ACS Brief

Latest Stories

New US Government Funding Favors Several Surgeon-Focused Initiatives

February 10, 2026

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, which was signed into law on February 3, includes funding for key health programs, including several that ACS has strongly supported. Five of the funding bills included in the package are identical to what was previously passed by the House of Representatives late last month.

Help ACS Develop Resources to Support Locum Tenens Surgeons

February 10, 2026

The ACS wants to better understand the needs of members who are locum tenens surgeons and the types of resources that could help advance their career and manage their practice.

If you are a locum tenens surgeon and want to share your perspectives and/or be considered to serve on a workgroup, please complete a brief survey. You will be contacted with more details.

Dr. Douglas Wood Offers Overview of His Decades-Long Fight for Lung Cancer Screening Coverage

February 10, 2026

Efforts to improve lung cancer detection and survival have improved significantly in recent years, thanks in part to the efforts of world-renowned thoracic surgeon Douglas E. Wood, MD, FACS, FRCSEd, who has dedicated much of his career to saving the lives of lung cancer patients both in the OR and through his tireless efforts to develop evidence-based lung cancer screening guidelines and for lung cancer screening coverage.

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

February 10, 2026 Issue

ACS Brief

Study Evaluates Compliance with CoC Operative Standards

The NCI-funded AESOP study evaluates how ACS CoC Operative Standards are implemented and their impact on cancer surgery outcomes.

ACS Brief

New Medications, Vaccines Emerge as Potential Solutions to Opioid-Driven Postsurgical Pain Management

Emerging pain strategies highlight suzetrigine and opioid vaccines as tools to reduce opioid use while raising clinical and cost questions.

ACS Brief

Submit Abstracts for ACS Quality, Safety & Cancer Conference by March 9

Abstract submissions are open for the reimagined ACS Quality, Safety & Cancer Conference, uniting quality, safety, and cancer care.

ACS Brief

Patient Education Workgroup Aims to Identify Top Principles for Effective Patient Communication

New ACS initiative identifies core principles of effective patient communication to strengthen trust, safety, and shared decision-making.

ACS Brief

Register for 2026 ACS Surgical Simulation Summit

Join educators and innovators at the 2026 ACS Surgical Simulation Summit in Chicago to explore the latest in simulation-based training.

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.

Intraoperative Fluorescence Could Revolutionize Prostate Surgery

In the latest episode of the Surgical Readings podcast, host Dr. Rick Greene speaks with urologist Dr. Samuel Gold about using intraoperative fluorescence to illuminate nerve structures during robotic-assisted prostatectomy. Dr. Gold’s phase-1 study, published in JAMA Surgery, found that the fluorophore was generally well tolerated and clinically effective, which could revolutionize prostatic surgery and lead to wider applicability.

Risk Prediction Model Can Provide Information Guidance for Older Patients Undergoing Major Surgery

Older patients undergoing major surgery demonstrate distinct patterns of postoperative recovery, with some experiencing a loss of independence. Listen to Dr. Timothy Pawlik discuss his recent Journal of the American College of Surgeons article examining this topic, wherein authored developed a risk prediction model to help clinicians provide more informed guidance to patients and their families regarding future care needs.

Literature Selections

Post-Pancreatectomy Acute Pancreatitis Drives Fistula Formation After Pancreatoduodenectomy

New evidence identifies post-pancreatectomy acute pancreatitis as an upstream predictor of fistula formation and death after PD.

Plasma Cell-Free DNA Methylation Analysis Is Highly Sensitive to Detecting Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Early evidence suggests neck–back exoskeletons may help surgeons reduce ergonomic strain during prolonged open procedures.

Past Issues