The Board of Directors of the ACS Board of Regents (BoR) and ACS Professional Association (ACSPA) met February 27–28 at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, DC.
Key presentations focused on updates to the Division of Advocacy and Health Policy (DAHP), information technology, patient-reported outcomes efforts, and the overarching ACS clinical data strategy.
The following is a summary of the discussion and was current as of the date of the meeting.
ACSPA
The ACSPA, a 501(c)(6), allows for a broader range of activities and services that benefit surgeons and patients, including expanded legislative advocacy and political programming, such as the ACSPA-Political Action Committee (SurgeonsPAC).
In 2025, the ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC raised more than $336,000 from 706 ACS members and eligible contributors, disbursed $370,000, and attended or hosted/co-hosted more than 150 PAC events for the 2026 election cycle. Fund distribution focuses on health professionals, key congressional leaders, and members serving on US House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over various healthcare policies and issues, including ACS-supported legislative priorities.
Advocacy and Health Policy
Christian Shalgian, Senior Vice President of the DAHP, Margaret C. Tracci, MD, JD, FACS, Medical Director for Surgeon Engagement, and Thomas C. Tsai, MD, MPH, FACS, Medical Director for Health Policy Research, provided an update on the strategic priorities of the DAHP.
Reviewed topics and discussions included:
Coalitions and Partnerships
- Funding existing coalition efforts and exploring new partnerships
- Optimizing surgical leadership opportunities
Health Policy Research
- Exploring opportunities such as establishing a health policy innovation institute and a health policy scholarship program
- Investing resources in generating actionable evidence at pivotal moments to innovate delivery models that advance excellent surgical care
Medicare Physician Payment
- Continuing efforts for long-term reform
- Emphasizing access to surgery improves population health
Surgeon Engagement
- Capitalizing on state-level advocacy opportunities
- Enhancing the tracking, evaluation, and targeting of current and future issues
- Increasing the engagement of Fellows through inspiration, education, and empowerment
- Optimizing current tools and building added resources
Member Services
The BoR accepted the resignations of 26 Fellows and changed the status of 113 Fellows from Active or Senior to Retired.
Research and Optimal Patient Care
Liane S. Feldman, MD, CM, FACS, FRCS, Lead of the BoR Patient-Reported Outcomes (PRO) Task Force, and Clifford Y. Ko, MD, MS, MSHS, FACS, Senior Vice President of the Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care, presented an update on PRO efforts.
Information Technology
The mission of the Information Technology area is to enable the College to enhance surgical excellence through innovative technology. Jack King, MBA, Chief Information Officer, presented an update on the area’s strategic priorities: Artificial intelligence enablement, cybersecurity, and operational excellence. In addition, Genevieve Melton-Meaux, MD, PhD, FACS, FACMI, Chief Health Informatics Officer, provided an update on the ACS Clinical Data Strategy Initiative.
ACS Foundation
The mission of the ACS Foundation, a separate 501(c)(3) organization, is to secure financial support for initiatives in surgical research, education, rural surgery, trauma, and more, ultimately promoting better patient outcomes. The Foundation offers a wide spectrum of funding opportunities for ACS Fellows and supporters to ensure the highest level of surgical care and education. As of December 31, 2025, the Foundation secured $1,013,749 in restricted and unrestricted support for the ACS.
Additional Activity
In addition to these presentations, the Regents heard updates from the Board of Governors, Finance Committee, BoR Optimal Working Environment for Surgeons Task Force, and Young Fellows Association. They also reviewed several informational reports and approved a new statement on the Importance of Sustainable Surgical Practices, as well as revisions to the Statements on the Surgeon and HIV Infection and on the Surgeon and Hepatitis. Also approved was the Committee on Trauma’s Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient: Level IV Trauma Center Standards.
Dr. Cherisse Berry is Chair of the ACS Board of Governors and surgery vice chair of academic affairs and professor of surgery at Rutgers Health New Jersey Medical School in Newark.
