2026 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, Board-certified General Surgeon, Columbia Surgical Partners; Certified Surgeon Coach; Founder, BOSS Business of Surgery Series, Columbia, TN
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 Digital Health and AI Transformation Genevieve Melton-Meaux, MD, PhD, FACMI, FACS, FASCRS, Chief Health Informatics Officer, American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL; Jack T. King, MBA, Chief Information Officer, American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL
11:30 am–12:30 pm	Lunch Independence Ballroom East FGHI
12:30–1:00 pm	Unity in Advocacy and Self-Leadership 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, Burlington, MA 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, President & Chief Executive Officer, Memorial Hermann Health System, Houston, TX; Conor P. Delaney, MD, MCh, PhD, FACS, Executive Vice President, Cleveland Clinic, President, Cleveland Clinic Florida Market, Weston, FL; Craig T. Albanese, MD, MBA, FACS, President, Integrated Care and Coverage, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, CA
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, Board-certified General Surgeon, Columbia Surgical Partners; Certified Surgeon Coach; Founder, BOSS Business of Surgery Series, Columbia, TN
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 Digital Health and AI Transformation Genevieve Melton-Meaux, MD, PhD, FACMI, FACS, FASCRS, Chief Health Informatics Officer, American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL; Jack T. King, MBA, Chief Information Officer, American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL
11:30 am–12:30 pm	Lunch Independence Ballroom East FGHI
12:30–1:00 pm	Unity in Advocacy and Self-Leadership 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, Burlington, MA 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, President & Chief Executive Officer, Memorial Hermann Health System, Houston, TX; Conor P. Delaney, MD, MCh, PhD, FACS, Executive Vice President, Cleveland Clinic, President, Cleveland Clinic Florida Market, Weston, FL; Craig T. Albanese, MD, MBA, FACS, President, Integrated Care and Coverage, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, CA
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
7:00–8:00 am	RAS and YFA Advocacy Breakfast Lafayette Park/Farragut Square Kevin Koo, MD, MPH, FACS, Chair, Young Fellows Association Advocacy Work Group; Maggie Jones-Carr, MD, Chair, Resident and Associate Society Advocacy Work Group
8:00–8:15 am	Advocacy Welcome and Introductions Independence West ABCDE 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 Independence West ABCDE Moderator: Gary Timmerman, MD, FACS, Professor and Chair of Surgery, University of South Dakota Sanford Medical School Panelists: Waddah B. Al-Refaie, MD, FACS, Dr. & Mrs. Arnold W. Lempka Endowed Chair and Professor in Surgery, Chair of Surgery at Creighton University School of Medicine, Chair of Surgery at CHI Health; Estin Yang, MD, MPH, FACS, Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at Oregon Health & Science University; Daniel Chase, MD, FACS, Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign; Thomas Tsai, MD, MPH, FACS, Medical Director, Health Policy Research, ACS
9:15–10:15 am	Surgery vs. Primary Care: A False Dichotomy Built into the Fee Schedule Independence West ABCDE Moderator: Thomas Tsai, MD, MPH, FACS, Medical Director, Health Policy Research, ACS Panelists: Christopher Childers, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, University of Washington Medicine; Jose Figueroa, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Irene Papanicolas, PhD, Provost's Professor of Health Services, Policy, and Practice \| Director of the Center for Health System Sustainability
10:15–10:30 am	Break
10:30–11:30 am	Today’s Fight for Surgeons and Surgery: Covering Every Front Independence West ABCDE Moderator: Margaret Tracci, MD, JD, FACS, Medical Director, Surgeon Engagement, ACS Panelists: Jessica Burgess, MD, FACS, Associate Professor and Chief, Division of Acute Care Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School; Jason Wilson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, System Medical Director, Oncology Service Line, Sentara Health, Clinical Chief, Sentara Surgery Specialists, Sentara Medical Group; Elizabeth Young, Legislative Director, Office of Congressman Ron Estes (R-KS-04)
11:30–11:45 am	Break (transition to luncheon)
11:45 am–1:00 pm	Politics and Advocacy Luncheon Independence East FGHI Christian Shalgian, Senior Vice President, Division of Advocacy and Health Policy, ACS
1:15–2:05 pm	Advocacy 101: Keys to a Successful Meeting on Capitol Hill Independence West ABCDE Moderator: Carrie Zlatos, Chief of Legislative and Political Affairs, ACS Panelists: Ross F. Goldberg, MD, FACS, Chief of Perioperative Services - Jackson Health System, Medical Director, Perioperative Services - Jackson Memorial Hospital, Affiliate Professor of Surgery - University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Elise Fannon, MD, MPP, Surgical Critical Care Fellow, University of Pennsylvania; Emma Zimmerman, Senior Congressional Lobbyist, ACS
2:05–2:45 pm	ACS Issue and Lobby Day Briefing Independence West ABCDE Carrie Zlatos, Chief of Legislative and Political Affairs, ACS; Emma Zimmerman, Senior Congressional Lobbyist, ACS; Matthew Brown, Congressional Lobbyist, ACS; Hallie Koch, Congressional Lobbyist, ACS
