Italian Scholar Aims to Achieve the Best Practical Care

“The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.”

I was excited to represent the Italian delegation at ACS Clinical Congress 2016 in Washington, DC, as the recipient of the 2016 ACS Italian Chapter Traveling Scholarship. This incredible opportunity was established in 2012 and gives a lucky surgical resident the opportunity to attend the most important surgical congress worldwide.

This year it is happened to me.

Nowadays surgery is changing, facing new challenges in a global reality characterized by economic instability and global transformations. Sharing ideas, knowledge, and goals has never been so crucial, especially from a surgical point of view aiming to achieve the best practical care for the patient.

In this spirit, I left my country to attend my first ACS Clinical Congress.

The initial impact was shocking—just looking at the vastness of the scheduled program. In fully immersive five days, the ACS Clinical Congress agenda covers almost everything a young surgeon, like myself, may be interested in—from trauma video-sessions to panel sessions on the current strategy for resident training.

Convocation and the Opening Ceremony were really touching—the idea of being among them in the future strongly confirmed my will to do better every day!

I also attended Focus on RAS-ACS where the Resident and Associate Society of the American College of Surgeons (RAS-ACS) deeply analyzed the working situations and concerns of surgical trainees. On this occasion, I met my colleagues from all over the world joining the conference thanks to the Traveling Fellowship. It has been absolutely interesting to have the opportunity to deeply understand foreign realities that share different experiences of growth.

The entire Clinical Congress was full of interesting events and, due to my interest in transplantation and organ bioengineering, I’ve followed specific dedicated sessions (Transplantation and Tissue Engineering I and II) where both basic researchers and surgeons illustrated their progresses in this exciting field. For sure, next year, I will submit my research.

I do believe that basic science and surgery have to share ideas and goals in a synergy of skills and expertise.

Surgical Jeopardy was fun with residents “fighting” each other in a friendly, quiz-based competition.

Finally, it was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy Washington, DC, one of my favorite cities with its unique charm perfectly balanced amongst history, culture, landscapes, food, and elegant life style.

It’s time now for thanks. Special thanks to the RAS-ACS International Exchange Program, with particular thanks to Prof. Giuseppe Nigri, the administrator of the ACS Italy chapter and director of the exchange, who has kindly and completely supported me. Special thanks go also to Alison Casey, RAS-ACS Administrator, who followed my experience step by step.

One of my favorite quotes is “No man is an island,” which belongs to John Donne. I do trust that it totally embodies the spirit of this exchange where the spirit of sharing is the basis for a common growth.