Presidential Addresses
Inaugural and Retiring
J.M.T. Finney, MD, FACS, was the first President to address the American College of Surgeons when he assumed office in 1913. Apparently Dr. Finney delivered no other address during the rest of his term. The second address as incoming College President was by George Crile, MD, FACS, in 1916. No presidential address was delivered until 1919 when William J. Mayo, MD, FACS, became President of the combined American College of Surgeons and Clinical Congress.
The address of the incoming College President was at the convocation at the end of each Clinical Congress week until 1936, at which time it was discontinued. Thereafter, each President made one address upon retiring from office, until 1953. At that time, the retiring President, Harold Foss, MD, FACs delivered his presidential address on Monday evening, and Fred Rankin, MD, FACS, gave an address as incoming President on Friday evening. Since then, each College President has made his single address at the convocation.
FOR FULL TEXT OF ANY OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES, CONTACT THE ARCHIVIST AT 312-202-5270 OR srishworth@facs.org.
| 1913 | Finney, J.M.T. | Presidential Address (960K PDF) | Brochure |
| 1914 to 1916 | No addresses available | ||
| 1917 | Crile, G.W. | Presidential Address (135K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1917 (3) 1-2 |
| 1918 | No address - War year and "Flu" epidemic | ||
| 1919 | Mayo, W.J. | Presidential Address (270K PDF) | SGO 1920 (30) 97-99 |
| 1920 | Mayo, W.J. | Mortality and End Results in Surgery | SGO 1921 (32) 97-102 |
| 1920 | Armstrong, G.E. | Immunity in Surgery (685K PDF) | SGO 1921 (32) 399-401 |
| 1921 | Armstrong, G.E. | Gastric Hemorrhage | SGO 1922 (34) 466-468 |
| 1921 | Deaver, J.B. | Old Methods Versus New in Surgical Diagnosis (155K PDF) | SGO 1921(33) 605-606 |
| 1921 | Deaver, J.B. | Medical Education | SGO 1922 (34) 177-179 |
| 1922 | Cushing, H. | The Physician and the Surgeon (855K PDF) | SGO 1922 (35) 701-710 |
| 1922 | Cushing, H. | Surgical and End Results in General (755K PDF) | SGO 1923 (36) 303-308 |
| 1923 | Ochsner, A.J. | Fellowship in the ACS (180K PDF) | SGO 1924 (38) 285-286. |
| 1924 | Ochsner, A.J. | Cancer Infection | SGO 1925 (40) 336-342 |
| 1924 | Mayo, C.H. | Address of the President (145K PDF) | SGO 1925 (40) 447-448 |
| 1925 | Mayo, C.H. | Hepatic Function in Health and Disease | SGO 1926 (42) 9-14 |
| 1926 | Matas, R. | Mission and Ideals of the American College of Surgeons (485K PDF) | Yearbook 1926 : 71-78 |
| 1926 | Matas, R. | Surgery and the International Spirit | SGO 1927 (44) 424-432 |
| 1926 | Chipman, W.W. | Joseph Lister (490K PDF) | Yearbook 1927: 103-110 |
| 1927 | Chipman, W.W. | Retiring Address | Copy of Ms. |
| 1927 | Stewart, G.D. | Idealism in Medicine (240K PDF) | Yearbook 1928: 102-105 |
| 1928 | Stewart, G.D. | Ourselves - the College | SGO 1929 (48) 142-144 |
| 1928 | Martin, F.H. | The Evolution of Clinical Medicine and Surgery | SGO 1928 (47) 736-50 |
| 1929 | Martin, F.H. | The American College of Surgeons, Past, Present and Future (945K PDF) | SGO 1928 (47) 887-896 |
| 1929 | Ireland, M.W. | Medical Department of the U.S. Army (560K PDF) | SGO 1930 (50) 296-301 |
| 1930 | Ireland, M.W. | Military Obligations of the Medical Profession | SGO 1931 (52) 485-487 |
| 1930 | Miller, C.J. | Humanities of Medicine (4100K PDF) | SGO 1931 (52) 488-490 |
| 1931 | Miller, C.J. | Medical Men and Their Lay Critics | SGO 1932 (54) 391-396 |
| 1931 | Kanavel, A.B. | Program of the College and the Initiates' Responsibilities (2520K PDF) | SGO 1932 (54) 403-406 |
| 1932 | Kanavel, A.B. | Intangibles in Surgery | SGO 1933 (56) 394-397 |
| 1932 | Squier, J.B. | American College of Surgeons Twenty Years of Ambitious Effort (2820K PDF) | SGO 1933 (56) 404-409 |
| 1933 | Squier, J.B. | Hippocratic Code and the New Deal | SGO 1934 (58) 407-408 |
| 1933 | Haggard, W.D. | Surgeon of the Wilderness: Ephraim McDowell (3060K PDF) | SGO 1934 (58) 415-419 |
| 1934 | Haggard, W.D. | Background of the American Surgeon | SGO 1935 (60) 427-431 |
| 1934 | Greenough, R.B. | Cancer Clinics and Cancer Services in General Hospitals (3380K PDF) | SGO 1935 (60) 441-446 |
| 1935 | Greenough, R.B. | Conscience of the Surgeon | SGO 1936 (62) 390-394 |
| 1935 | Balfour, D.C. | The Trend of Surgery (2270K PDF) | SGO 1936 (62) 402-405 |
| 1936 | Balfour, D.C. | Function of the American College of Surgeons (Retiring Presidential address) |
SGO 1937 (64) 565-569 |
| 1937 | Pool, E.H. | Education of a Surgeon - Past and Present (1380K PDF) | SGO 1937 (64) 570-575 |
| 1938 | Pool, E.H. | College and the Cultural Aspects of Surgery | SGO 1938 (66) 414-418 |
| 1938 | Besley, F.A. | American College of Surgeons in Retrospect and Prospect on its Twenty-Fifth Anniversary (1160K PDF) | SGO 1939 (68) 419-423 |
