The Board of Directors of the ACS Board of Regents (BoR) and ACS Professional Association (ACSPA) met on September 25 at the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC.
Key presentations focused on updates on the ACS Clinical Data Strategy Initiative, the ACS Health Outreach Program for Equity in Global Surgery (ACS H.O.P.E.), the Division of Advocacy and Health Policy, the Military Health System Strategic Partnership with the American College of Surgeons (MHSSPACS), and the Patient-Reported Outcomes (PRO) Task Force.
The following is a summary of the discussions, current as of the meeting date.
ACSPA
The ACSPA, a 501(c)(6) organization, 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).
ACS Strategic Plan
The key performance indicators for the Strategic Plan were reviewed. The fiscal year 2027 plan has 15 objectives and 116 initiatives across the Pillars, with results reported twice a year. New programs must be tied to the Strategic Plan.
Advocacy and Health Policy
Christian Shalgian, Senior Vice President of the ACS Division of Advocacy and Health Policy, provided an update on the proposed legislation for Medicare physician payment, the calendar year 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule, and the Surgical Coalition.
Information Technology
Jed Cusimano, Associate Vice President, ACS Data Strategy, and Genevieve Melton-Meaux, MD, PhD, FACS, FACMI, ACS Chief Health Informatics Officer, provided an update on the ACS Clinical Data Strategy Initiative, which is expected to reduce hospital expenses, increase value, and lay the foundation for innovation and new products. The strategy maintains the rigor and trusted standards of ACS Quality Programs, seeks to unlock greater value from data, reduces reliance on manual abstraction, provides timely insights, and offers new opportunities for quality improvement and research.
Member Services
The BoR accepted the resignations of 27 Fellows and changed the status of 185 Fellows from Active or Senior to Retired.
ACS Health Outreach Program for Equity in Global Surgery
Girma Tefera, MD, FACS, Medical Director, ACS H.O.P.E., provided an update on its strategic priorities. ACS H.O.P.E. provides surgeons with opportunities to teach, learn, collaborate, and serve communities in need. Through domestic and international volunteer engagement, education, and community-based partnerships, ACS H.O.P.E. works to expand access to safe, high-quality surgical care and strengthen surgical capacity in medically underserved communities.
ACS H.O.P.E. focuses on four priorities:
- Building surgical workforce capacity through education, training, and mentorship
- Developing sustainable, measurable, locally led programs that address community needs
- Improving access to safe, high-quality surgical care
- Strengthening partnerships among surgical societies, institutions, and communities
Topics discussed included:
- Considering expansion beyond sub-Saharan Africa into Asia
- Increasing education on the value of volunteering, including ways to address preventable barriers to volunteering
- Exploring ways to better prepare volunteers, such as expanding the ACS H.O.P.E. Global Health in Surgery Certificate Program
Military Health System Strategic Partnership with the American College of Surgeons
Brian Eastridge, MD, FACS, Medical Director of MHSSPACS, provided an update on its strategic priorities. In 2014, the ACS and the US Department of Defense Military Health System (MHS) formed MHSSPACS to improve educational opportunities, systems-based practices, and research capabilities in surgery. The strategic partnership facilitates collaboration and information exchange between the ACS and the MHS to advance high-quality, cost-effective care for surgical patients. The partnership focuses on the following areas:
- Education and Training
- Excelsior Surgical Society
- Quality
- Research
- Trauma Systems
Topics discussed included:
- National surgical readiness, particularly the role of the ACS and MHSSPACS
- Opportunities to leverage the educational reach of programs for both military and civilian surgeons
- Excelsior Surgical Society
- Opportunities to better leverage military surgical expertise and leadership
- Increased sharing of skills and expertise among the ACS membership
Research and Optimal Patient Care
Liane S. Feldman, MD, CM, FACS, FRCS, lead of the BoR Patient-Reported Outcomes Task Force, and Clifford Y. Ko, MD, MS, MSHS, FACS, FASCRS, Senior Vice President of the ACS Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care, presented an update on PRO efforts. Recent activities include conducting a survey to elicit perspectives on the operations and applications of PROs within surgical societies, which revealed widespread endorsement but limited operational capacity. Future activities and discussions include drafting an informational article for the ACS Bulletin, establishing a more formal governance structure, and increasing advocacy and policy work to support future applications.
ACS Foundation
H. Randolph Bailey, MD, FACS, Chair, ACS Foundation, provided an update.
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. Recent activities include:
- Expanding the Foundation’s scope to include scholarship administration and an industry relations program
- Growing the Mayne Heritage Society, the College’s Planned Giving Program, by two new members for a total of 86
- Implementing a competitive selection process to provide more opportunities for younger donors and those making smaller gifts
- Increasing the number of donors and Chapter Funds for the Chapter Programs
- Receiving 32 new gifts of $10,000 or more, a 700% increase over FY2025
- Securing $2,736,807 in revenue in FY2026, including $568,617 for the Greatest Needs Fund and $2,168,190 in restricted funds
Additional Activity
In addition to these presentations, the Regents heard updates from the Bylaws Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Resident and Associate Society. They also reviewed several informational reports and approved revisions to the Statement on Surgical Technology Training and Certification and the following documents from the Committee on Trauma:
- Best Practices Guidelines for Transfusion in Trauma
- Regional Medical Operations Coordination Centers Standards
- Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient (2026 Standards)
Dr. Cherisse D. Berry is the Immediate Past-Chair of the ACS Board of Governors and vice chair of academic affairs and professor of surgery at Rutgers Health, New Jersey Medical School in Newark.
