Society of Surgical Chairs

The Society of Surgical Chairs (SSC) is an international organization comprised of chairs of departments of surgery and surgical specialty departments of medical schools, academic medical centers, and teaching hospitals of the United States and Canada. The purpose of the SSC is to advance the academic surgery missions of administration, research, teaching, and patient care. The SSC is a managed program of the American College of Surgeons.

History of the Founding of the Society of Surgical Chairmen by Jonathan E. Rhoads
Transactions & Studies of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. 1982 Jun; 4(2):87-97.

Join the Society of Surgical Chairs

Membership in the Society of Surgical Chairs is open to all chairpersons and interim chairpersons of the departments of surgery in medical schools of the United States and Canada. Membership is open to chairs of specialty departments given that they are a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

The Chair of Surgery is the highest position within the division or department of surgery. There is only one chair of surgery per institution for the department of surgery. There is only one chair for specialty departments per institution. 

Membership for chairs and interim chairs of surgery departments or specialty departments not meeting the above description shall be considered if the applicant meets all of the following criteria:

• The chair has an academic appointment at a US or Canadian medical school.
• The chair's institution has a formal affiliation with a US or Canadian medical school or university.
• The chair's department directs at least one ACGME-accredited surgical residency or fellowship program.
• The chair is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Program consolidations, mergers, and acquisitions impact the structure of residency and fellowship programs within our institutions. The Society of Surgical Chairs acknowledges this everchanging landscape of graduate medical education and will not require existing members to re-demonstrate eligibility.

Connect with SSC Officers and Members

Explore the SSC Membership Directory to connect with your current officers and members.

Membership Update Form

If you are a current SSC member and have recent changes or upcoming changes to your personal information, let the SSC know via the membership update form.