ACS Aspiring Leaders Program Seeks Senior and Mid-Career Surgeons

The ACS has announced the continuation of the ACS Aspiring Leaders Program, which matches senior ACS Fellows with mid-career ACS Fellows to focus on accelerating professional development and maximizing leadership potential. Applications are due June 5, and the program will launch in person at Clinical Congress 2026.

Based on each selected participant's career goals and aspirations, the mid-career surgeon will be paired with a senior surgeon who will work with them to develop growth strategies and serve as a sounding board. 

The US-based mid-career and senior surgeon pairs will engage in virtual and in-person meetings throughout the yearlong program developed by the ACS and the Senior Fellows Society. This collaborative approach will help identify and clarify professional development goals, complete tailored educational and experiential activities, and establish meaningful measures of success. Activities will include educational sessions, professional assessment exercises, and opportunities to meet other program participants, fostering a sense of community and shared growth.

Individuals selected for participation will invest their time in initiating change and accelerating their professional development as surgeon leaders. The selection process is carefully designed to ensure pair compatibility and inclusivity of gender, ethnicity, practice, and specialty, providing all qualified applicants with equal opportunity to be part of this transformative program.

Senior ACS Fellows interested in becoming a coach/mentor can apply here. Mid-career ACS Fellows interested in becoming a mentee can apply here.

For additional details, contact Jennifer Rosen, MD, FACS, at jennifer.e.rosen@medstar.net. For programmatic questions, contact Anita Johnson at anita.johnson@facs.org.