ACS President, 2026–2027
Timothy J. Eberlein, MD, FACS, is the 2026–2027 President of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). The theme for Dr. Eberlein’s presidential year is “The House of Surgery: Stronger Together.” The theme reflects his vision of bringing surgeons across specialties, generations, and experiences together to strengthen the profession and advance surgical care.
Dr. Eberlein is the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Distinguished Professor, founding director of the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, and senior associate dean for cancer programs at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Upon his installation as ACS President, Dr. Eberlein emphasized his commitment to listening, learning, and working across surgical specialties to strengthen the House of Surgery.
Background and Career Highlights
Dr. Eberlein earned his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh and completed his internship and residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, including a year as chief resident. He also completed two research fellowships at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.
Following his training, Dr. Eberlein joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School, where he rose to become the Wilson Professor of Surgery and vice chair of the Department of Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
He later moved to St. Louis, where he served simultaneously as the Bixby Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery at Washington University for 24½ years. He is the founding director of the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center and serves as senior associate dean for cancer programs at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
A nationally recognized surgical oncologist, researcher, educator, and editor, Dr. Eberlein has held leadership positions with numerous surgical and medical organizations, including the American Board of Surgery, the Society of Surgical Oncology, the Society of Surgical Chairs, the American Surgical Association, the Southern Surgical Association, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and the National Cancer Institute. He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2004.
ACS Leadership
Dr. Eberlein has been active within the ACS for more than 30 years. His service has included membership on the Board of Governors and the Board of Regents, including serving as Chair of the Board of Regents.
He also served for more than two decades as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS), from 2004 to 2025. During his tenure, he introduced rigorous biostatistical review for manuscripts and expanded the journal’s affiliations with regional surgical societies and the Excelsior Surgical Society, the ACS military surgery group.
His contributions to surgery and the College have been recognized with honors including the Rodney E. and Thomas G. Sheen Award from the New Jersey Chapter of the ACS and the ACS Owen H. Wangensteen Scientific Forum Award.