2:45–3:45 pm	Advocacy Training Independence West ABCDE Christopher Kush, MPP, CEO, Soapbox Consulting
3:45–5:00 pm	Additional Speakers Independence West ABCDE Moderator: Alisha Reiss, MD, FACS, Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University
7:00–9:00 pm	ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC Reception (2026 PAC contributors invited) Offsite Location
Tuesday, March 3
7:00–8:00 am	Lobby Day Breakfast General Announcements Review of Issues in State Groups Winners of Advocacy and Health Policy Abstract Competition Announced Independence East FGHI Christian Shalgian, Senior Vice President, Division of Advocacy and Health Policy, ACS Carrie Zlatos, Chief of Legislative and Political Affairs, ACS
7:30–10:30 am	Buses Depart for Capitol Hill Hotel Lobby Attendees are on their own to return to the Grand Hyatt Washington, DC Hotel at the end of their day.
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
7:00–8:00 am	RAS and YFA Advocacy Breakfast Lafayette Park/Farragut Square Kevin Koo, MD, MPH, FACS, Chair, Young Fellows Association Advocacy Work Group; Maggie Jones-Carr, MD, Chair, Resident and Associate Society Advocacy Work Group
8:00–8:15 am	Advocacy Welcome and Introductions Independence West ABCDE 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 Independence West ABCDE Moderator: Gary Timmerman, MD, FACS, Professor and Chair of Surgery, University of South Dakota Sanford Medical School Panelists: Waddah B. Al-Refaie, MD, FACS, Dr. & Mrs. Arnold W. Lempka Endowed Chair and Professor in Surgery, Chair of Surgery at Creighton University School of Medicine, Chair of Surgery at CHI Health; Estin Yang, MD, MPH, FACS, Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at Oregon Health & Science University; Daniel Chase, MD, FACS, Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign; Thomas Tsai, MD, MPH, FACS, Medical Director, Health Policy Research, ACS
9:15–10:15 am	Surgery vs. Primary Care: A False Dichotomy Built into the Fee Schedule Independence West ABCDE Moderator: Thomas Tsai, MD, MPH, FACS, Medical Director, Health Policy Research, ACS Panelists: Christopher Childers, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, University of Washington Medicine; Jose Figueroa, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Irene Papanicolas, PhD, Provost's Professor of Health Services, Policy, and Practice \| Director of the Center for Health System Sustainability
10:15–10:30 am	Break
10:30–11:30 am	Today’s Fight for Surgeons and Surgery: Covering Every Front Independence West ABCDE Moderator: Margaret Tracci, MD, JD, FACS, Medical Director, Surgeon Engagement, ACS Panelists: Jessica Burgess, MD, FACS, Associate Professor and Chief, Division of Acute Care Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School; Jason Wilson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, System Medical Director, Oncology Service Line, Sentara Health, Clinical Chief, Sentara Surgery Specialists, Sentara Medical Group; Elizabeth Young, Legislative Director, Office of Congressman Ron Estes (R-KS-04)
11:30–11:45 am	Break (transition to luncheon)
11:45 am–1:00 pm	Politics and Advocacy Luncheon Independence East FGHI Christian Shalgian, Senior Vice President, Division of Advocacy and Health Policy, ACS
1:15–2:05 pm	Advocacy 101: Keys to a Successful Meeting on Capitol Hill Independence West ABCDE Moderator: Carrie Zlatos, Chief of Legislative and Political Affairs, ACS Panelists: Ross F. Goldberg, MD, FACS, Chief of Perioperative Services - Jackson Health System, Medical Director, Perioperative Services - Jackson Memorial Hospital, Affiliate Professor of Surgery - University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Elise Fannon, MD, MPP, Surgical Critical Care Fellow, University of Pennsylvania; Emma Zimmerman, Senior Congressional Lobbyist, ACS
2:05–2:45 pm	ACS Issue and Lobby Day Briefing Independence West ABCDE Carrie Zlatos, Chief of Legislative and Political Affairs, ACS; Emma Zimmerman, Senior Congressional Lobbyist, ACS; Matthew Brown, Congressional Lobbyist, ACS; Hallie Koch, Congressional Lobbyist, ACS
2:45–3:45 pm	Advocacy Training Independence West ABCDE Christopher Kush, MPP, CEO, Soapbox Consulting
3:45–5:00 pm	Additional Speakers Independence West ABCDE Moderator: Alisha Reiss, MD, FACS, Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University
7:00–9:00 pm	ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC Reception (2026 PAC contributors invited) Offsite Location
Tuesday, March 3
7:00–8:00 am	Lobby Day Breakfast General Announcements Review of Issues in State Groups Winners of Advocacy and Health Policy Abstract Competition Announced Independence East FGHI Christian Shalgian, Senior Vice President, Division of Advocacy and Health Policy, ACS Carrie Zlatos, Chief of Legislative and Political Affairs, ACS
7:30–10:30 am	Buses Depart for Capitol Hill Hotel Lobby Attendees are on their own to return to the Grand Hyatt Washington, DC Hotel at the end of their day.
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.

Leadership and Advocacy Summit Agendas

Leadership Agenda

Saturday, February 28

Workshops/Additional Events

Sunday, March 1

Saturday, February 28

Workshops/Additional Events

Sunday, March 1

Advocacy Summit

Sunday, March 1

Monday, March 2

Tuesday, March 3

Sunday, March 1

Monday, March 2

Tuesday, March 3