Partner and Volunteer Spotlight

Volunteer Spotlight: Steven M. Roser, DMD, FACS

We recognize the remarkable contributions of Dr. Steve Roser to global surgery, surgical education, and humanitarian care. Dr. Roser serves as the Delos Hill Chair of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Professor of Surgery at Emory University School of Medicine, where he is also the Residency Program Director for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

A graduate of Harvard’s dental and medical programs, Dr. Roser completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1973. Throughout his distinguished career, he has held leadership positions at Harbor UCLA Medical Center, Southern Illinois University, Columbia University, and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Since joining Emory in 2004, he has continued to champion surgical education and global health.

For more than 3 decades, Dr. Roser has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to humanitarian surgical care. Since 1991, he has organized international surgical outreach programs, with a particular focus on cleft lip and palate repair in Latin America. His dedication and leadership have been recognized with numerous honors, including the 2011 Humanitarian of the Year Award from the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the 2024 Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award.

Most recently, Dr. Roser was honored with the 2026 ACS/Pfizer Surgical Volunteerism Award in the International category and recognized at Clinical Congress, another testament to his enduring commitment to advancing surgical care around the world.

We are especially grateful to have Dr. Roser as a valued member of our Committee on Global Engagement – Education Subcommittee, a contributor to our inaugural Global Surgery Certificate Program, and a key collaborator in our plastic surgery partnership in Kigali, Rwanda. His leadership, generosity, and commitment to mentorship continue to inspire our global surgery community.

Partner Spotlight: InterVol

ACS H.O.P.E. partners with InterVol, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving access to healthcare by repurposing unused medical supplies and equipment and mobilizing medical volunteers to serve communities in need.

Founded in 1989 by Ralph Pennino, MD, FACS, and Timothy O’Connor, MD, FACS, InterVol was inspired by the critical shortages of medical resources witnessed in underserved communities. Since then, the organization has provided medical supplies and equipment to 83 countries, supported more than 103 nonprofit organizations across the United States, and grown to collect and distribute more than 85 tons of medical supplies and equipment annually.

The partnership between ACS H.O.P.E. and InterVol brings together complementary approaches to strengthening surgical systems. While ACS H.O.P.E. focuses on surgical workforce development through education, mentorship, and sustainable training initiatives, InterVol works to address critical gaps in medical equipment and infrastructure.

Together, the organizations aim to connect locally identified equipment needs with ongoing surgical education and capacity-building efforts. By pairing workforce development with access to appropriate medical resources, the partnership seeks to support stronger healthcare institutions and more sustainable surgical services.

Through this partnership, ACS H.O.P.E. and InterVol share a commitment to strengthening surgical capacity and expanding access to safe, high-quality surgical care worldwide.

Have Medical Equipment to Donate?

Hospitals and healthcare institutions with surplus medical equipment or supplies are encouraged to consider donating these resources through InterVol. Donations of new or serviceable equipment can help reduce medical waste while supporting healthcare facilities in resource-limited settings.

To discuss potential donations, contact Ralph Pennino, MD, FACS, directly at rpennino@gmail.com.