The Board of Governors is structured under six Pillars and 13 workgroups.
Advocacy and Health Policy Pillar
The Advocacy and Health Policy Pillar works closely with the ACS Division of Advocacy and Health Policy located in the Washington DC Office to identify and prioritize issues and concerns related to advocacy and the political process as they affect surgeons.
Grassroots Advocacy Engagement Workgroup
To enhance bidirectional communication between the ACS leadership and fellows regarding important legislative and regulatory issues affecting surgical patients, surgeons and their practices, and society. The Workgroup specifically focuses on the grassroots process to advocate for key policies at the local level.
Grassroots Advocacy Engagement Workgroup Roster
Health Policy and Advocacy Workgroup
To enhance communication of the ACS Fellow message to state and federal legislators by establishing effective platforms for communication, as well as gather and synthesize the key policy and legislative concerns of the Fellows across the College and coordinate with other ACS Advocacy leadership groups (i.e., HPAG, HPAC, SurgeonsPAC, etc.)
Health Policy and Advocacy Workgroup Roster
Communication Pillar
The Communication Pillar focuses on increasing the communication between Governors and their chapters and specialty societies through presentations, reports, summaries, Bulletin articles, newsletters and an annual survey.
Governor Communications and Outreach Workgroup
To support communication between the Fellows and the Governors, whether specialty society or chapter, and from the Governors to the Regents of the College, as well as formulate consistent communication efforts targeting the Fellows and other surgeons and the public, policymakers and the media where appropriate. This workgroup also published the quarterly The Cutting Edge: News and Notes from the Board of Governors.
Governor Communications and Outreach Workgroup Roster
Survey Workgroup
To support the communication of important matters to the Chair of the Board of Governors and other College leaders through the completion of an annual survey by the Board of Governors, and to review the annual survey tool, assess the content and scope of questions, propose appropriate and timely changes, and analyze the results.
Survey Workgroup Roster
Diversity Pillar
The Board of Governors Diversity Pillar will collaborate with the existing five Board of Governors Pillars to 1) Implement the recommendations of the Regental Anti-Racism Committee; 2) Work with the ACS Staff Office of Diversity to assess the diversity within the BOG across a span of metrics, developing benchmarks and goals; 3) Identify the structural, procedural, and cultural areas the ACS Governors need to improve; 4) Facilitate implementation of substantive changes that need to be made at all levels of the ACS; and 5) Develop pipeline strategies in collaboration with ACS Committees/ Workgroups/ Advisory Councils to enhance/augment support the underrepresented.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Education/Advocacy Workgroup
To gather data on percentage of URMs at all levels of education in U.S. to assess where "leaks" are occurring in the pipeline to becoming physicians/surgeons via collaboration with the BoG Advocacy and Education Pillars. Explore public/private partnerships to enhance opportunities for URMs to enter medicine/surgery. Identify ongoing/successful public educational and employment DEI initiatives and successful efforts of surgery programs to increase representation of URIM/S in surgery. Future collaboration opportunities with the ACS Division of Education on STEM initiatives. Identify URIM/S groups and explore avenues for support, representation, and a voice within ACS.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Education/Advocacy Workgroup Roster
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives Education/Communication Workgroup
To develop content for the ACS Bulletin, ACS Bulletin Brief, and Clinical Congress. Collaborate with BoG Education and Communication Pillars. This workgroup also promotes and disseminates DEI educational modules for Governors/Fellows in collaboration with ACS Director of Diversity.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives Education/Communication Workgroup Roster
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Toolkit Workgroup
To develop toolkit for ACS Chapters and partner organizations to enhance DEI, Collaborate with Member Services Pillar/Chapter Activities Domestic and International Workgroups.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Toolkit Workgroup Roster
Education Pillar
The Education Pillar works closely with the ACS Division of Education to recommend enhancements to current ACS education offerings and suggests potential new products, which improve the quality of care for patients. This Pillar also looks at ongoing quality education and professional development of surgeons in training.
Continuing Education Workgroup
To identify professional development needs of surgeons in practice, identify opportunities for tracking and for individual Fellows to facilitate lifelong learning, making the process more efficient.
Continuing Education Workgroup Roster
Patient Education Workgroup
To identify areas of need and advocate for the education of surgical patients to improve the quality of care. Works closely with the ACS Patient Education Committee.
Patient Education Workgroup Roster
Surgical Training Workgroup
To identify areas of need and advocate for the ongoing quality education, professional development, and just-in-time products for medical students, surgeons in training, and practicing surgeons.
Surgical Training Workgroup Roster
Member Services Pillar
The Member Services Pillar works with staff in the ACS Division of Member Services to advocate, provide resources and help strengthen chapters. Members of this Pillar review and recommend the recipients of the Surgical Humanitarian & Volunteers awards each year.
Chapter Activities Domestic Workgroup
To serve as an advocate for College Chapters within the United States and Canada. The workgroup will assist Chapters in implementing and promoting College programs in an effort to carry out the College mission at the loco-regional level.
Chapter Activities Domestic Workgroup Roster
Chapter Activities International Workgroup
To serve as an advocate for all of the College's International Chapters, and monitor and report on the International Chapters' activities, resources, and issues.
Chapter Activities International Workgroup Roster
Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards Workgroup
The ACS Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards recognize and celebrate ACS Fellows and members whose altruism, vision, leadership, and dedication provide models to emulate and whose contributions have made a lasting difference. The responsibility of this workgroup is to review applications and the process for the ACS Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards and propose the final award winners.
Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards Workgroup Roster
Quality, Research, and Optimal Patient Care Pillar
The Quality Pillar works closely with the ACS Division of Quality, Research and Optimal Patient Care to create and update ACS best practices guidelines, focus on the physical and mental health of surgeons, and develop programs and resources for the surgical workforce in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers.
Best Practices Workgroup
Create and disseminate guidelines developed from well-accepted, peer-reviewed best practices on topics relevant to the surgical community and the patients we serve.
Best Practices Workgroup Roster
Physician Competency and Health Workgroup
The workgroup is responsible for maintenance of the physical and mental wellness in the Fellows as well as addressing issues related to surgical competency, emphasizing credentialing, and practice within expected community standards.
Physician Competency and Health Workgroup Roster
Surgical Care Delivery Workgroup
To provide the American College of Surgeons with information regarding the important issues that affect the delivery of surgical care in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers, and to develop and support programs that will improve the care of surgical patients.
Surgical Care Delivery Workgroup Roster
Telehealth Workgroup
To ensure effective use of telehealth for practicing surgeons.
Telehealth Workgroup Roster
Fiscal Affairs Committee
To review the dues structure of the College and recommend approval of any changes, understand and monitor the College's financial matters in order to ensure the overall financial integrity of the College; and serve as a liaison body to communicate concerns or questions regarding College programs, dues structure, allocation of resources, and other financial matters from the Board of Governors to the Board of Regents.
Fiscal Affairs Committee Roster
