The Clinical Congress is a scientific and educational meeting that shall be held at the time and place of the Annual Business Meeting of the Members, and shall include the Convocation (Bylaws, American College of Surgeons [ACS], Article VIII, Section 3).
The purpose of the Clinical Congress is to keep ACS Members and interested non-Fellow physicians abreast of the current status of the art and science of surgery. To accomplish its purpose, the Clinical Congress offers a highly diversified program of continuing education in all specialties of surgery and in important fields of science, socioeconomics, and medical education. It holds the preeminent place among all College activities designed to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the care of the surgical patient.
The entire program presented at this meeting includes physicians drawn from various specialties. The sessions are designed to present a variety of viewpoints on matters of particular interest to those for whom the session is primarily intended and to stress the need for understanding and cooperation among the specialties.
The Clinical Congress is designed to provide individuals with a wide range of learning opportunities, activities, and experiences that will match their educational and professional development needs.
By the conclusion of Clinical Congress, participants should be able to:
- Apply new knowledge and ideas to improve their surgical practice
- Adapt concepts and quality measures in support of research advancements
- Enhance the quality of patient care
In accordance with the ACCME Accreditation Criteria, the American College of Surgeons must ensure that anyone in a position to control the content of the educational activity (planners and speakers/authors/discussants/moderators) has disclosed all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest (see below for definitions).
Commercial Interest
The ACCME defines a “commercial interest” as any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services used on or consumed by patients. Providers of clinical services directly to patients are NOT included in this definition.
Financial Relationships
Relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking and teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities from which remuneration is received, or expected. ACCME considers relationships of the person involved in the CME activity to include financial relationships of a spouse or partner.
Conflict of Interest
Circumstances create a conflict of interest when an individual has an opportunity to affect CME content about products or services of a commercial interest with which he/she has a financial relationship.
The ACCME also requires that ACS manage any reported conflict and eliminate the potential for bias during the educational activity. Any conflicts noted below have been managed to our satisfaction. The disclosure information is intended to identify any commercial relationships and allow learners to form their own judgments. However, if you perceive a bias during the educational activity, please report it on the evaluation.
