ACS Brief

Latest Stories

Dr. A. Brent Eastman, ACS Past-President and Trauma System Innovator, Passes Away

June 30, 2026

A. Brent Eastman, MD, FACS, ACS Past-President and a lifelong champion of trauma care and surgical excellence, died June 24. He was 86 years old. His visionary leadership helped reshape trauma systems and improve care for injured patients worldwide.

Last Chance: Submit Breakthrough Research to Present at Clinical Congress 2026

June 30, 2026

Surgeons and members of the care teams are invited to submit abstracts of clinical trials and studies to be considered for presentation at a dedicated Scientific Forum session during Clinical Congress 2026, September 26–29 in Washington, DC. But don’t delay—submissions close tomorrow, Wednesday, July 1, at 1:00 pm CT.

Build Your Teaching and Leadership Skills in Chicago

June 30, 2026

Registration is open for the ACS Residents as Teachers and Leaders Course (RATAL), which will be held September 11–13 at the ACS headquarters in Chicago. RATAL is designed specifically for mid- to senior-level surgery residents of all surgical specialties.

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

June 30, 2026 Issue

ACS Brief

Join Webinar on Self-Advocacy in the OR and Beyond

Learn strategies for clearly communicating expectations, managing administrative workflows, and advocating for resources, time, and support needed.

ACS Brief

Gaps in E-Bike Regulation Heighten Risks for Young Riders (Bulletin)

Rising pediatric e-bike injuries mirror motor vehicle trauma due to gaps in US federal regulations.

ACS Brief

Become an ACS Continuous Quality Improvement Clinical Scholar

ACS Clinical Scholars in Residence program allows surgical residents to gain experience in outcomes and health services research.

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.

Opt-In Decision-Making Program for Opioids After Breast Surgery May Reduce Prescriptions

In the latest episode of The Operative Word from JACS podcast, host Dr. Tom Varghese is joined by Drs. Serena Lofftus and James Wu from UCLA to discuss their recent JACS article, “Patient-Based Decision Making for Opioid Prescriptions After Ambulatory Breast Operation: A Randomized Clinical Trial.” The authors examined whether incorporating patient choice into postoperative prescribing decisions could reduce opioid prescribing and consumption after ambulatory breast operation without negatively affecting pain control or quality of life.

MTP Activation Geo-Data May Help Guide Allocation of Prehospital Whole Blood

Prehospital whole blood (PHWB) transfusion improves outcomes for trauma patients, but blood products are a scarce and costly resource. Could geo-mapping of high-need zones, where massive transfusion protocol (MTP) activation is more common, help get PHWB where it is needed most? Listen to Dr. Nicolle Barmettler discuss the findings of her recent JACS article on the topic.

Literature Selections

Level I Trauma Centers Show Survival Advantage in Shock and Blunt Multisystem Trauma

New evidence supports triaging unstable and complex blunt trauma patients to Level I trauma centers for optimal outcomes.

Same-Admission Cholecystectomy Is Preferred Treatment for Gallstone-Related Acute Pancreatitis

New evidence reinforces index-admission cholecystectomy as the preferred treatment after gallstone pancreatitis for eligible patients.

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