| 1939 | Naffziger, H.C. | Metamorphosis of the Surgeon (1080K PDF) | SGO 1940 (70) 374-378 |
| 1940 | Muller, G.P. | The College and American Surgery (2860K PDF) | SGO 1941 (72) 529-533 |
| 1941 | Graham, E.A. | American Surgery in a Changing World (4020K PDF) | SGO 1942 (74) 273-280 |
| 1941-1946 | None given - War Years | ||
| 1946 | Gallie, W.E | Ideals in Surgery (2910K PDF) | SGO 1947 (84) 513-518 |
| 1947 | Abell, I | Spirit of Surgery (2330K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1947 (32) 208-211 |
| 1948 | Allen, A.W. | Looking Forward (2210K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1949 (34) 47-50 |
| 1949 | Phemister, D.C. | Evaluation of Full Time and Group Practice for the Clinical Faculty of a Medical School (2670K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1950 (35) 17-21 |
| 1950 | Coller, F.A. | For the Benefit of the Patients (425K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1951 (36) 29-34 |
| 1951 | Cave, H.W. | General Surgeon in the Changing Era (305K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1951 (36) 348-351 |
| 1952 | Ochsner, A. | Report to our Founders (700K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1953 (38) 15-23 |
| 1953 | Foss, H.L. | American College of Surgeons - Its Obligations and Responsibilities Greater Now Than Ever (Retiring Presidential Address) (1080K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1954 (39) 23-26 |
| 1953 | Rankin, F.W. | Responsibility of a Heritage (1130K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1954 (39) 5-9;59 |
| 1954 | Blalock, A. | Our Obligations and Opportunities (1010K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1955 (40) 83-86;139 |
| 1955 | Cole, W.H. | Surgical Philosophy Old and New (1020K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1956 (41) 67-71 |
| 1956 | Elkin, D.E. | But Above All, a Good Doctor (960K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1957 (42) 5-8;30-32 |
| 1957 | Estes, W.L., Jr. | Responsibility of Leadership (1050K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1958 (43) 45-48;75-76 |
| 1958 | Philpott, N.W. | Our College in a Changing World (1760K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1959 (44) 35-36;48 |
| 1959 | Wangensteen, O.H. | Retrospect and Prospect (2360K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1960 (45) 23-30;62-66 |
| 1960 | Ravdin, I.S. | Whither Goeth the American Surgeon (870K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1961 (46) 10;26-28 |
| 1961 | Zollinger, R.M. | Surgical Tithing (758K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1962 (47) 9-12;52 |
| 1962 | Davis, L. | Credo (1140K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1963 (48) 25-28;52 |
| 1963 | Dunphy, J.E. | Responsibility and Authority in American Surgery (285K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1964 (49) 9-12 |
| 1964 | Priestley, J.T. | The Impossible of Yesterday (400K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1965 (50)5-8;30-31 |
| 1965 | Patterson, H. A. | This Time is a Good Time (990K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1966 (51) 87-90;118-119 |
| 1966 | MacKenzie, W.C. | Our Destiny is to Build (2060K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1967 (52) 33-36 |
| 1967 | Nesbit, Reed M. | Heritage and Obligations of Fellowship (1820K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1967 (52) 383-389;391-392 |
| 1968 | Wade, Preston A. | Science Alone is not Enough (845K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1969 (54) 5-9 |
| 1969 | Baker, Joel Wilson | A Profession Held in Trust (1170K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1970 (Jan) 7-11 |
| 1970 | Mahorner, Howard | A Surgeon's Career (2040K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1970 (Nov) 7-11 |
| 1971 | Rhoads, J. E. | National Health Policies for Improving the Care of the Surgical Patient (1000K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1971 (Dec) 7-10 |
| 1972 | Longmire, W.P., Jr. | The Surgeon, the System and Patient Care (1000K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1972 (Nov) 9-12 |
| 1973 | Welch, C.E. | Quality Care, Quasi-care and Quackery (1460K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1973 (Nov) 7-12 |
| 1974 | McLaughlin, Charles W. Jr. | Here Dwells Our Strength (2170K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1974 (Nov) 7-13 |
| 1975 | Scott, H. William | Professional Liability—The Crisis and Approaches to the Solution (2000K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1975 (Nov) 7-15 |
| 1976 | Dunlop, George R. | Medical Costs—Our Common Dilemma (1170K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1976 (Nov) 7-11 |
| 1977 | Stinchfield, Frank E. | A Call for Unity (1570K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1977 (Nov) 7-13 |
