Chapter news

Domestic and international chapters of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) met in the last several months to host a variety of activities, including annual meetings, award presentations, events for residents, and more. Following are highlights and photos from these programs, all of which took place in 2018.

Brazil Chapter

At the Clinical Congress 2018 Opening Ceremony, from left: Savino Gasparini, MD, FACS, Brazil Chapter Governor; Fernanda Lage Lima Dantas, MD, FACS, Baxiram S. and Kankuben B. Gelot Community Surgeons Travel Award recipient from Rio Branco, Brazil; and Marcelo A. F. Ribeiro, Jr., MD, MSc, PhD, FACS

Italy Chapter

2018 Annual Meeting in Rome in conjunction with the Italian Annual Surgical Congress, October 14–18. ACS Gastrointestinal Surgical Emergencies Course attendees, from left: George Velmahos, MD, FACS; Giuseppe Nigri, MD, FACS, Italy Chapter Secretary and Treasurer; Alberto Ferreres, MD, FACS(Hon), Argentina Chapter Governor; Daniela Molena, MD, FACS; Cristina Ferrone, MD, FACS; Richard Schulick, MD, FACS; Mark Talamini, MD, FACS, Eastern Long Island Chapter President; and George Tsoulfas, MD, FACS, Greece Chapter President.

Japan Chapter

The Japan Chapter reception, October 22, Seaport Hotel, Boston, MA, in conjunction with Clinical Congress 2018. More than 80 participants gathered for the event, including members of the Japan Chapter, international guests from other chapters, and young Japanese surgeons.

Brooklyn-Long Island Chapter (BLIACS)

BLIACS Clinic Day on Advances in Nutritional Science for Disease Prevention and Reversal, December 5: Joel Fuhrman, MD, renowned speaker on PBS [Public Broadcasting Service], spoke to more than 400 attendees.

From left: Charles Coren, MD, FACS, BLIACS Past-President; Michael Setzen, MD, FACS, Program Organizer and Chair, BLIACS Scientific Committee; Dr. Fuhrman; Thomas Davenport, MD, FACS, President, Nassau Surgical Society; and Jeffrey P. Weiss, MD, FACS, BLIACS Chapter President.

Connecticut (CT) Chapter

50th Anniversary Meeting, October 19. The chapter hosted speakers Julie Freischlag, MD, FACS, FRCSI, FRCS, Past-Chair, ACS Board of Regents; and Ronnie Rosenthal, MD, FACS, surgeon-in-chief, VA Connecticut Health System. Dr. Rosenthal partnered with the CT Surgical Quality Collaborative to develop and launch its Connecticut Geriatric Program for Surgery program (visit www.ctgps.org for more information).

From left: Dr. Rosenthal; Dr. Freischlag; Alan Meinke, MD, FACS, Connecticut Chapter President; Kimberly Davis, MD, MBA, FACS, Connecticut Chapter Past-President; and Christopher Tasik, Connecticut Chapter Executive Director.

Delaware Chapter

Eighth annual Delaware Day of Surgery on October 31, Newark, DE. Joseph Bennett, MD, FACS, Chapter President, introduced the keynote speaker, Lani Nelson-Zlupko, PhD, whose presentation, Resilient Professionals, focused on how to face work challenges with courage, strategy, and the spirit of collaboration. Resident members participated in a resident paper competition; a simulator competition; and Surgical Survivor, which was created and moderated by Jason Weinberger, DO, FACS, and Elizabeth Bond, MD, postgraduate year (PGY)-5, Delaware Resident and Associate Society (RAS) Representative.

Florida Chapter (FCACS)

More than 100 Florida surgeons and guests from the Florida, South Florida, and Jacksonville Chapters attended the annual Florida Reception at Clinical Congress 2018.

Pictured: Christine Laronga, MD, FACS, FCACS President, speaks to attendees at the Florida Reception.

Maryland Chapter (MD-ACS): 2018 Fall Dinner Meeting, November 1, Baltimore, MD. The program, Pulse Nightclub Tragedy: Lessons from a Mass Casualty Event, was presented by Michael L. Cheatham, MD, FACS, FCCM, chairman (pictured), Orlando Health Surgical Group, chief surgical quality officer, Orlando Regional Medical Center, and academic chair, department of surgical education. Dr. Cheatham and his fellow trauma surgeons were actively involved in the response to the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting on June 12, 2016, the second deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

Massachusetts Chapter (MCACS)

65th Annual Meeting and 8th Annual Resident Top Gun Competition, December 1, Boston. The winning team of the MCACS Top Gun trophy was (from left) Faina Nakhlis, MD, FACS, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Boston Medical Center team: Allan Stolarski, MD (PGY-1); Benjamin Nelson, MD (PGY-3); Olga Beresneva, MD (PGY-5); and mentor Brian Carmine, MD, FACS.