The ACS Leadership & Advocacy Summit kicks off early next year, taking place at the Grand Hyatt Washington, DC hotel, February 28–March 3. The meeting will be in person only; no virtual option will be available.
This event—designed for ACS members—will provide tools to strengthen leadership capabilities, advance healthcare policy, and influence the future of surgery.
Registration for the 2026 summit is now open at facs.org/summit.
Leadership Summit, February 28–March 1
The Leadership Summit—open to all US and international ACS members and nonmembers—begins Saturday evening, February 28, with a networking event, followed by a full day of sessions on Sunday, March 1. ACS members may attend the Leadership Summit for free.
The summit will offer comprehensive programming designed to strengthen the leadership capabilities of surgeons across all stages of their careers, while also bringing together distinguished faculty and emerging leaders to dissect the evolving demands of surgical leadership.
The morning will open with Amy Vertrees, MD, FACS, from Maury Regional Health in Columbia, Tennessee, presenting on business leadership principles. She will emphasize how cultures of trust and excellence can be intentionally cultivated within surgical teams and institutions. Douglas E. Wood, MD, FACS, FRCSEd, from the University of Washington in Seattle and Vice Chair of the ACS Board of Regents, will follow with a presentation in which he will highlight strategies for enhancing leadership effectiveness and team performance.
Additional morning programming will include a Resident and Associate Society–sponsored presentation on how early career surgeons can establish themselves as leaders and another session on navigating rapid technological change—an increasingly essential competency for modern surgical leaders. Participants also will hear from Dhiresh Rohan Jeyarajah, MD, FACS, from Methodist Health System in Richardson, Texas, on leadership within community practice settings.
Later in the day, Caprice C. Greenberg, MD, MPH, FACS, from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will address the shifting expectations for surgical leaders—such as the need to navigate data-driven decision-making, multidisciplinary care, and complex organizational environments—and will offer practical guidance on carving out leadership opportunities at any career stage.
The afternoon will continue with a thought-provoking panel—led by Susan Moffatt-Bruce, MD, PhD, MBA, FACS, from Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts, exploring how surgeons will influence the future of healthcare, followed by an update from ACS Executive Director and CEO Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS.
Throughout the day, attendees will have opportunities to exchange best practices, interact with ACS leaders, and strengthen professional relationships with colleagues. Residents and trainees also will participate in the Advocacy and Health Policy Abstract Competition.
Khuaten Maaneb de Macedo, MD, a general surgery resident from Boston Medical Center in Massachusetts, described attending the 2025 Leadership Summit as “a truly incredible experience.” She said: “It was an honor to have a seat at the table and engage in important conversations shaping the future of healthcare. It was refreshing to hear from speakers who emphasized the importance of leading with humility, foresight, empathy, and emotional intelligence. These qualities are essential in fostering effective systems, and I found the discussions thought-provoking.”
Two preconference, in-person-only workshops will be held on Saturday. These include:
- Leadership in Action: Making the Most of Your Communications Opportunities—From Published Research to Media Interviews
- Building Your Leadership Brand to Increase Impact
Preregistration for the workshops is required, and there is a fee for each.
Advocacy Summit, March 1
By bringing critical healthcare issues directly to lawmakers, surgeon champions help shape policy that improves patient care and expands the ACS’s influence in Congress. Active involvement from ACS members at the Advocacy Summit is a powerful driver of the College’s mission and long-term impact, and it allows members to elevate their collective voice and effect meaningful change.
Open only to ACS members in the US, the Advocacy Summit begins Sunday evening, March 1, with a welcome reception and keynote dinner featuring Bret Baier, Fox News chief political anchor, co-anchor of the network’s election coverage, and anchor and executive editor of Special Report with Bret Baier. Since joining the network in 1998, he has traveled to more than 70 countries to interview foreign leaders and cover major historical events.
A full day of action-focused panels, training, and programming is scheduled for Monday, March 2; in-person meetings with members of Congress and congressional staff will be on Tuesday, March 3.
The Monday program will begin with a warm welcome and introductions, setting the stage for a purposeful day concentrated on strengthening advocacy skills and deepening legislative awareness. The day’s agenda will feature several informative panels and educational sessions with expert moderators and panelists who will share insights into the most urgent health policy challenges, real-world strategies, and the ever-changing role of surgeons in public policy.
Importantly, attendees also will receive comprehensive advocacy training, which will equip them with best practices for effective engagement with lawmakers during the following day’s Capitol Hill visits. Participants will learn how to structure and conduct impactful meetings with legislators and gain a deeper understanding of the inner workings of Congress, including the challenges of capturing their attention amid competing priorities. In addition, staff members from the ACS DC office will detail the “asks” and provide background information in preparation for in-person visits to the Congressional offices.
“Going to Capitol Hill…to meet directly with legislators and policymakers was such an empowering experience,” said Kevin Koo, MD, MPH, MPhil, FACS, a urologist from Rochester, Minnesota, following the 2025 Advocacy Summit. “Over and over, we heard from members of Congress that the voices of frontline physicians are more relevant than ever in policy discussions.”
Several members of Congress also are expected to speak during the summit, sharing their thoughts on the important role surgeons play in advocating for their patients and informing federal healthcare policy.
“When we stand up for The House of Surgery®, it not only becomes more stable, stronger, higher, and better, but remains surefooted on the foundation of its members,” said David S. Shapiro, MD, MHCM, FACS, a general surgeon from Connecticut. “This summit should be attended at least once by every surgeon.”
More information is available at facs.org/summit. Share updates or follow the Leadership & Advocacy Summit on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram using #ACSLAS26.
Jennifer Bagley is Editor-in-Chief of the Bulletin and Senior Manager in the ACS Division of Integrated Communications in Chicago, IL.
