For Dr. Nicolas J. Mouawad, Giving Is a Gateway to Opportunity

Throughout the course of his 18 years as a member of the ACS, prominent vascular surgeon and current ACS Foundation Vice Chair Nicolas J. Mouawad, MD, MPH, MBA, FACS, has known the importance of paying opportunities forward to young surgeons.

His journey toward becoming a major ACS donor and supporter of emerging surgeons began, unwittingly, in 2007 when he received his match letter to St. Joseph St. Mercy in Ann Arbor, MI. Within days, he submitted his ACS resident-member application and very quickly was part of multiple committees within the ACS’ Resident and Associate Society (RAS). He began attending Clinical Congress (and hasn’t missed one since), and benefited from countless courses, seminars, and educational opportunities.

“The exposure to renowned surgeons, premier educational offerings, and unparalleled networking opportunities helped shape and catapult my career,” says Dr. Mouawad. “The College gave me a home and sense of belonging—and made me the surgeon I am today.”

Now the Surgery Department Chair and Chief of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at McLaren Bay Region Hospital in Bay City, MI—as well as the Medical Director of its Non-invasive Vascular Laboratory—Dr. Mouawad has turned to service and philanthropy at the ACS as a means to pay forward the tremendous career support he received “growing up in the ACS.”

“I give to the ACS Foundation because I know that the immense influence the College provided my career is something it will continue to provide future surgeons,” says Dr. Mouawad. “As I’ve become more involved with the Foundation and joined its board, the vital role that philanthropy plays in the College’s ability to transform both surgical careers and the surgical field has become apparent.”