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, advocacy days, and more. Following are highlights and photos from these programs.
Idaho Chapter
Hosted the Annual Regional Meeting of the Idaho, Montana-Wyoming, and Utah Chapters January 25–27 in Sun Valley, ID. Speakers focused on issues that surgeons face in the Mountain West region of the U.S. Ronald V. Maier, MD, FACS, FRCSEd(Hon), FCSHK(Hon), 2018–2019 ACS President, attended the meeting and gave an update of the status of the College and a talk about the value of U.S. trauma systems.
Julio Vasquez, MD, FACS, Idaho Chapter Immediate Past-President (left), and Dr. Maier.
Johnny Green, MD, FASCRS, FACS, Idaho Chapter President; Adam Deutchman, MD, FACS, Past-Governor; Bill Morgan, MD, FACS, Idaho Chapter Past-President; and Dr. Vasquez.
Florida Chapter
Approximately 40 attendees convened January 29–30 in Tallahassee for two Advocacy Days. With a total of 17 legislative visits and five participating societies, key issues discussed with lawmakers included the redress of regulations on opioids (H.B. 21) and scope-of-practice expansion.
Southern California Chapter
The Southern California Chapter hosted its Annual Scientific Meeting January 25–27, in Santa Barbara. J. Craig Collins, MD, FACS (right), 2019 Chapter President, thanks Ninh T. Nguyen, MD, FACS, FASBMS, for his service as 2018 President.
Tennessee Chapter (TNACS)
TNACS and the Tennessee Committee on Trauma (TNCOT) February 5 hosted the 2019 Advocacy Day/Stop the Bleed™ event in Nashville. More than 50 legislators and staff members received training in bleeding control, and legislators were asked to support legislation requiring bleeding control kits in all Tennessee public schools.
Tennessee State Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D) and Tennessee State Senator Sara Kyle (D), holding the Stop the Bleed sign, along with TNACS and TNCOT leaders and trauma professionals.
Kuwait Chapter
Kuwait Association of Surgeons Conference, November 21–23, 2018, Kuwait City. Dr. Maier and Salman Al Sabah, MBBS, FACS, Kuwait Chapter Governor, with members of the Kuwait Sword Dance Troupe, which performed at the conference.
Louisiana Chapter (LA-ACS)
Gazi Zibari, MD, FACS, is the 2019 recipient of the LA-ACS Charles Lester Black Humanitarian Award, which recognizes an LA-ACS member who has dedicated a significant amount of time to humanitarian medical outreach activity and capacity building abroad.
Connecticut Chapter
Chapter leaders testified at the State Capitol on February 11 in opposition to proposed legislation prohibiting hospitals from charging trauma activation fees.
(From left): Alan Meinke, MD, FACS, Chapter President; Ronald Gross, MD, FACS; David Shapiro, MD, MCHM, FACS, Chapter Treasurer; Kathleen LaVorgna, MD, FACS, Chapter Governor-at-Large; and Gary Kaml, MD, FACS.
Northwestern Pennsylvania Chapter
November 28, 2018, networking event for ACS members in the region. Paul Malaspina, MD, FACS, Northwestern Pennsylvania ACS Governor (above, sixth from left), gave a brief update on ACS activities and encouraged attendees to get involved with the local chapter.
