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Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits

Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.

Become a Member
ACS Home
My Dashboard
Donate to the foundation
Quality Programs
For Medical Professionals
For Patients
Advocacy & Policy
About Us
Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits

Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.

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ACS
ACS History

A History of High Standards

Improving the quality of surgical care since 1913

A History of High Standards

Successful from the Start

The ACS was an outgrowth of the highly successful Clinical Congresses of Surgeons of North America. These took place annually starting in 1910 to further the education of practicing surgeons. The Clinical Congresses were themselves an outgrowth of the journal Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics, another initiative of ACS Founder Dr. Franklin H. Martin.

From the beginning, the College has been involved in surgical education and research, patient welfare, hospital standardization, ethics of practice, and collaboration with other medical associations. That heritage continues today.

Clinical Congresses Over the Years

More than 100 Clinical Congresses have been held since 1910, each offering the finest surgical education for medical professionals across all specialties.

See the Congresses
Clinical Congresses Over the Years

About Our Seal

In 1915, the first Director of the College, Dr. John G. Bowman, urged the Regents and the Secretary, Dr. Franklin H. Martin, to authorize a competition among Chicago artists for the design of a seal to replace a simple rod and serpent used in the first yearbooks. The prized result has been in use ever since, without change.

Read the Full Story

Presidents, Executive Directors, and Presidential Addresses

Since 1913, more than 100 Presidents and Executive Directors have served the College, inspiring surgeons and improving surgical care. Browse who they were, and revisit the Presidential Addresses made throughout our history.

Honorary Fellows at ACS

Since the ACS was established, it has awarded Honorary Fellowships to individuals who possess an international reputation in the field of surgery or medicine or have rendered distinguished humanitarian services, especially in the field of medical science.

See the Recipients

Distinguished Service Award

This award is given to Fellows who are distinguished contributors to the College and are active ACS supporters.

See the Recipients

Contact ACS Archives

If you have questions about the history of the ACS, 
please contact the ACS Archives team.