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, skills competitions, advocacy days, and more. Following are highlights and photos from these programs.

Domestic chapters

Connecticut Chapter

Surgery Interest Nights, December 2019, H. Netter School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University, Hamden, and the University of Connecticut, Mansfield. Medical students learned about various aspects of general surgery residency and chapter resident committee members answered questions, provided insight into applying, and discussed their home programs.

Delaware Chapter

Delaware Day of Surgery, October 23, Newark. Highlights included a keynote address by Brian P. Jacob, MD, FACS, associate clinical professor, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, that centered around the impact of social media in surgical education; a paper competition for residents and fellows; Surgical Survivor; and a Robotic Simulator Competition.

Florida Chapter

All-Florida Surgical Advocacy Days, November 12–13, Tallahassee. Approximately 40 surgeons and surgical trainees participated in the annual event. Attendees discussed strategic advocacy, and visited with 23 Florida legislators in the state capitol to advocate for ensuring safe scope of practice, reducing prior authorization barriers to timely care, and obtaining state funding for bleeding control kits in schools and public spaces.

Massachusetts Chapter (MCACS)

66th Annual Meeting, December 7, Boston. Winners of the Top Gun Competition from UMass Memorial Medical Center (from left): John J. Kelly, MD, FASMBS, FACS, team mentor; Donald R. Czerniach, MD, FACS; Max Hazeltine, MD; Joshua Scurlock, MD, PGY-5; Edward Kim, MD, PGY-1; and Neal E. Seymour, MD, FACS, Top Gun Chair.

Michigan Chapter

Third Annual Initiate Breakfast, October 28, San Francisco, CA. The breakfast, held at Clinical Congress 2019, was an opportunity for the chapter to congratulate new ACS Fellows from Michigan, introduce them to chapter leadership, and invite them to become members.

New York Chapter

Annual Membership Dinner, November 12, Manhattan. Marina Kurian, MD, FACS, Chapter President, provided updates to members on chapter activities, delivering education on a regional basis, and hosting a reception during Surgical Education Week. The meeting also featured a discussion on telemedicine and how it is affecting health care. Arthur Cooper, MD, FACS, and William Doscher, MD, FACS, New York Chapter Governors and Co-Chairs of the New York Chapter Legislative Committee, updated members on legislative and regulatory issues affecting surgical care.

Puerto Rico Chapter

Ordinary Meeting and Lecture, November 14, San Juan. Franchesca Fiorito-Torres, MD, spoke on use of onabotulinum toxin in the management of migraines. The meeting also introduced new Fellows to chapter members and invited them to join.

Chapter Executive Learning Event

December 9, Chicago, IL. Approximately twenty chapter Executive Directors and Administrators attended an all-day event to learn more about the different programs and initiatives of the College. The program included presentations from representatives from Members Services, Quality Programs, Education, Advocacy, the ACS Foundation, and Convention and Meetings.

Domestic Chapter Membership Challenge Award

October 30, San Francisco, CA. This inaugural award was given to the Ohio Chapter and New York Chapter at the Board of Governors (B/G) Adjourned Meeting at Clinical Congress 2019. The six-month challenge saw a 15 percent increase in membership among the 17 participating chapters.

International chapters

Argentina Chapter

98th Argentine Surgical National Meeting, October 14–17, Buenos Aires. As a recipient of the 2019 International Chapter Opportunity Program (the Dr. Pon Fund), the chapter organized the Gastrointestinal Surgical Emergencies Postgraduate Course at the National Meeting.

Japan Chapter

Reception, October 28, San Francisco, CA. A reception was held in conjunction with Clinical Congress 2019. More than 50 participants attended, including members of the Japan Chapter, ACS leadership, and other ACS chapters.

Philippines Chapter

Annual Meeting, December 3, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, held in conjunction with the Philippine College of Surgeons Clinical Congress. ACS President Valerie W. Rusch, MD, FACS (fifth from left), with Ray B. Malilay, MD, FACS, Chapter Governor, and Nilo De Los Santos, MD, FACS, Chapter President (both to the immediate right of Dr. Rusch), as well as other leaders from the Philippines Chapter.

Uruguay Chapter

Chapter Meeting and Federación Latinoamericana de Cirugía Annual Congress, December 2–5, Punta Del Este. Roberto Taruselli, MD, FACS, Chapter Governor (fifth from right), and other local dignitaries welcomed special guests Gerald M. Fried, MD, FACS, FRCSC, Past-Chair, Board of ACS Regents, and ACS Immediate Past-President Ronald V. Maier, MD, FACS, FRCSEd(Hon), FCSHK(Hon), FCCS(Hon) (both to the immediate left of Dr. Taruselli).