Medical Student Program

The ACS Division of Education invites students from all 4 years of medical school to participate in this in-person program designed specifically for medical students considering a career in surgery. Programming varies from day to day, and current medical students are welcome to attend all or select portions of the 3-day program.

Medical students who wish to attend this program must register for both Clinical Congress and the Medical Student Program and be a current medical student. Please note that attendance is limited, and early registration is strongly encouraged.

Some of the planned presentations and activities are listed below: 

• How to Be a Cut Above
• Mastering the Surgical Residency Interview
• Skills Workshops
• Mock Interview Practice
• Networking with Surgeons, Program Directors, and Surgical Residents

Medical Student membership is only $20 and covers all years of medical school. Please note that it may take 1-2 weeks for your application to be reviewed and approved.

Day 1: Sunday, October 22, 2023, 11:15 am–6:00 pm ET

Day 2: Monday, October 23, 2023, 12:30–6:00 pm ET

Day 3: Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 1:00–6:00 pm ET

e-Poster Session: Sunday, October 22, 2023, 2:15–4:05 pm ET

Sunday

October 22, 2023, 11:15 am–6:00 pm ET

Special features of Sunday’s program will include a discussion of the multifaceted nature of surgery, as well as a panel highlighting various options for professional development during residency. Later in the day, there will be a networking event with surgeon representatives from different surgical specialties and practice settings. Also incorporated in this program is the Medical Student Program e-Poster Session, during which 48 medical students will present their research in one of three categories: clinical research; basic science research; or outcomes, innovation, or education research.

Monday

Monday, October 23, 2023, 12:30–6:00 pm ET

Special features of Monday’s program will include a talk about how to be a cut above during surgery clerkship, residency, etc. This presentation will be followed by comments from ACS President-Elect, Henri R. Ford, MD, MHA, FACS, FRCS, FAAP. MAMSE. After, there will be presentations by Daniel Hashimoto, MD regarding AI in Surgery and Dr. John L. Cameron, MD, FACS on the history of surgery, and Dr. William Stewart Halsted. Medical students in years three and above will be welcomed to a resident panel discussing decision making on the path to residency and beyond as well as an interactive session providing teaching tips for rising residents. Junior students are welcome to join roundtable sessions to learn and practice knot tying and suturing, discuss elements of an effective personal statement, and learn more about the residency application process.

Tuesday

Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 1:00–6:00 pm ET

Tuesday’s program will include a presentation by the Chair of the ACS Board of Regents, Timothy J. Eberlein, MD, FACS, MAMSE. This will be followed by a presentation by Ajit K. Sachdeva, MD, FACS, FRCSC, FSACME, MAMSE, Director, ACS Division of Education. Afterward, students will learn the critical elements of the residency interview from an in-depth panel discussion and will then refine their interviewing skills during an interactive practice session with surgeons. The day will conclude with an informal networking event with residency program directors.

For additional information about the ACS Medical Student Program, please contact Cassie Buchignani at cbuchignani@facs.org.