At each Clinical Congress, the American College of Surgeons inducts a new class of Fellows, an event that reaches back to the College’s founding and has been the highlight of many surgeons’ careers.
At this year’s Convocation on Sunday, October 22, the ACS will initiate 1,674 new Fellows from the US, Canada, and 74 other countries.
In addition, Henri R. Ford, MD, MHA, FACS, will be installed as the 2023–2024 ACS President. Dr. Ford is the dean and chief academic officer at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida. As the newly installed President, Dr. Ford will offer his thoughts on the ACS, goals for the coming year, and words of advice to the new Fellows. “For me, it is a dream come true,” to address Clinical Congress attendees, he said.
His theme for the coming year will be Achieving Our Best Together: #InclusiveExcellence. “What I hope to emphasize is what I believe is fundamental to the American College of Surgeons, which is inclusive excellence,” said Dr. Ford. “This is why Clinical Congress is so special. We bring together all the various surgical specialties and then package it all in an amazing scientific program that hopefully will meet the needs of all our Fellows.”
In addition to conferral of fellowship and the Presidential Address, the initiate classes from 50 years ago (1973) and 25 years ago (1998) will be recognized, honorary fellowships will be granted to seven individuals, and four significant ACS awards will be presented.
This year’s Distinguished Service Award, the highest individual honor granted by the College, will be given to Ronald M. Stewart, MD, FACS, from San Antonio, Texas. The Dr. Mary Edwards Walker Inspiring Women in Surgery Award will be awarded to Sujana S. Chandrasekhar, MD, FACS, from New York, New York, and the Distinguished Lifetime Military Contribution Award will be bestowed on Maj. Gen. (Retired) Jonathan Woodson, MD, MSS, FACS, of Bethesda, Maryland. Finally, the Owen H. Wangensteen Scientific Forum Award will be presented to Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD, FACS, of Boston, Massachusetts. Last year’s winner of this award was Dr. Ford, the current incoming President.
All Clinical Congress attendees are welcome to attend Convocation in-person at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center or watch live via the meeting platform. The ceremony also will be streamed live on the ACS website. Following Convocation, a reception will be held in the convention center.
