The day began with a shared registration and networking breakfast, providing an opportunity for attendees from the Cancer Liaisons and Trauma Meetings to connect with colleagues and explore exhibitor booths.
The Cancer Liaisons Meeting, expertly guided by James R. Ouellette, DO, FACS, and Michael Sarap, MD, FACS, featured thought-provoking talks from leading experts. Sara P. Myers, MD, PhD, opened with an exploration of the financial toxicity of cancer care, setting the stage for a lineup of clinical and systems-based insights.
Fuat Bicer, MD, PhD, and Lauren Miller, MD, MBA, shared advances in renal cell carcinoma and HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancers, respectively, while Electra D. Paskett, PhD, MSPH, emphasized the urgent need to address cancer disparities across Ohio. She stressed the important role of oncology patient navigators in decreasing the impact of social deprivation. The morning continued with discussions on hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy and breast cryoablation, showcasing the latest innovations transforming cancer care for patients in Ohio and nationally.
Concurrently, the Ohio Committee on Trauma convened a session on trauma system coordination, highlighting the need for a Regional Medical Operations Coordination Center (RMOCC). Several speakers, including Pradeesh M. George, DO, MBA, FACS, and US Air Force Col. Valerie G. Sams, MD, delivered powerful insights into civilian-military integration, readiness for mass casualty events, and the legislative infrastructure needed to strengthen statewide trauma response capabilities.
The session focused on Ohio’s preparedness for the “1000/100” large-scale combat operations (LSCO) scenario, managing 1,000 seriously wounded patients daily for 100 days across the US.
Dr. Sams highlighted the national framework for RMOCCs, noting the responsibility of the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, as a Role 4 Definitive Care Facility and the need to integrate the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) with the US Department of Health and Human Services, Defense Health Agency, US Department of Veterans Affairs, and military-civilian partnerships (e.g., University of Cincinnati Medical Center). She identified challenges in lines of authority and explained that some hospitals are unaware of their NDMS status or agreement updates, hindering integration.
Andrew Thomas, MD, MBA, discussed the Ohio Hospital Preparedness Program, which supports eight Homeland Security Planning Regions and seven healthcare coalitions. The Central Ohio Trauma System, covering 36 counties, coordinates 65 hospitals, including nine trauma centers, and has developed capabilities like the Surge Operations Call Center and a 1,000-bed field hospital at the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority in Columbus. The Ohio Department of Health's (ODH) three-zone structure, led by experts like Dr. Thomas, facilitates regional coordination, but the system was not designed for extended events like LSCO, highlighting the need for seamless statewide integration.
Dr. George, Chair of the Ohio Committee on Trauma, emphasized Ohio’s strengths, such as centralized transfer centers (e.g., Zone 2 coordinating 40 hospitals during COVID-19) and ODH/Ohio Hospital Association data systems, but noted gaps in cross-zone coordination, real-time bed tracking, and subacute/rehab capacity. Workforce shortages (e.g., 9,000 registered nurse vacancies, national shortage of 5,080 orthopaedic surgeons by 2025) exacerbate these challenges.
A solution would be a statewide Medical Operations Coordination Center to provide real-time monitoring, patient load-balancing, and military-civilian coordination, ensuring multi-hazard adaptability. During discussions, attendees underscored the urgency and warned that proposed federal funding cuts threaten Ohio’s preparedness infrastructure, risking lives, causing economic burdens, and weakening surge capacity.
General Session Highlights
Afternoon programming featured the ever-popular “Spectacularly Interesting Cases,” where residents and faculty presented challenging and unique surgical scenarios. This was followed by an eye-opening and data-packed presentation on private equity’s expanding role in medicine by radiation oncologist Vinita Takiar, MD, PhD.
I was honored to provide my home chapter with a summary of ACS key updates and activities. The day’s presentations concluded with the Ohio Oration, delivered by Randy J. Woods, MD, FACS, who inspired attendees with reflections on leadership and surgical education. Attendees then gathered for Resident Jeopardy and a social reception. Surgical Jeopardy winners were MacKenzie J. Reece, DO, MS, and Ryan Carney, DO, PharmD, both from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
General Session and Academic Presentations
Saturday’s agenda was a celebration of research and professional growth. The Abstract Podium Presentations and Quickshot Presentations offered a platform for surgical trainees to share their original work, from oncologic surgery to trauma outcomes and healthcare innovation. In all, there were 23 abstract presentations.
The first-place podium presentation, “Cryopreserved Calvarial Bone Healing after Cranioplasty in Mice,” was from Abdulaziz Elemosho, MD. The first place quickshot presentation, “Toward Opioid-Free Ambulatory Surgery: Are Regional Blocks Associated with Reduced Opioid Use when Combined with Multimodal Postoperative Analgesia?,” from Stefanie C. Rohde, MD.
Jennifer Knight-Davis, MD, FACS, moderated a panel on “Leaving a Legacy: Life Outside the OR,” with panelists Sharon Stein, MD, FACS, Michelle Kincaid, MD, and Matthew Kroh, MD, FACS.
Advocacy took center stage in the Resident and Associate Society-sponsored session in which Elizabeth Shaughnessy, MD, PhD, FACS, and Alisha Reiss, MD, FACS, addressed key policy issues affecting Ohio surgeons. The meeting concluded with a resident-led session, moderated by Julia Coleman, MD, MPH, FACS, that spotlighted recent literature that has significantly shifted paradigms across surgical disciplines.
The 2025 Ohio Chapter ACS Annual Meeting was a resounding success, distinguished by its breadth of content, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a shared commitment to surgical innovation, education, and patient care.
Nancy L. Gantt, MD, FACS
First Vice-President
