The American College of Surgeons (ACS) SurgeonsVoice Advocate of the Year recognition program tracks how engaged surgeon advocates utilize tools and take action via SurgeonsVoice online. Top advocates establish and maintain relationships with legislators, helping to advance health policy priorities.
The Advocate of the Year will be recognized during the annual Clinical Congress, featured in the Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons, and invited to participate in other advocacy-related activities.
To be eligible for recognition, you can:
- Attend the annual Advocacy Summit
- Serve on an ACS committee
- Attend in-district meetings
- Host a site visit/facility tour/training
- Present on the value of ACS advocacy efforts
- Join state chapter lobby days
- Contribute to ACS publications
- Participate in press/op-ed opportunities
- Provide advocacy testimonials
- Recruit surgeon advocates
- Share advocacy-related content via social media
- Become an issue expert
Advocate of the Year Recipients
2020
During Clinical Congress 2020, the Advocate of the Year award was presented to Jay J. Doucet, MD, FACS, for his commitment to the College’s advocacy and political efforts, particularly through his involvement with the ACS Health Policy Advisory Council (HPAC).
The following runners up were also recognized for outstanding participation: John H. Armstrong, MD, FACS; Shannon M. Foster, MD, FACS; Soha Ghossaini, MD, FACS; Marion C.W. Henry, MD, MPH, FACS, FAAP; Atul N. Jani, MD, FACS; Krista L. Kaups, MD, MPH, FACS, FAAP; Deborah A. Kuhls, MD, FACS; Joe H. Patton MD, FACS; and Kristan Staudenmayer, MD, MS, FACS.
2019
During Clinical Congress 2019, the Advocate of the Year award was presented to Sherry Cavanagh, MD, FACS, for her commitment to the College’s advocacy and political efforts, particularly through her involvement with the ACS Health Policy Advisory Council (HPAC).
The following runners up were also recognized for outstanding participation: Stephanie Bonne, MD, FACS; Mark A. Dobbertien, DO, FACS; Tanaz Ferzandi, MD, FACS; Marion C.W. Henry, MD, MPH, FACS, FAAP; Meghana Kashyap, MD; Amy E. Liepert, MD, FACS; James W. Suliburk, MD, FACS; Alan G. Thorson, MD, FACS; and Brett Tracy, MD.
2018
During Clinical Congress 2018, the inaugural Advocate of the Year award was presented to Alan G. Thorson, MD, FACS, for his commitment to the College’s advocacy and political efforts, particularly through his involvement with the ACS Commission on Cancer.
The following runners up were also recognized for outstanding participation: Amanda Arrington, MD, FACS; Annabel Barber, MD, FACS; Amalia Cochran, MD, FACS; Charles Coren, MD, FACS; Mark Dobbertien, MD, FACS; Ross Goldberg, MD, FACS; Marion Henry, MD, FACS; Mark Kashtan, MD; Amy Liepert, MD, FACS; Joshua Mammen, MD, FACS; Katherine McHugh, MD; Subhasis Misra, MD FACS; Alisha Reiss, MD; and Brett Tracy, MD.
Learn More
Contact Maggie Draughn, Grassroots and PAC Coordinator, at mdraughn@facs.org or Katie Oehmen, Manager, ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC and Grassroots, at koehmen@facs.org to learn more about participating in this program.