Henri R. Ford, MD, MHA, FACS, will be installed tonight during Convocation as the 2023-2024 ACS President. He succeeds E. Christopher Ellison, MD, FACS.
Convocation will be in Exhibit Hall B2 of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. The ceremony also will be livestreamed on the ACS website, so that a worldwide audience may experience the celebration in real time. In addition, Convocation will be available on-demand for registrants to view soon after its conclusion.
A total of 1,674 initiates from 74 countries will be inducted as new ACS Fellows during Convocation.
“You have achieved a significant milestone in your career by being admitted into Fellowship in the ACS,” Dr. Ford said. “It is a true badge of honor. Now you must focus on excellence.”
Dr. Ford, a pediatric surgeon, is the dean and chief academic officer of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Originally from Haiti, Dr. Ford was the 2022 recipient of the ACS Owen H. Wangensteen Scientific Forum Award and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the ACS Health Outreach Program for Equity in Global Surgery (ACS H.O.P.E.), formerly Operation Giving Back, the College’s surgical volunteerism initiative.
Convocation also will include the installation of Tyler G. Hughes, MD, FACS, as First Vice-President, and Deborah A. Kuhls, MD, FACS, as Second Vice-President. Following this, Dr. Ford will deliver his Presidential Address and promote his theme of “Achieving Our Best Together; #Inclusive Excellence.”
Over the next year, Dr. Ford said he aims to focus on enhancing unity within the House of Surgery by emphasizing quality programs and advocacy efforts and recognizing the many international ACS chapters, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries.
Several significant awards also will be presented during Convocation. This year’s Distinguished Service Award, the College’s highest individual honor, will be given to Ronald M. Stewart, MD, FACS. The Dr. Mary Edwards Walker Inspiring Women in Surgery Award will be bestowed on Sujana S. Chandrasekhar, MD, FACS, the Owen Wangensteen Scientific Forum Award will be given to Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD, FACS, and the Distinguished Lifetime Military Contribution Award will be presented to USAR Major General (Retired) Jonathan Woodson, MD, MSS, FACS, of Bethesda, Maryland.
In addition, initiates from the classes of 1973 and 1998 will be recognized, and Honorary Fellowships will be bestowed on seven individuals:
- Luigi Bonavina, MD, a general surgeon from Milan, Italy
- Christopher R. Chapple, BSc, MBBS, MD, FRCS(Urol), FEBU, a urologist from Fulwood, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Nicola Fearnhead, BM BCh, FRCS, DM, FASCRS, a colorectal surgeon from Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Anna Martling, MD, PhD, a colorectal surgeon from Stockholm, Sweden
- Deborah McNamara, MB(Hons), FRCSI, MD, FRCSI(Gen), a general and colorectal surgeon from Dublin, Ireland
- Masaki Mori, MD, PhD, FACS, a general surgeon and surgical oncologist from Isehara, Japan
- Richard David Rosin, MS, MB BS, FRCS(Eng), FRCS(Ed), FICS, FCCS, DHMSA, a general surgeon and surgeon oncologist from Cave Hill, St. Michael, Barbados
A reception to celebrate the initiates, awardees, and new officers will be held in the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center following Convocation.
