Leadership and Advocacy Summit Agendas

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

12:00–2:50 pm

Leadership in Action: Making the Most of Your Communications Opportunities—From Published Research to Media Interviews
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
Kimberly A. Whitler, Associate Professor of Business Administration, University of Virginia Darden School of Business

5:00–6:30 pm

Networking Event

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

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

How Do I Establish Myself as a Leader
Speaker TBA   
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
Susan Moffatt-Bruce, MD, PhD, FACS; Panelists TBA 

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

6:00–9:00 pm

Advocacy Summit Welcome Reception and Keynote Dinner

7:00–8:00 am

All Attendee Breakfast

8:00–8:15 am

Advocacy Welcome and Introductions

8:15–11:30 am

Advocacy Panels
Titles, Moderators, and Panelists TBA

11:30–11:45 am

Break (transition to luncheon)

11:45 am–1:00 pm

Luncheon Sponsored by ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC

1:15–2:05 pm

Advocacy Panel
Titles, Moderators, and Panelists TBA

2:05–2:45 pm

Review of Congressional Asks

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 

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