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For Patients
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Events

Leadership and Advocacy Summit Agendas

Leadership Agenda

Saturday, February 28

7:00 am–6:00 pm

Onsite Registration
5B Registration Desk (across from Independence Ballroom)
Workshops

12:00–2:50 pm

Leadership in Action: Making the Most of Your Communications Opportunities—From Published Research to Media Interviews

Independence Ballroom East  

 

Thomas K. Varghese, MD, MS, MBA, FACS, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of the American College of Surgeons
ACS Division of Integrated Communications

3:00–5:00 pm

Building Your Leadership Brand to Increase Impact

Independence Ballroom GHI

 

Kimberly A. Whitler, Associate Professor of Business Administration, University of Virginia Darden School of Business

5:00–6:30 pm

Networking Event

Grand Foyer

Sunday, March 1

7:00 am–5:00 pm

Onsite Registration
5B Registration Desk (across from Independence Ballroom)  

7:00–8:00 am

Breakfast
Independence Ballroom East FGHI

General Session
Independence Ballroom West BCDE

8:00–8:05 am

Welcome and Agenda for the Day
Michael J. Sutherland, MD, MBA, FACS, Senior Vice President, Division of Member Services, American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL

8:05–8:35 am

Business Leadership Principles – Building Cultures of Trust and Excellence
Amy Vertrees, MD, FACS

8:35–9:05 am

Executive Coaching for Leadership and Team Development
Doug Wood, MD, FACS, FRCSEd 

9:05–9:35 am

Leading Through Advocacy

Callisia N. Clarke, MD, MS, FACS, Douglas B. Evans Endowed Chair for Surgical Research, Division Chief of Surgical Oncology, Assistant Director of Clinical Research, Associate Professor of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI

Sponsored by the ACS Resident and Associate Fellow Society (RAS)

9:35–10:00 am

Break
Independence Ballroom Foyer

10:00–10:30 am

Surgeon Leadership in a Community Practice
D. Rohan Jeyarajah, MD, FACS

10:30–11:30 am

Leading Through Technology Changes
Speaker TBA

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Lunch
Independence Ballroom East FGHI

12:30–1:00 pm

Surgeon Advocacy
Speaker TBA

1:00–1:30 pm

The New Face of Surgical Leadership: Redefining Pathways for the Modern Surgeon
Caprice Greenberg, MD, FACS

1:30–3:00 pm

Panel Session: Surgeons Leading the Future of Healthcare
Moderator: Susan Moffatt-Bruce, MD, PhD, FACS

 

Panelists: Bruce L. Gewertz, MD, FACS; David L. Callender, MD, MBA, FACS; Conor P. Delaney, MD, MCh, PhD, FACS; Craig T. Albanese, MD, FACS 

3:00–3:40 pm

Executive Director & CEO’s Update
Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, Executive Director & CEO, American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL

3:40–4:30 pm

Advocacy and Health Policy Abstract Presentations

4:30–4:40 pm

Closing Comments
Michael J. Sutherland, MD, MBA, FACS, Senior Vice President, Division of Member Services, American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL

Saturday, February 28

7:00 am–6:00 pm

Onsite Registration
5B Registration Desk (across from Independence Ballroom)
Workshops

12:00–2:50 pm

Leadership in Action: Making the Most of Your Communications Opportunities—From Published Research to Media Interviews

Independence Ballroom East  

 

Thomas K. Varghese, MD, MS, MBA, FACS, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of the American College of Surgeons
ACS Division of Integrated Communications

3:00–5:00 pm

Building Your Leadership Brand to Increase Impact

Independence Ballroom GHI

 

Kimberly A. Whitler, Associate Professor of Business Administration, University of Virginia Darden School of Business

5:00–6:30 pm

Networking Event

Grand Foyer

Sunday, March 1

7:00 am–5:00 pm

Onsite Registration
5B Registration Desk (across from Independence Ballroom)  

7:00–8:00 am

Breakfast
Independence Ballroom East FGHI

General Session
Independence Ballroom West BCDE

8:00–8:05 am

Welcome and Agenda for the Day
Michael J. Sutherland, MD, MBA, FACS, Senior Vice President, Division of Member Services, American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL

8:05–8:35 am

Business Leadership Principles – Building Cultures of Trust and Excellence
Amy Vertrees, MD, FACS

8:35–9:05 am

Executive Coaching for Leadership and Team Development
Doug Wood, MD, FACS, FRCSEd 

9:05–9:35 am

Leading Through Advocacy

Callisia N. Clarke, MD, MS, FACS, Douglas B. Evans Endowed Chair for Surgical Research, Division Chief of Surgical Oncology, Assistant Director of Clinical Research, Associate Professor of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI

Sponsored by the ACS Resident and Associate Fellow Society (RAS)

9:35–10:00 am

Break
Independence Ballroom Foyer

10:00–10:30 am

Surgeon Leadership in a Community Practice
D. Rohan Jeyarajah, MD, FACS

10:30–11:30 am

Leading Through Technology Changes
Speaker TBA

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Lunch
Independence Ballroom East FGHI

