Call for Abstracts

All healthcare and quality professionals are invited to submit an abstract containing a summary of original research in the categories listed below. International submissions are encouraged.  

Please note that abstracts submitted or recently presented at other meetings are eligible for presentation at the 2026 Quality, Safety & Cancer Conference.

Registration & Expectations

Presenters are required to register themselves for the meeting. Registration will open in spring 2026. Due to the size and scope of the meeting, the ACS does not provide reimbursement for airfare, hotel honorarium, etc., to abstract presenters.

Presenters will be required to print and bring their poster onsite at their own expense.

We appreciate your willingness to share your research and contribute to the continuing education of surgeons in the field. We look forward to seeing you in Orlando!

Abstract Submission Specifications

1. Maximum number of authors: 10 for submission (including the lead author) additional authors welcome post- acceptance
2. Word limit: 250 words for entire abstract (poster and/or podium), not including the title, author string, or table/figure.
   1. Relates to surgical quality improvement initiatives, including the development, implementation, or validation of best practices
   2. Follows operational best practices relating to workflows around collecting data and reporting
   3. Uses data from any nationally recognized surgical quality registry
3. Structure: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Conclusions
4. Table or figure criteria: 
   1. One table or figure per abstract
   2. No identifying information for authors or institutions 
   3. Tables must not contain more than five columns or ten rows 
   4. Figures must be JPG or PNG. 
5. No identifying information should be included in the abstract title, body, or attached tables/figures, as all abstracts are reviewed on a blind basis.

Types of Presentations & Policies

At the Quality, Safety & Cancer Conference submitted abstracts may qualify for one or both types of presentations: podium and/or poster. There is no limit on the number of abstracts an author may submit. Acceptance decisions, including whether an abstract is selected for a podium or poster presentation, will be determined by the reviewing committee.

• Podium presentations consist of a verbal presentation between 5-10 minutes including a Q&A. Upon acceptance additional details will be provided.  If accepted for a podium presentation, an individual may serve as the presenting author on only one podium abstract. Authors with multiple accepted abstracts may present one podium and one poster presentation.
• Poster presentations are held during the Poster Reception event at the Conference. Poster presenters will be required to prepare a poster using the provided QSCC template. Presenters will be required to print and bring their poster onsite at their own expense. 

Please note: If a change in presenting author is needed after submission or acceptance, this is permitted. Please email acsqsconference@facs.org as soon as possible to update presenter information. The deadline to change the presenting author is July 6, 2026. No more changes will be accepted after the deadline.

Authors who use artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the writing of an abstract, production of images or graphical elements, or in the collection and analysis of data must disclose in the Materials and Methods (or similar section) of the abstract how the AI tool was used and which tool was used. Authors remain fully responsible for the content of their submission, including any portions produced with an AI tool, and are liable for any breach of publication ethics.

Reviewers will score abstracts according to a defined rubric. All authors are expected to adhere to the ACS Statement of Integrity.

No changes can be made to the title, author string, or abstract body and table/figures after March 9, 2026.