Faculty cards

Gary L. Timmerman, MD, FACS, MAMSE

Dr. Timmerman, 2025 Surgeons as Leaders Course Chair, serves as professor and chair of the surgery department at the University of South Dakota Sanford Medical School.

Julie A. Freischlag, MD, FACS, FRCSEd(Hon), DFSVS

Dr. Freischlag is chief executive officer of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, chief academic officer of Advocate Health and executive vice president for health affairs of Wake Forest University.

Andrea A. Hayes Dixon, MD, FACS, FAAP

Dr. Dixon became the first black woman Dean of Howard Universty’s College of Medicine in 2022. With the distinction of becoming dean, Dr. Hayes Dixon adds to an already extensive list of groundbreaking accomplishments.

Matthew M. Hutter, MD, MBA, MPH, FACS

Dr. Hutter is a general and gastrointestinal surgeon at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), where his clinical work focuses on advanced laparoscopic, foregut and bariatric surgery.

Larry R. Kaiser, MD, FACS

Dr. Kaiser is a managing director with Alvarez & Marsal’s Healthcare Industry Group Health Systems practice. He is a cardiothoracic surgeon by training and specializes in working with healthcare systems, primarily in restructuring, process improvement and strategy.

Melina R. Kibbe, MD, FACS

Dr. Kibbe has been the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine’s dean and chief health affairs officer since 2021. She is also James Carroll Flippin Professor of Medical Science, professor of surgery, and professor of biomedical engineering at UVA.

Carlos A. Pellegrini, MD, FACS, FRCSI(Hon), FRCS(Hon), FRSCEd(Hon), FWACS(Hon)

Dr. Pellegrini is a surgeon with expertise in surgical education, simulation, professionalism, and leadership. He is a pioneer in the development of technological surgical advancements and a world leader in minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery.

Ajit K. Sachdeva, MD, FACS, FRCSC, FSACME, MAMSE

Dr. Sachdeva is the Founding Director of the Division of Education of the American College of Surgeons, which is responsible for developing and implementing innovative education and training programs for surgeons, surgery residents, medical students, and surgical teams.

Kenneth W. Sharp, MD, FACS

Dr. Sharp is a professor of surgery and vice chair for faculty promotion & development at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Nathaniel J. Soper, MD, FACS

Dr. Soper is a trailblazer in the field of minimally invasive surgery, foregut surgery and surgical education. He was one of the first academic surgeons performing laparoscopic surgery, which has defined his subsequent career.

Beth H. Sutton, MD, FACS

Dr. Sutton serves as a general surgeon in private practice in Wichita Falls, TX. She participates in the call schedule for the Level II trauma center and acute care surgery service at United Regional Health Care System, where her practice is located.

Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS

Dr. Turner is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the American College of Surgeons and a clinical professor at the University of Chicago Medicine.