12:30–1:00 pm

Surgeon Advocacy
Speaker TBA

1:00–1:30 pm

The New Face of Surgical Leadership: Redefining Pathways for the Modern Surgeon
Caprice Greenberg, MD, FACS

1:30–3:00 pm

Panel Session: Surgeons Leading the Future of Healthcare
Moderator: Susan Moffatt-Bruce, MD, PhD, FACS

 

Panelists: Bruce L. Gewertz, MD, FACS; David L. Callender, MD, MBA, FACS; Conor P. Delaney, MD, MCh, PhD, FACS; Craig T. Albanese, MD, FACS 

3:00–3:40 pm

Executive Director & CEO’s Update
Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, Executive Director & CEO, American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL

3:40–4:30 pm

Advocacy and Health Policy Abstract Presentations

4:30–4:40 pm

Closing Comments
Michael J. Sutherland, MD, MBA, FACS, Senior Vice President, Division of Member Services, American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL

Advocacy Summit

All events take place at the Grand Hyatt Washington, D.C. Hotel unless otherwise noted.

*All times, locations and speakers are subject to change*

 

Sunday, March 1

6:00–9:00 pm

Advocacy Summit Welcome Reception and Keynote Dinner

Bret Baier, American Journalist, chief political anchor for Fox News

 

Monday, March 2

7:00–8:00 am

All Attendee Breakfast

8:00–8:15 am

Advocacy Welcome and Introductions

Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, Executive Director & CEO, American College of Surgeons

 

Christian Shalgian, Senior Vice President, Division of Advocacy and Health Policy, American College of Surgeons

8:15–9:15 am

Surgery vs. Primary Care: A False Dichotomy Built into the Fee Schedule

Titles, Moderators, and Panelists TBA

9:15–10:15 am

Advocating for Rural Surgery: Evaluating Workforce Shortages

Titles, Moderators, and Panelists TBA

10:15–10:30 am

Break

10:30–11:30 am

Improving Conditions on the Ground for Surgeons

Titles, Moderators and Panelists TBA

11:30–11:45 am

Break (transition to lunch)

11:45 am–1:00 pm

Political Luncheon

1:15–2:05 pm

Advocacy 101: Keys to a Successful Meeting on Capitol Hill
Titles, Moderators, and Panelists TBA

2:05–2:45 pm

ACS Issue and Lobby Day Briefing

2:45–3:45 pm

Advocacy Training

3:45–5:00 pm

Congressional Speakers

7:00–9:00 pm

ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC Reception (2026 PAC contributors invited)

Offsite Location 

Tuesday, March 3

7:00–8:00 am

Welcome to Lobby Day Breakfast

8:00 am

Buses Depart for Capitol Hill

9:00 am–3:30 pm

Congressional Visits

11:00 am–3:30 pm

Lunch and Congressional Visit Debriefing Room

Rayburn House Office Building Rooms 2043 and 2044

45 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20515 

 

Sunday, March 1

6:00–9:00 pm

Advocacy Summit Welcome Reception and Keynote Dinner

Bret Baier, American Journalist, chief political anchor for Fox News

 

Monday, March 2

7:00–8:00 am

All Attendee Breakfast

8:00–8:15 am

Advocacy Welcome and Introductions

Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, Executive Director & CEO, American College of Surgeons

 

Christian Shalgian, Senior Vice President, Division of Advocacy and Health Policy, American College of Surgeons

8:15–9:15 am

Surgery vs. Primary Care: A False Dichotomy Built into the Fee Schedule

Titles, Moderators, and Panelists TBA

9:15–10:15 am

Advocating for Rural Surgery: Evaluating Workforce Shortages

Titles, Moderators, and Panelists TBA

10:15–10:30 am

Break

10:30–11:30 am

Improving Conditions on the Ground for Surgeons

Titles, Moderators and Panelists TBA

11:30–11:45 am

Break (transition to lunch)

11:45 am–1:00 pm

Political Luncheon

1:15–2:05 pm

Advocacy 101: Keys to a Successful Meeting on Capitol Hill
Titles, Moderators, and Panelists TBA

2:05–2:45 pm

ACS Issue and Lobby Day Briefing

2:45–3:45 pm

Advocacy Training

3:45–5:00 pm

Congressional Speakers

7:00–9:00 pm

ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC Reception (2026 PAC contributors invited)

Offsite Location 

Tuesday, March 3

7:00–8:00 am

Welcome to Lobby Day Breakfast

8:00 am

Buses Depart for Capitol Hill

9:00 am–3:30 pm

Congressional Visits

11:00 am–3:30 pm

Lunch and Congressional Visit Debriefing Room

Rayburn House Office Building Rooms 2043 and 2044

45 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20515 

Note: Only active US/domestic ACS members are eligible to participate in the congressional visits to Capitol Hill.

Agenda and speakers are subject to change. The views expressed by the individual speakers are their own and don't necessarily reflect those of the American College of Surgeons.