Member News March 2026

Turner Receives SUS Trailblazer Award

Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, was honored with the Society of University Surgeons (SUS) Trailblazer Award. This award recognizes leaders who have established new avenues of investigation, often in areas beyond traditional surgical research, acting as role models for future generations. Dr. Turner, a general surgeon and the ACS Executive Director and CEO, received the award during the 21st Annual Academic Congress in Orlando, Florida—a joint meeting of SUS and the Association for Academic Surgery.

Ritch Chairs Urology at Cleveland Clinic Florida

Chad R. Ritch, MD, MBA, FACS, is chair of the Division of Urology at the Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston. A nationally recognized urologic oncologist, Dr. Ritch brings expertise in bladder, prostate, and kidney cancer and a focus on robotic-assisted surgery. He previously served as professor of urology and director of the Society of Urologic Oncology Fellowship Program at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida.

Ferrada Serves as EAST President-Elect

Paula A. Ferrada, MD, FACS, has been elected president-elect for the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST). She formally will become EAST president in January 2027 and serve a 1-year term. A trauma surgeon, Dr. Ferrada is chair of the Department of Surgery at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, and chief of the Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. She currently serves as an ACS Governor-at-Large.

Wilson Leads General Surgery in Virginia

Jason P. Wilson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, is the general surgery clinical chief for Sentara Surgery Specialists at Sentara Health Medical Group in Hampton, Virginia. Previously, Dr. Wilson, who is a surgical oncologist, served as the oncology service line medical director at Sentara Health. He is a member of the SurgeonsPAC Board of Directors.

Badhwar Is Elected STS President

Vinay Badhwar, MD, FACS, is the new president of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). Dr. Badhwar—a cardiothoracic surgeon—is executive chair of the West Virginia University (WVU) Heart and Vascular Institute and the Gordon F. Murray Professor and Chair of the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at the WVU School of Medicine in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Have you or an ACS member you know achieved a notable career highlight recently? If so, send potential contributions to Jennifer Bagley, MA, Bulletin Editor-in-Chief, at jbagley@facs.org. Submissions will be printed based on content type and available space.