ACS Brief

Latest Stories

Balloon Catheter Inventor and Surgical Pioneer Passes Away

January 13, 2026

Thomas J. Fogarty, MD, FACS, a vascular surgeon and talented engineer who invented the balloon catheter, among several other transformative innovations, passed away on December 28 at 91 years old in Portola Valley, California.

Review Updates to CPT Coding, Payment Models, Physician Reimbursement

January 13, 2026

Significant updates to surgical coding and reimbursement took effect in 20026 that will impact surgeons and their staff. The January Bulletin provides details on three important topics:

Read this week's entire issue for the latest news on the ACS and the field of surgery.

January 13, 2026 Issue

ACS Brief

Submit Research Abstracts Surgical Palliative Care Symposium

Researchers are invited to submit abstracts for the ACS Symposium on Surgical Palliative Care, with presentations scheduled for April 23.

ACS Brief

Access Most Popular ACS Podcast Episodes of 2025

From AI in surgery to pediatric care, the top ACS podcast episodes of 2025 highlight what surgeons tuned into most.

ACS Brief

Clinical Congress 2025 Content Remains On Demand Until February 23

Access Clinical Congress 2025 on demand to watch sessions, explore posters, and claim up to 197 CME credits.

ACS Brief

Discover ACS Member Discount Programs for Medical Liability Insurance, Travel, and More

ACS members can save on everyday products and services with exclusive discounts on medical liability insurance, travel, and car rentals.

Don't Miss Out!

Go to your MyCME Portal today and verify your ABS ID and date of birth on the Board Certification Tab so you can have your CME data automatically transmitted to the ABS via ACCME.

Surgeon Risk of Mortality Is Highest Among All Physician Types

In the latest episode of the Surgical Readings podcast, host Dr. Rick Greene talks with Dr. Vishal Patel, from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, about a recent JAMA Surgery article that found the risk of physician mortality is highest among surgeons. Dr. Greene probes for the common causes of death among surgeons and what mitigation strategies can be put in place to change this surprising statistic.

ACS Summit Helps Surgeons Advance Essential Leadership and Advocacy Skills

Surgeons in all disciplines and career stages are invited to the ACS Leadership & Advocacy Summit, February 28–March 3 in Washington, DC, to take part in transformational leadership sessions and develop strategies to advance health policy and influence the future of surgery. Learn more from ACS executive leaders Dr. Michael Sutherland and Christian Shalgian.

Literature Selections

Prevention, Not Rescue, Should Be Emphasized for Delayed Gastric Emptying After Pancreatic Surgery

No randomized therapy effectively treats delayed gastric emptying after pancreatic surgery, highlighting the importance of preventive strategies.

Routine Prophylactic Mesh at Midline Closure After AAA Repair Shows Improved Results Versus Suture

Routine prophylactic mesh at midline closure cut incisional hernia rates by two-thirds after open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Past Issues