American College of Surgeons

Happy Thanksgiving! We are thankful for all of the work you do year-round to better the lives of patients and surgical care teams.

In a breakthrough for minimally invasive and robotic transplant surgery, ACS Fellow and cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Stephanie H. Chang successfully led the world’s first fully robotic double lung transplant. “By using these robotic systems, we aim to reduce the impact this major surgery has on patients, limit their postoperative pain, and give them the best possible outcome.” Learn more about the procedure from NYU Langone Health: https://lnkd.in/gpmB-2jR

Congratulations to ACS Executive Director & CEO Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS on being inducted as president of the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS). CMSS is a coalition of more than 50 organizations that represent more than 800,000 physicians. During her 1-year term as CMSS president, Dr. Turner will work with leaders to engage all medical specialties and advance patient care. “Given the critical role of specialty societies in driving improvements in education, quality, and equity, CMSS is so fortunate to have an innovative, big thinker like Dr. Turner as our new president,” said CMSS CEO Dr. Helen Burstin. 🔗: https://lnkd.in/gWuz6K8S

This #LungCancerAwarenessMonth, cardiothoracic surgeons Dr. Timothy Mullett and Dr. Luis Armando Godoy shared their top 4 tips that patients and families should know about lung cancer screening and treatment. 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: https://lnkd.in/gRU9Mm_G

🌟 Celebrating Leadership at Our Annual Meeting! 🌟  We’re thrilled to introduce our new President, Dr. Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, who will lead us with vision, passion, and expertise. With her leadership and the continued guidance of our President-Elect, Dr. Clifford Hudis MD, we are poised to make an even greater impact in the years to come. We are also excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Miguel Paniagua, MD, FACP, FAAHPM and Susan Gaffney, MS, to our Board of Directors! This is an exciting new chapter for our organization as we continue to grow and strengthen our commitment to making healthcare better together. A heartfelt thank you to our outgoing President, Sue Sedory, MA CAE for her outstanding leadership and dedication. Your legacy will continue to inspire us as we move forward. We are so grateful for the leadership and vision of our Board of Direction and the over 100 volunteer leaders who contribute to the organization each year. Together, we can advance the expertise and collective voice of specialty societies in support of physicians and the patients we serve. 

Dr. Sharona Ross of AdventHealth Tampa recently received the 2024 CLP Outstanding Performance Award, and was one of only eight Cancer Liaison Physicians to earn the recognition. This award, from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, is presented to physicians who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to improving quality care for cancer patients. Congratulations, Dr. Ross!

We are looking for two surgeons to serve in these key roles in our DC office. This is the last week to apply. If either position resonates and you have the expertise, we would enjoy speaking with you about your interest.

Congratulations to Richard J. Bleicher, MD, FACS, Chief of the Division of Breast Surgery and Clinical Director of the Breast Service Line at Fox Chase Cancer Center, who has been appointed Vice Chair of the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (American College of Surgeons) and Chair of its Executive Committee: https://bit.ly/4hRy39D

Congratulations to ACS Fellows Dr. Loretta Erhunmwunse and Dr. Neha Goel on being named to the second cohort of Cancer Moonshot Scholars. They will be funded through the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to advance cancer prevention, treatment, and diagnosis.

Residents, as you approach the halfway point in this year’s surgical training, I want to remind you of the career-enhancing benefits of joining the American College of Surgeons and our Resident and Associate (RAS) Society. As a member, you will be able to network with surgical icons and make your voice heard by ACS leadership. Best of all, membership is FREE and will position you for success as you make your way through this phase of your career. Resident members have leadership opportunities within RAS committees, as well as ACS Advisory Councils and Chapters. In addition, you could receive a scholarship to attend our annual spring Leadership & Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC, free admission to the ACS Clinical Congress, a free subscription to JACS, career planning resources, and much more. We want to see your continued growth in our specialty and participation in the ACS, whatever that looks like for you. As the House of Surgery, our focus is always on creating the best surgeons to provide the best care for patients—and that work begins with our surgical trainees. Learn more about RAS and reach out to me or anyone in Member Services if you have any questions.