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Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits

Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.

Become a Member
Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits

Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.

Become a Member
ACS
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/Additional Events

11:30 am–1:00 pm

Women in Surgery Luncheon – Finding Your Niche 

 

Featuring keynote speaker, Anne C. Mosenthal, MD, FACS, Chief Academic Officer, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Regional Executive Dean, UMass Chan Medical School – Lahey

 

Hosted by the ACS Women in Surgery Committee and the Society of Surgical Chairs Women’s Group. This luncheon is for mid-career woman surgeons. Registration required.   

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, Salt Lake City, UT

 

Brian Edwards, Vice President, External Communications, ACS Division of Integrated Communications, Chicago, IL

3:00–5:00 pm

Building Your Leadership Brand to Increase Impact

Independence Ballroom GHI

 

Kimberly A. Whitler, MBA, MS, PhD, Frank M. Sands Sr. Professor of Business Administration, University of Virginia Darden School of Business, Charlottesville, VA

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
Douglas E. Wood, MD, FACS, FRCSEd, The Henry N. Harkins Professor and Chair, Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 

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

How to Build a Program in the Community
D. Rohan Jeyarajah, MD, FACS,  Chair, Department of Surgery, TCU Burnett School of Medicine, President, AHPBA, Director, Gastrointestinal Services, Director, HPB/AGI Fellowship, Associate Program Director, General Surgery Residency Program, Methodist Richardson Medical Center, Richardson, TX 

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

Leadership in Advocacy: Surgeons United
Anton N. Sidawy, MD, MPH, FACS, President, American College of Surgeons; Professor and Lewis B. Saltz Chair, Department of Surgery, George Washington University, Washington, DC

1:00–1:30 pm

The New Face of Surgical Leadership: Redefining Pathways for the Modern Surgeon
Caprice C. Greenberg, MD, MPH, FACS, Colin G. Thomas Jr., MD Distinguished Professor, Chair, Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

1:30–3:00 pm

Panel Session: Surgeons Leading the Future of Healthcare
Moderator: Susan Moffatt-Bruce, MD, PhD, FACS, Lahey Clinic, Divisional President, Beth Israel Lahey Health

 

Panelists: Bruce L. Gewertz, MD, FACS, Executive Vice Dean, Faculty Affairs and Clinical System Development, Vice President, Interventional Services, Cedars Sinai Health System, Los Angeles, CA; David L. Callender, MD, MBA, FACS; Conor P. Delaney, MD, MCh, PhD, FACS, Executive Vice President, Cleveland Clinic, President, Cleveland Clinic Florida Market, Weston, FL; 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/Additional Events

11:30 am–1:00 pm

Women in Surgery Luncheon – Finding Your Niche 

 

Featuring keynote speaker, Anne C. Mosenthal, MD, FACS, Chief Academic Officer, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Regional Executive Dean, UMass Chan Medical School – Lahey

 

Hosted by the ACS Women in Surgery Committee and the Society of Surgical Chairs Women’s Group. This luncheon is for mid-career woman surgeons. Registration required.   

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, Salt Lake City, UT

 

Brian Edwards, Vice President, External Communications, ACS Division of Integrated Communications, Chicago, IL

3:00–5:00 pm

Building Your Leadership Brand to Increase Impact

Independence Ballroom GHI

 

Kimberly A. Whitler, MBA, MS, PhD, Frank M. Sands Sr. Professor of Business Administration, University of Virginia Darden School of Business, Charlottesville, VA

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
Douglas E. Wood, MD, FACS, FRCSEd, The Henry N. Harkins Professor and Chair, Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 

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

How to Build a Program in the Community
D. Rohan Jeyarajah, MD, FACS,  Chair, Department of Surgery, TCU Burnett School of Medicine, President, AHPBA, Director, Gastrointestinal Services, Director, HPB/AGI Fellowship, Associate Program Director, General Surgery Residency Program, Methodist Richardson Medical Center, Richardson, TX 

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

Leadership in Advocacy: Surgeons United
Anton N. Sidawy, MD, MPH, FACS, President, American College of Surgeons; Professor and Lewis B. Saltz Chair, Department of Surgery, George Washington University, Washington, DC

1:00–1:30 pm

The New Face of Surgical Leadership: Redefining Pathways for the Modern Surgeon
Caprice C. Greenberg, MD, MPH, FACS, Colin G. Thomas Jr., MD Distinguished Professor, Chair, Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

1:30–3:00 pm

Panel Session: Surgeons Leading the Future of Healthcare
Moderator: Susan Moffatt-Bruce, MD, PhD, FACS, Lahey Clinic, Divisional President, Beth Israel Lahey Health

 

Panelists: Bruce L. Gewertz, MD, FACS, Executive Vice Dean, Faculty Affairs and Clinical System Development, Vice President, Interventional Services, Cedars Sinai Health System, Los Angeles, CA; David L. Callender, MD, MBA, FACS; Conor P. Delaney, MD, MCh, PhD, FACS, Executive Vice President, Cleveland Clinic, President, Cleveland Clinic Florida Market, Weston, FL; 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

Advocating for Rural Surgery: Evaluating Workforce Shortages

Titles, Moderators, and Panelists TBA

9:15–10:15 am

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

Titles, Moderators, and Panelists TBA

10:15–10:30 am

Break

10:30–11:30 am

Today’s Fight for Surgeons and Surgery: Covering Every Front

Titles, Moderators and Panelists TBA

11:30–11:45 am

Break (transition to lunch)

11:45 am–1:00 pm

Politics and Advocacy 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

Advocating for Rural Surgery: Evaluating Workforce Shortages

Titles, Moderators, and Panelists TBA

9:15–10:15 am

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

Titles, Moderators, and Panelists TBA

10:15–10:30 am

Break

10:30–11:30 am

Today’s Fight for Surgeons and Surgery: Covering Every Front

Titles, Moderators and Panelists TBA

11:30–11:45 am

Break (transition to lunch)

11:45 am–1:00 pm

Politics and Advocacy 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.