About the Surgical Ergonomics Committee

Many surgeons have reported experiencing physical and cognitive symptoms and complications attributable to their practice in surgery. To overcome this widely impacting issue, the ACS Division of Education established Surgical Ergonomics Committee to systematically address the ergonomic challenges experienced by surgeons and improve their ergonomic wellbeing under the aegis of the ACS. This committee invited various subject matter experts, including experienced surgeons, physical and cognitive ergonomics and human factors researchers, an industrial and systems engineer, an occupational safety scientist, a health design architect, and a physical therapist, to address the full spectrum of ergonomic issues in the operating room. The goal of an effective ergonomics program in any field is to reduce injuries and increase productivity. In the field of surgery, such a program can improve outcomes, increase the longevity of surgeons, and help to combat burnout.

Co-Chairs

Ramon Berguer, MD, FACS
General surgeon, Contra Costa Regional Medical Center

Gyusung I. Lee, PhD
Assistant Director, Simulation-Based Surgical Education and Training, Division of Education, American College of Surgeons

Advisors

Ajit K. Sachdeva, MD, FACS, FRCSC, FSACME, MAMSE
Director, Division of Education, American College of Surgeons

Patrice Gabler Blair, DrPH, MPH
Associate Director, Division of Education, American College of Surgeons

Members

Michael M. Awad, MD, FACS
Professor of surgery; minimally invasive foregut and general surgery; director, robotic surgery, BJC HealthCare; director, Washington University Institute for Surgical Education (WISE); director, WISE Simulation Fellowship, Washington University School of Medicine

Susan Carter, MD, FACOG, FACS
Executive director, office of simulation in medicine & surgery; Director, Comprehensive ACS AEI; director, clinical medicine & surgery; professor of obstetrics and gynecology, Rocky Vista University

Kenneth R. Catchpole PhD, BSc, MCIEHF
Smart state endowed chair in clinical practice and human factors; professor, department of anesthesia and perioperative medicine & college of nursing, Medical University of South Carolina

Lora A. Cavouto, PhD, CPE
Associate professor, department of industrial and systems engineering; director of undergraduate studies; director, occupational safety and health training program; director, SurgE surgery ergonomics and human factors laboratory; director, ergonomics and biomechanics laboratory, University at Buffalo

Anjali Joseph, PhD, EDAC
Professor, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System; endowed chair in architecture + health design; director, center for health facilities design and testing, School of Architecture; adjunct assoc. professor, department of public health sciences, Clemson University

Yvonne C. Savarise, PT, DPT
Physical therapist, University of Utah

David J. Welsh, MD, MBA, FACS
General surgeon; ACS Member Board of Regents, Margaret Mary Health

Bin Zheng, MD, PhD
Associate professor, department of surgery, University of Alberta

ACS Staff

Gyusung I. Lee, PhD
Assistant Director, Simulation-Based Surgical Education and Training, Division of Education, American College of Surgeons
glee@facs.org

Josh Vognsen, MSHS, CHSOS
Manager, Simulation-Based Surgical Education and Training, Division of Education, American College of Surgeons
jvognsen@facs.org