| 1978 | Altemeier, William A. | Quality Care: Ongoing or Outgoing? (1860K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1978 (Dec) 12-19 |
| 1979 | Muller, William H., Jr. | Quality Health Care in a Regulated Society (2050K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1979 (Dec) 7-12 |
| 1980 | Hardy, James D. | The President's Reflections on the American College of Surgeons (1400K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1980 (Dec) 18-23 |
| 1981 | Shires, G. Tom | The Ongoing Pursuit of High Quality (1600K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1981 (Dec) 12-18 |
| 1982 | Beal, John M. | Unity of Purpose (1020K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1982 (Dec) 14-17 |
| 1983 | Bahnson, Henry T. | Challenges (1200K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1983 (Dec) 6-10 |
| 1984 | Drake, Charles G. | Fellowship: The Benchmark for American Surgery (2400K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1984 (Dec) 6-10 |
| 1985 | Sabiston, David C., Jr. | Professional Liability in the 1980s: Problems and Solutions (1600K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1985 (Dec) 6-11 |
| 1986 | Warren, W. Dean | Can One Person Make a Difference? (820K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1986 (Dec) 8-10 |
| 1987 | Hanlon, C. Rollins | The Assurance of Quality (1600K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1987 (Dec) 5-11 |
| 1988 | Beahrs, Oliver H. | The Physician, Patient, & Third Party (1550K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1988 (Nov) 4-9 |
| 1989 | Jurkiewicz, M.J. | The College, General Surgery, and Fragmentation (401K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1989 (Nov) 11-17 |
| 1990 | Spencer, Frank C. | The Vital Role in Medicine of Commitment to the Patient (9645K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1990 (Nov) 6-19 |
| 1991 | Straffon, Ralph A. | To Think and Act as a Unit (2770K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1991 (Nov) 6-15 |
| 1992 | Austen, W. Gerald | Surgery is a Great Career (8185K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1992 (Dec) 6-22 |
| 1993 | MacLean, Lloyd D. | Wangensteen's Surgical Forum: A Legacy of Research (5700K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1993 (Dec) 8-16 |
| 1994 | Walt, Alexander J. | The uniqueness of American Surgical Education and Its Preservation (3280K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1994 (Dec) 8-20 |
| 1995 | Leffall, LaSalle D., Jr | Reaffirmation of fealty -- To serve all (7380K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1995 (Dec) 11-21 |
| 1996 | Murray, David G. | "Some of the King's Horses..." (1495K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1996 (Dec) 12-17 |
| 1997 | Schwartz, Seymour I. | Credo, Conduct, and Credibility (1465K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1997 (Dec) 8-13 |
| 1998 | Sheldon, George F. | Professionalism, Managed Care, and the Human Rights Movement (4980K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 1998 (Dec) 13-33 |
| 1999 | Thompson, James C. | Contribution of Surgical Research to Patients and Surgeons (1050K PDF) | J Am Coll Surg 2000 (Apr) 391-403 |
| 2000 | Bender, Harvey W., Jr. | Omnibus per artem fedemaque prodesse: To Serve All with Skill and Fidelity (1600K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 2000 (Dec)8-13 |
| 2001 | Jones, R. Scott | Medicine, Government, and Capitalism (90K PDF) | J Am Coll Surg 2002 (Feb) 111-120 |
| 2002 | Sabo, Richard R. | The Challenge of Emerging Surgical Technology: The College Can Help (100K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 2002 (Dec) 8-14 |
| 2003 | Organ, Claude H., Jr. | You Can Make a Difference (120K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 2003 (Dec) 8-12 |
| 2004 | Laws, Edward R. | Harvey Cushing and the Unity of Surgery (565K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 2004 (Dec) 8-12 |
| 2005 | Anderson, Kathryn D. | Crises in Humanity (230K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 2005 (Dec) 10-16 |
| 2006 | Copeland, Edward M. | The Role of a Mentor in Creating a Surgical Way of Life (225K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 2006 (Dec) 8-13 |
| 2007 | Healy, Gerald B. | Competence, Safety, Quality: The Path of the 21st Century (260K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 2007 (Dec) 8-13 |
| 2008 | Cameron, John L | John Miller Turpin Finney: The First President of the American College of Surgeons (1150K PDF) | J Am Coll Surg 2009 (Mar) 327-332 |
| 2009 | McGinnis, LaMar S., Jr. | Professionalism in the 21st century (1060K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 2009 (Dec) 8-18 |
| 2010 | Britt, L.D. | ACS: A Legacy of Leadership (680K PDF) | Bull Am Coll Surg 2010 (Dec) 15-16 |
Revised August 24, 2011