Committee on Global Engagement Updates

Applications to the Committee on Global Engagement are being collected through the ACS-wide call for committee applications. Applications are due June 1.

Application form: 2026 Committee Member Application

Advocacy Subcommittee

The Committee on Global Engagement Advocacy Subcommittee continues to advance efforts that elevate the value of global surgery while addressing persistent barriers to participation. A central priority is strengthening bilateral exchange and workforce advocacy through initiatives such as Coalition BRIGHT and collaboration with partners including the Consortium of Universities for Global Health. These coordinated efforts are designed to increase visibility, inform policy discussions, and better support international medical graduates, as well as sustainable global surgical partnerships.

The subcommittee also is prioritizing research to quantify the benefits of global surgery engagement for the US. Through targeted surveys and peer-reviewed publications, the group is building data-driven narratives that underscore the economic, workforce, and diplomatic value of these partnerships. This work is essential to shaping effective advocacy strategies and securing broader stakeholder support.

In collaboration with the Domestic Subcommittee, members hope to further explore barriers to surgical volunteerism, including state licensure challenges, participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, and gaps in malpractice coverage. Policy solutions, such as federal Good Samaritan protections, also are being evaluated to support surgeons committed to global service.

Looking ahead, the subcommittee will remain aligned with ACS advocacy priorities while continuing to strengthen the evidence base needed to position global surgery as a vital component of health system strengthening in the US and globally.

Domestic Subcommittee

The Committee on Global Engagement Domestic Subcommittee is advancing a coordinated effort to expand access to surgical care in underserved communities, with a clear focus on strengthening the Free Clinic Registry and supporting pipeline development. A central priority is to grow and enhance the registry by increasing participation and improving the quality of data collection. Through this work, the subcommittee is helping identify clinical sites where ACS Fellows can volunteer and where vulnerable populations can receive essential surgical care.

At the same time, the subcommittee is deepening its commitment to outreach and early engagement of future surgeons. Partnerships with programs such as the Health Career Collaborative are connecting high school students in low-resource environments with medical students and other healthcare professionals to increase awareness of careers in healthcare. These efforts are designed to cultivate a strong, diverse pipeline of students and trainees who are committed to service, equity, and excellence in the healthcare industry. If you are interested in starting a chapter at your medical school, reach out to the Health Career Collaborative.

Looking ahead, the subcommittee hopes to build a comprehensive domestic surgical volunteerism toolkit, conduct an analysis to better understand barriers to volunteerism, and strengthen collaboration with ACS chapters and Governors. These next steps will support sustained progress in expanding access to high-quality surgical care and reinforcing the College’s commitment to serving all communities.

Education Subcommittee

ACS H.O.P.E. Launches Global Health in Surgery Certificate Program

The Committee on Global Engagement Education Subcommittee continues to strengthen its established educational foundation while advancing its newest initiative, the Global Health in Surgery Certificate Program from the ACS Health Outreach Program for Equity in Global Surgery (ACS H.O.P.E.®). Launched in January 2026, the program welcomed an inaugural cohort of 34 participants, including 20 attending surgeons representing eight specialties, 10 residents, and four medical students across all regions of the US. This multidisciplinary cohort underscores the growing commitment to global surgery education and sustained engagement.

The yearlong curriculum is thoughtfully structured to support participant success, with core modules addressing the global burden of surgical disease, health systems, social determinants of health, surgical system strengthening, research, ethics, and health equity. A defining element of the program is the capstone project—a longitudinal, mentored experience that enables participants to apply course concepts to real-world global surgery challenges. These projects are designed to foster practical, sustainable solutions that align with both participants’ professional goals and the priorities of partner communities, reinforcing the program’s focus on meaningful and lasting impact.

The Education Subcommittee extends its sincere appreciation to the dedicated faculty, speakers, and authors, as well as the ACS Division of Education, for their collaboration in developing and delivering this program. ACS H.O.P.E. also recognizes the leadership and vision of lead faculty Tamara Worlton, MD, FACS, FASMBS, Chris Dodgion, MD, MSPH, MBA, FACS, and Adnan Alseidi, MD, EdM, MBA, FACS, whose efforts have been instrumental in bringing this important initiative to fruition.

