ACS Innovation Summit: Advancing Surgery Through Simulation, Technology, and Engineering

We are seeking content proposals for sessions, workshops, and other formats. During the submission process, you will be asked to indicate which type of session would best suit your topic, choosing from the list below:

• Panel Session: A plenary session conducted in the main conference room, addressing a broad spectrum of clinical and nonclinical topics relevant to the entire multidisciplinary audience. Each panel comprises a minimum of three members representing different institutions and areas of expertise to ensure diverse perspectives. These sessions typically have a duration of 60 to 90 minutes.

• Management, Operations, Research, and Education (MORE) Session: Track/forum to address a wide range of topics related to leading a simulation center. These sessions are open to anyone who participates in the administration of simulation-based surgical education. Interactive sessions are prioritized and typically last up to 60 minutes.

• Workshop: Used to develop the skills of attendees in an interactive, hands-on manner. Tangible takeaways should be offered. Staff will work with you to determine what resources (AV, etc.) are needed for the workshop. This type of session usually lasts up to 2 hours.

• Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Simulator/Model Competition: The DIY Simulator/Model Competition encourages the creation of simulators and models to advance surgical education through simulation. The competition highlights innovation and dedication within the surgical simulation education community. Please review the 2027 DIY Submission Guidelines before submitting your abstract.

The ACS Innovation Summit: Advancing Surgery Through Simulation, Technology, and Engineering draws a multidisciplinary audience comprised of clinical (surgeons, physicians, fellows, residents, medical students ) and non-clinical (directors, administrators, educators, researchers, engineers, sim  operations specialists) staff and leadership from all types of institutions (academic medical centers, hospitals, military, etc.).

To ensure presentations are of the highest quality and are applicable to a broad audience, proposals should focus on:

Relevance: Focus on timely and trending topics that will resonate with individuals responsible for the delivery of simulation-based surgical education and training.

Experience: Share your institution’s specific approaches to improving education, processes, efficiencies, or outcomes. Highlight challenges faced, strategies employed, and lessons learned. Showcase how you achieved impactful results.

Practical Application: Prioritize practical takeaways that audience members can adapt for their own institutions.

We welcome proposals on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:

• 3D Printing
• Assessment Tools
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
• Cadaveric, Animal and Synthetic Tissue
• Collaborations with other Institutes
• Cognitive Skill Development
• Curriculum Development
• Design Thinking to Enhance Surgical Simulation
• Entrustable Professional Activities (EPA’s)
• Ethical Considerations in Simulation
• Faculty Development
• Funding Strategies for Simulation Centers
• Gamification
• Hybrid Simulation
• Interpersonal Skills
• Interprofessional Simulation
• Low-Cost Simulation
• Machine Learning (ML)
• Tele-simulation and Remote Training
• Patient Safety and Clinical Outcomes
• Program Evaluations
• Robotic Simulation
• Standardized Patients
• Team Wellness
• Validation of Evaluation Tools
• Value Proposition of Simulation

• All speakers must be available to present in-person at any time during the meeting on March 11-12, 2027.
• Once accepted sessions are confirmed, all speakers will receive an official confirmation e-mail and must complete an online agreement to be confirmed for the session.
• All speakers must register in advance for the meeting and pay the applicable registration fee.  
• Speakers will not receive any royalties, honoraria, reimbursement of expenses, or other compensation from ACS in connection with the meeting.
• Proposals submitted by a marketing representative or company will automatically be disqualified.
• The Call for Content will open May 8, 2026 and close on June 30, 2026.