas Fraser, MD, FACS
The program included an opioid panel composed of Ross Goldberg, MD, FACS, chief of surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix; Dr. McNicoll; and Jessica Johnson, Southern Nevada Health District, as well as representatives from the office of Gov. Brian Sandoval (R)—John DiMuro, DO, Medical Officer for the State of Nevada, and Elyse Monroy, Health and Human Services Policy Analyst. Wydell Williams, Jr., MD, FACS, a general surgeon from Las Vegas, spoke on unconscious bias among surgeons and patients.
Other program highlights included a panel discussion on gallbladder disease and surgical complications moderated by Charles R. St. Hill, MD, FACS, assistant professor of surgery, division of surgical oncology, department of surgery, University of Nevada, School of Medicine; Surgical Jeopardy; and research presentations. Research paper competition winners in the medical student category were Jonathan Habashy, first-place winner, and Ashley Tarchione, second-place winner, both from the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine. Research paper winners in the general surgery category were Marlo Asis, MD, postgraduate year (PGY)-3, University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Medicine, in first place and Hossein Solimany, MD, PGY-2, Mountain View Hospital, in second place.
The Nevada Committee on Trauma Resident Paper Competition winners were Allison McNickle, MD, PGY-7, University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Medicine, first-place winner, and Dr. McNicoll PGY-3, University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Medicine, second-place winner.
The next meeting of the Nevada Chapter will take place September 15, 2018.
Massachusetts Chapter holds surgical advocacy summit at the Massachusetts State House
The Massachusetts Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (MCACS) held its fifth Advocacy Day October 16 in the Great Hall of Flags of the Massachusetts State House. More than 80 medical personnel, government officials, law enforcement officials, and legislators and their staffs attended.
Massachusetts Chapter: Massachusetts Chapter members on the Grand Staircase of the Massachusetts State House at the October 16 Advocacy Day
The program was titled The Massachusetts Opioid Epidemic: The Surgeons’ Response to a Public Health Crisis. Peter T. Masiakos, MD, FACS, director, pediatric trauma services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, moderated a panel of speakers, including Sarah E. Wakeman, MD, medical director, Substance Use Disorders Initiative, Massachusetts General Hospital; Haytham M. Kaafarani, MD, MPH, director of patient safety and quality, trauma, and emergency surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital; Michael Reinhorn, MD, FACS, general surgeon, Newton Wellesley Hospital; and Edward M. Kwasnik, MD, FACS, vascular surgeon, Brigham and Women’s Surgical Associates at South Shore, Weymouth.
Boston Police Commissioner William Evans spoke on the effect of the opioid crisis on the local population. Allison F. Bauer, JD, LICSW, Director, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, Department of Public Health, spoke on the role of the surgeons on the front line of the epidemic. Anne C. Larkin, MD, FACS, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MCACS President, presented the fifth John Collins Warren Award to Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who accepted the award on behalf of Gov. Charlie Baker. Christopher Johnson, State Affairs Associate, ACS Division of Advocacy and Health Policy, concluded the morning by preparing attendees for afternoon visits with their legislators.
Bangladesh Chapter hosts program for surgical trainees
Bangladesh Chapter: From left: Dr. Alam; Prof. Afzal Hossain, MB, BS, FCPS; Prof. M. Khademul Islam, MB, BS, FACS, FCPS, FRCS; Prof. Murtuza K. I. Q. Choudhury, MB, BS, MS, FACS; Prof. S. M. Munirul Huq, MB, BS, FACS, FRCS; Prof. Shafiqul Hoque, MB, BS, FACS, FCPS; Prof. Shamsul Alam, MB, BS, FCPS
The newly chartered Bangladesh Chapter of the American College of Surgeons hosted an event for postgraduate surgical trainees September 17 in Dhaka. The meeting was well attended by approximately 150 faculty and participants. Prof. Mohammed Shadrul Alam, MB, BS, MS, FACS, FCPS, professor of pediatric surgery, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, was the master of ceremonies for the event. The program centered on Updates in Surgical Disciplines and covered several topics, including abdominal wound closure, oculoplasty, aesthetic surgery, ventral hernia, stem cell revascularization, obstructive uropathy in children, joint replacement, and pediatric vascular anomalies. Participants encouraged the leaders of the Bangladesh Chapter to conduct similar events in the future.
Dr. Townsend participates in China-Hong Kong Chapter ATLS program
China-Hong Kong Chapter: From left: Gilberto Ka Kit Leung, MB, BS, FACS; Richard Lo, MD, FACS; Mary Townsend; Dr. Townsend; John Wong, MB, BS, FACS(Hon); Danny Hung To Luk, MB, BS, FACS; Prof. Simon Law, MB, BCh, FACS
Courtney M. Townsend, Jr., MD, FACS, then-President of the ACS, participated in the China-Hong Kong Chapter’s presentation of the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS®) Provider Course September 22 at the University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine. In addition to attending the course, Dr. Townsend met with the faculty. This year marked the 20th anniversary of ATLS in Hong Kong. The inaugural ATLS Course in Hong Kong took place in January 1997 under the auspices of the ACS Committee on Trauma. As of September 2017, a total of 143 Provider Courses have taken place in Hong Kong and more than 2,200 physicians from various specialties and hospitals have been trained. The China-Hong Kong Chapter promulgated ATLS in mainland China in 2016 in response to the great demand for trauma training.
The chapter hosted a reception at the Hong Kong Club in honor of Dr. Townsend during his visit.
Uruguay Chapter hosts annual chapter meeting
Uruguay Chapter: From left: Gonzalo Fernandez, MD, FACS, Governor, Uruguay Chapter; Dr. Ferreres; Dr. Korn; Néstor Campos, MD, FACS, Past-President, Uruguay Chapter
The Uruguay Chapter of the ACS hosted a chapter meeting September 23, which 67 local surgeons and residents attended. Invited international guests included Alberto R. Ferreres, MD, PhD, FACS(Hon), FASA(Hon), professor of surgery, University of Buenos Aires, Governor, Argentina Chapter, and Chair, ACS International Chapter Region XIV; and Owen Korn, MD, FACS, professor of surgery, Universidad de Chile, and Past-President, Chile Chapter.
The Chapter Board, led by President Roberto Taruselli, MD, FACS, organized the event, which began with a welcome and opening speech by Prof. Gonzalo Estapé, MD, FACS, past-Governor of the Uruguay Chapter, briefly summarizing the history of the chapter and highlighting its formation in 2003.
Following the welcoming address, Dr. Ferreres provided lectures on Error in Surgery, Medico-Legal Implications of Surgical Practice, and Informed Consent in Surgical Practice. The second lecturer of the event was Dr. Korn, who gave a well-received talk on The Complicated Patient. The final lecture of the event was titled Surgical Aids and Error in Surgery.
The event concluded with a panel session, which provided an opportunity for participants to engage in a discussion with the invited international guests.