Now Accepting Applications: ACS H.O.P.E. Resident Scholarship Award for Clinical Congress 2026

Applications are now being accepted for the ACS H.O.P.E. Resident Scholarship Award to attend Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, DC.

Ten ACS resident members with a demonstrated interest in global health will receive $1,000 to support their participation in the full-day didactic course, “Global Health Competencies for Surgeons: Key Concepts, Evidence, and Practical Approaches for Responsible and Effective Engagement.” The course will be held on Saturday, September 26, 8:30 am–4:00 pm ET, during Clinical Congress 2026.

This comprehensive 1-day didactic course equips surgeons with foundational global health knowledge, ethical principles, and practical frameworks for responsible engagement. Through expert-led sessions, participants explore global surgical systems, partnerships, advocacy, and clinical problem-solving, gaining skills to address real-world challenges and contribute effectively to sustainable, equitable global surgery efforts.

Application deadline: Friday, May 22 at 11:59 pm ET

Decisions will be communicated by mid-July. For additional information, contact acshope@facs.org.

International Subcommittee

Global Surgery Expert Lecture Series Demonstrates Strong Global Reach and Educational Impact

The International Subcommittee has completed its first year of monthly programming as part of the Global Surgery Expert Lecture Series. On average, each lecture attracted 188 registrants and 58 live attendees, engaging participants from approximately 15 countries per session. Across the full lecture year, participants represented 45 countries, with the highest levels of participation from Ethiopia, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

The lecture series demonstrated strong educational impact, achieving an average excellence score of 4.6 out of 5 and scoring highly across evaluations of relevance, applicability, and overall quality. Audience composition reflected a broad professional mix, with approximately 42% attendings or consultants, 39% registrars or residents, 10% fellows, and 9% other participants, including medical students, retirees, and nurses.

The three most well-attended lectures were:

• “Minimal Access, Maximum Input: Promulgating Laparoscopy Worldwide”
• “The Breath of Life: Principles and Practice of Ventilatory Support in Critical Care”
• “Oncology Management: Colon Cancer”

The subcommittee extends sincere gratitude to all faculty members who volunteered their time and expertise during the 2024–2025 lecture year. Recordings of all prior lectures are available.

Lecturers (December 2024–December 2025)

• Nader Hanna, MD, FACS
• Raphael C. Lee, MD, ScD, DSc(Hon), FACS
• Marcela Ramirez, MD, FACS
• Angela Gibson, MD, PhD, FACS
• Rifat Latifi, MD, FACS, FICS, FKCS
• Anteneh Habte, MD
• Raymond Price, MD, FACS
• Laura Withers, MD, FACS
• Tesfaye Mulat, MD, MPhil, FCS(ECSA)
• Laura Fischer, MD, FACS
• Flavio Malcher, MD, MSc
• Barclay Stewart, MD, FACS
• Mike Lauria, MD
• Maxwell Osei-Ampofo, MBChB, MBA, MPH, MS

Inaugural ACS H.O.P.E. Ambassadors Expand Global Surgery Network

The Committee on Global Engagement International Subcommittee has identified the inaugural cohort of ACS H.O.P.E. Ambassadors, recognizing the vital contributions of nonacademic surgeon volunteers and their partners. Learn more about the 2026–2028 ambassadors below:

Luis R. Taveras Morales, MD, FACS, is an acute care surgeon at Medical City Plano and Medical City McKinney in Texas (HCA Healthcare – Physician Services Group). He completed his general surgery residency and a surgical critical care/acute care surgery fellowship at The University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, after graduating summa cum laude from Universidad Iberoamericana School of Medicine in the Dominican Republic. Dr. Taveras is an ATLS and Stop the Bleed instructor and serves as managing director of TraumaRD, a social entrepreneurship initiative focused on strengthening trauma systems, injury prevention, and trauma education in the Dominican Republic. He also is an invited professor and advisor to the country’s first acute care surgery fellowship and an active member of the Panamerican Trauma Society, contributing to research and academic efforts to advance trauma care across the Americas.

