ACS Brief

Latest Stories

New NCDB Annual Report Reveals Cancer Treatment Trends

January 27, 2026

The ACS recently released its second National Cancer Database (NCDB) annual report in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS), which includes updated data from the NCDB 2022 adult participant user file. The report provides observations and trends of cancer diagnoses, patient demographics, and treatments, as well as in-depth reports on treatment and outcomes for prostate cancer, esophageal cancer, and melanoma.

ACS Co-Writes Policy Statement on Pediatric Readiness in the ED

January 27, 2026

The ACS has joined with experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Emergency Nurses Association in a policy statement outlining key steps that emergency departments can take to meet the needs of pediatric patients.

Legislation Aims to Study Maldistribution of Surgeons, Improve Access to Care

January 27, 2026

Last week in the US House of Representatives, Reps. Ami Bera, MD (D-CA), John Joyce, MD (R-PA), Scott Peters (D-CA), and Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced the Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2026, which would direct the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) to study and define a general surgery workforce shortage area and collect data on the adequacy of access to surgical services.

Read this week's entire issue for the latest news on the ACS and the field of surgery.

January 27, 2026 Issue

ACS Brief

Write Winning Abstract for Clinical Congress 2026

Clinical Congress 2026 is accepting submissions for scientific abstracts, surgical videos, and history posters—deadline March 2.

ACS Brief

Discover Unique Tales About Fellow Surgeons in Bulletin Article Series

ACS Past-Secretary Tyler G. Hughes, MD, FACS, shares surgeons’ unique journeys in his Bulletin series A Surgeon’s Tale.

ACS Brief

Register for ACS Simulation in Surgical Education Course in June

Learn the fundamentals of surgical simulation education at the ACS course in Durham, June 10–13—registration is now open.

ACS Brief

Nominate an Inspiring Woman Surgeon for Walker Award

Nominate a leader advancing women in surgery for the Dr. Mary Edwards Walker Award, to be presented at Clinical Congress 2026.

ACS Brief

Attend Free Webinar on Current Status, Future Challenges in Surgery for Crohn Disease

Dr. Fabrizio Michelassi presents surgical insights on Crohn disease in a free ACS International Relations Committee webinar on February 2.

Don't Miss Out!

Go to your MyCME Portal today and verify your ABS ID and date of birth on the Board Certification Tab so you can have your CME data automatically transmitted to the ABS via ACCME.

Addressing Breast Cancer Care Gaps with Global Standards Benefits All Populations

The latest episode of The House of Surgery podcast features Dr. Kerstin Sandelin, a breast surgeon from Stockholm, Sweden, who gave the Distinguished Lecture of the International Society of Surgery during Clinical Congress 2025. In her lecture, Dr. Sandelin addressed the gaps in breast cancer care throughout the world and offered information about how low- and middle-income countries will benefit from global standardization.

Investment Needed to Reduce Access Disparities to High Volume Centers for Pancreatic Cancer Surgery

Pancreaticoduodenectomy or total pancreatectomy for cancers involving the pancreatic head is a complex, high-risk operation, and although studies show improved survival at high-volume centers, many cases are still performed at low-volume centers. Listen to Dr. Noah Brown discuss his recent JACS article, which found that patient factors influence the choice of centers and that investment is needed to improve access to high-volume locations.

Literature Selections

Claims-Based Studies Underestimate Adoption of Robotic Surgery

Low sensitivity of billing codes leads to underestimation of robotic surgery adoption in claims-based research, a new analysis shows.

Frailty Screening and Multidisciplinary “Surgical Pause” Can Define Who Proceeds to Surgery or Alternatives

Frailty-based pathways using the Risk Analysis Index help surgeons determine when to proceed, modify, or defer surgery in high-risk patients.”

Past Issues