Leigh A. Neumayer, MD, MS, FACS, Tucson, AZ, is the 2017–2018 Chair of the Board of Regents (B/R) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). She was elected at the Annual Business Meeting of Members, October 25, 2017, in San Diego, CA.
A general surgeon, Dr. Neumayer is professor and chair, department of surgery, and the Margaret and Fenton Maynard Endowed Chair in Breast Cancer Research, University of Arizona (UA) College of Medicine, Tucson. She also is the interim senior vice-president for UA Health Sciences. Before accepting these positions in Arizona, Dr. Neumayer was professor, department of surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, and the Jon and Karen Huntsman Presidential Professor, University of Utah/Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City.
In her role as Chair of the Board of Regents, Dr. Neumayer will work closely with the ACS Executive Director David B. Hoyt, MD, FACS, and will chair the Regents’ Finance and Executive Committees. The College’s 24-member Board of Regents formulates policy and is ultimately responsible for managing the affairs of the College.
Previous leadership roles
A Fellow of the ACS since 1994 and a member of the B/R since 2009, Dr. Neumayer has served in many leadership roles within the organization. She was Chair of the Committee on Medical Student Education (2001–2003), Vice-Chair of the Surgical Research Committee (2015–2016), a Governor for the ACS Utah Chapter (2002–2008), and Vice-Chair of the Board of Regents (2016–2017). Dr. Neumayer also was Vice-Chair of the Nominating Committee of the Board of Governors (2004–2006) and a Board of Governors Executive Committee Member (2008–2011).
Nationally, Dr. Neumayer has served on the board of directors of the American Board of Surgery (2005–2011) and as the President of the Association of Women Surgeons (1997–1998), the Association for Surgical Education (2001–2002), the Association of Veterans Administration Surgeons (2002–2003), and the Society of Clinical Surgery (2012–2014).
At present, she serves on the editorial boards for the Journal of the American College of Surgeons and Annals of Surgery.
Dr. Neumayer’s most recent work is focused on the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer via innovative technology and clinical trials. She has led investigations in hernia repair techniques, breast cancer treatment, surgical quality and outcomes, and surgical education techniques. Dr. Neumayer has mentored students, residents, and colleagues in these and other pursuits.
Dr. Neumayer studied biomedical engineering at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, before getting her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. She trained in general surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, and at the University of Arizona, Tuscon. Dr. Neumayer then studied clinical research design and statistical analysis at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Dr. Schwartz elected Vice-Chair
Marshall Z. Schwartz, MD, FACS, professor of surgery and pediatrics, and vice-chairman, department of surgery, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, was elected Vice-Chair of the ACS Board of Regents. Dr. Schwartz also is the emeritus surgeon-in-chief and director of the surgery research laboratory at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia.
A Fellow of the College since 1982, Dr. Schwartz has been a Regent since 2009 and has served on many ACS Committees. He was Chair of the Advisory Council Chairs (2004–2008), the Advisory Council for Pediatric Surgery (2004–2008), and the Health Policy and Advocacy Group (2014–2017). At present, he is Chair of the Comprehensive Communications Committee and a Member of the Surgical History Group Executive Committee.