Justine Broecker, MD, is a double board-certified general surgeon and surgical critical care physician. She completed medical school at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, general surgery residency at Mayo Clinic Florida, and fellowships in surgical critical care at The University of Texas Southwestern/Parkland and global surgery through the University of California San Francisco HEAL Initiative and Center for Health Equity in Surgery and Anesthesia. Dr. Broecker has extensive experience in global surgery, serving with the Indian Health Service (IHS) in New Mexico and at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda, where she also taught medical trainees and supported College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa programs. She currently continues her clinical work with IHS and remains actively engaged in global surgical education, and as an ACS H.O.P.E. Ambassador, she is committed to advancing international collaboration and bidirectional training opportunities.

Debra J. Johnson, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon and Fellow of the ACS who became Sacramento’s first female plastic surgeon in 1989. She completed her medical education and plastic surgery training at Stanford University in California, with additional training in Barcelona and Paris, and has held numerous national leadership roles, including president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Johnson has been a strong advocate for patient safety and professional standards through her work with the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the California Society of Plastic Surgeons. An experienced global surgeon, she has participated in more than 70 international missions and remains committed to expanding access to reconstructive care and surgical education worldwide.

Vadim Gushchin, MD, FACS, is a surgical oncologist and director of the Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. He specializes in cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for advanced peritoneal cancers and is committed to improving patient outcomes through evidence-based, patient-centered care. He completed his general surgery residency at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC. Dr. Gushchin is an advocate for reducing disparities in quality cancer care and advancing education for both patients and clinicians. He is presently pursuing a master of education degree in the health professions at Johns Hopkins University, focusing on competency-based training and program development. Through his academic work and international mentorship, he supports the development of sustainable oncology training programs and the expansion of access to high-quality cancer care globally.

Cheryl Carandang Nocon, MD, is a board-certified otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeon and ACS Fellow, specializing in head and neck cancer, thyroid, and salivary gland disorders. She completed her medical education at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, residency at the University of Chicago, and fellowship training in head and neck surgical oncology and microvascular reconstruction at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Dr. Nocon is committed to addressing disparities in cancer care, serving a predominantly Spanish-speaking population in East Los Angeles, and advancing global surgical education through international missions and training initiatives. She is currently pursuing a master of public health degree at the University of California, Los Angeles to further support her work in global surgery and health equity. Her research interests focus on disparities in head and neck cancer management and improving access to high-quality, culturally competent care. As an ACS H.O.P.E. Ambassador, she is dedicated to fostering sustainable and collaborative approaches to global surgical outreach.

Srinivas Ramachandra, MD, is an experienced general and vascular surgeon with decades of clinical, academic, and leadership expertise in the US and India. He completed his medical training at Bangalore Medical College in India, followed by surgical residency and a vascular fellowship at Hahnemann University, where he also held teaching appointments. Dr. Ramachandra served for over 25 years at Kaiser Permanente, including as chief of surgery in Hayward, California, and later became a partner at East Bay Cardiovascular Thoracic Associates. In addition to his clinical work, he has been actively involved in professional and nonprofit service, including serving as a board member of the Matibabu Foundation in Kenya, supporting healthcare initiatives for underserved populations, as well as contributing to other medical organizations and community-focused efforts.

Jay Redan, MD, FACS, is past chief of surgery at AdventHealth Celebration in Florida, and a board-certified surgeon with more than 30 years of experience. He has held numerous leadership roles at AdventHealth and within the ACS, including Past President of the Florida Chapter and service on multiple committees focused on quality, safety, and innovation. Dr. Redan earned his medical degree and completed his surgical training at the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey and served as a Major in the US Army National Guard during Desert Storm. An accomplished educator and researcher, he has contributed to more than 40 publications and more than 20 clinical trials, and he also volunteers his expertise performing minimally invasive surgery at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. He remains actively engaged in advancing surgical education, clinical excellence, and patient-centered care through his ongoing leadership and service.

These ambassadors will help amplify global surgical initiatives, strengthen partnerships, and connect early career surgeons with meaningful opportunities for engagement. Through their leadership, ACS H.O.P.E. aims to expand its global surgery network beyond academia, foster regional collaboration, and increase access to ACS resources, membership, and chapter engagement. To learn more or connect with an ambassador, contact acshope@facs.org.