The ACS Missouri Chapter hosted its Annual Scientific Assembly April 19–21 in Lake Ozark. First Vice-President-Elect Nancy L. Gantt, MD, FACS, was among those representing College leadership and authored the following report:
The meeting, attended by 92 ACS Fellows and surgical trainees, was held at the Camden on the Lake Resort, Lake Ozark, Missouri. My husband, Raymond J. Boniface, MD, FACS, and I were welcomed at the Friday evening Council dinner meeting at Baxter’s Lakeside Grille. The view of the setting sun from the restaurant was spectacular.
Attendees were split evenly among faculty, surgical residents, and medical students. The trainees, from across the state of Missouri, were the stars of the meeting and were given the opportunity to present their research in four sessions. Presentation winners, including the Committee on Trauma paper competition, were announced by Chapter President Andrew A. Wheeler, MD, FACS, during a Saturday evening lake cruise.
Several panels promoted spirited discussion by all the attendees. Topics included complex oncology cases, complex benign general surgery cases, and “Spectacular Cases in Missouri/What Would You Do?” presentations.
I was invited to participate in two of the panels and present a 2024 ACS update. Michael J. Sutherland, MD, MBA, FACS, Director of the ACS Division of Member Services, expanded on the ACS offerings for surgical residents. Michael W. Cripps, MD, FACS, section chief of trauma and critical care at the University of Colorado, was the keynote luncheon speaker. He provided an entertaining and thought-provoking analysis of the engagement required for rural and urban surgeons to jointly provide high quality care for injured patients. His mantra was to “stop the bleeding” and he presented every adjunct available to facilitate “thoughtful resuscitation.
On Saturday evening attendees were treated to a dinner cruise on Lake Ozark, which has 260 more miles of shoreline than the state of California! We had the lake to ourselves, and it provided a relaxing opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones.
The Association of Women Surgeons breakfast on Sunday morning was very well attended by male and female surgeons and trainees. Missouri Chapter Vice-President Brook Nelson Iams, MD, FACS, and I moderated the session, “Opening Doors: Case-based Discussions of Challenges that Persist in the House of Surgery.” We had a spirited exchange about mentorship challenges and strategies, supporting trainees who are receiving push-back about becoming surgeons, sorting through career opportunities with a growth mindset, and the necessity of establishing professional boundaries.
The Chapter leadership organized both new Fellow and Councilor interviews on Saturday morning to facilitate attendance and engagement. The meeting concluded with the annual business meeting and installation of Chapter officers.
The friendliness, camaraderie, and educational focus of the assembled surgeons were exceptional. The comfortable engagement of the trainees with the faculty was wonderful to see, and reinforced how important role-modeling and mentorship are in our profession.
Nancy L. Gantt, MD, FACS
ACS First Vice-President-Elect
