Healthcare professionals dedicated to advancing surgical quality, patient safety, and cancer care are invited to attend the 2026 ACS Quality, Safety & Cancer Conference (QSCC), July 30–August 2 in Orlando, Florida. The conference offers a dynamic 2.5-day experience focused on delivering actionable strategies that improve patient outcomes and organizational performance.
Registration is now open at facs.org/QSCC26.
This year marks a milestone for the conference, as it will bring together the ACS Quality and Safety Conference and the ACS Cancer Conference into one unified, reimagined experience. By fully integrating cancer care into the program and engaging the entire multidisciplinary care team, QSCC reflects the complexity, coordination, and collaboration required in modern healthcare delivery.
“QI Powered by AI”
This year’s conference theme, “QI Powered by AI,” highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. While AI continues to generate excitement, QSCC will emphasize the practical application to support decision-making, enhance efficiency, and drive measurable improvements in quality and safety.
At the same time, the program will reinforce that technology alone is not enough. Sessions throughout the conference will explore the importance of resilience, multidisciplinary teamwork, and learning from failure as essential components of successful quality improvement (QI). By reframing failure as an opportunity for growth, healthcare teams can strengthen systems and adapt in an increasingly complex environment.
Return on investment will be a consistent focus throughout the program, with many sessions exploring how to measure, communicate, and align QI efforts with organizational and financial priorities.
General Sessions Highlight Key Challenges and Opportunities
In response to evolving educational needs, many sessions have been redesigned to be more interactive and case based.
QSCC General Sessions will feature expert perspectives and insights on AI, surgical education, how C-suite leaders prioritize QI, rural cancer surgery, and other timely topics.
The conference will include more than 50 breakout sessions, 26 abstract podium presentations, as well as expanded cancer-focused programming across multiple specialty areas, including bariatric, cancer, geriatric, emergency general surgery, pediatric, and vascular surgery.
This year also will debut new content tracks spanning Data Insights, Accreditation & Verification, Quality Improvement & Patient Safety, Abstracts & Research, Hot Topics, Quality Improvement in Action, and Team-Based Competencies, which will allow attendees to tailor their experiences to specific interests and roles.
QI in Action
A new highlight of QSCC is the “Quality Improvement in Action” sessions, which showcase real-world success stories from multidisciplinary teams. Participants from the front line to the C-suite will share how meaningful improvements were achieved within their organizations.
In addition to celebrating a culture of quality and collaboration, these sessions provide clear, actionable steps that attendees can adapt and implement in their own institutions.
Hands-On Preconference Workshops
A full day of optional preconference workshops on Thursday, July 30 (additional registration required) will provide hands-on, interactive learning opportunities:
- QI Essentials (morning or afternoon session): A streamlined, practical introduction to QI principles is designed for today’s busy healthcare professionals.
- Wake Up Safe QI and Safety Workshop: This interactive, multipart workshop provides a comprehensive overview of modern patient safety frameworks, human factors science, and systems-based approaches to safer care.
- The Future of Age-Friendly Care: Driving Value Through AI & Innovation: Through a blend of expert-led presentations, interactive breakout discussions, and actionable implementation tools, participants will explore how technology and AI can enhance clinical outcomes and operational efficiency for older adult surgical care.
- Microsoft Excel Basics*: This introductory workshop equips QI professionals with foundational Excel skills for organizing, analyzing, and visualizing improvement data. Through guided, hands-on instruction, attendees will build confidence in core Excel functions and tools that support everyday QI work.
- Elevating Your Data Skills*: This intermediate-level workshop guides QI professionals in using Excel pivot tables, pivot charts, and Power Query to analyze and combine complex data sets.
- Advanced Excel for QI: Build your Own Dashboard*: This advanced workshop guides experienced Excel users in designing dynamic dashboards to support complex QI analyses. Through hands-on practice, attendees will learn how to integrate multiple data sources, apply advanced functions, and build interactive visual tools that support decision-making.
*Attendance is limited and will be first come, first served.
Networking Opportunities and a New Engagement Activity
Dedicated events will provide opportunities for attendees to connect and exchange ideas:
- The Welcome Reception will take place Friday evening, July 31, at Live! at Pointe Orlando, a dynamic indoor/outdoor venue located just steps from the conference.
- The Abstract Poster and Exhibiting Reception on Saturday, August 1, will offer attendees the opportunity to engage with research presenters and explore innovative products and solutions from exhibitors.
New this year, the conference will host an “escape experience” activity designed for individuals to challenge their thinking. As the clock ticks down, participants will analyze clues, uncover hidden patterns, and “crack the code” by identifying breakdowns, testing assumptions, and applying problem-solving approaches to reach clarity.
The opening session will then bring attendees together to connect their escape activity experience and real-world case scenarios to practical lessons.
QSCC also is an opportunity to earn credits for Continuing Medical Education, Continuing Nursing Education, Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology, and for the National Cancer Registrars Association.
Visit facs.org/QSCC26 to learn more and register.
