News From the College

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) will offer several new Didactic Courses (DC) and Skills Courses (SC) at the 2014 Clinical Congress, October 26-30, in San Francisco, CA, including the following:

• SC08 Social Media for Surgeons will focus on surgeons’ daily use of health care social media to enhance patient care and outcomes, medical student and resident education, career development and personal networking.

• DC20 How to Use ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, Trauma Quality Improvement Program, Cancer Quality Improvement Program, and the Surgeon Specific Registry in Your Institution will review the available programs and how surgeons may harness the information to drive quality improvement in their institutions that ultimately improves patient care.

• DC23 Reorganizing Care to Optimize Outcomes: How to Start an Enhanced Recover-after-Surgery Program at Your Hospital will provide a practical review of the components for creating enhanced recovery pathway (ERP) programs in digestive surgery. Course participants will discuss strategies for reorganization of care.

Several DC and SC Courses are back by popular demand. Reserve your space early for these courses:

• SC04 Measurement and Analysis for Health Care Delivery Transformation

• SC05 Ultrasound for Pediatric Surgeons

• SC06 Telemedicine: The Rapidly Expanding Field of Video-Based Telemedicine Health Care

• DC14 Emergency General Surgery Update

• DC19 MOC Review: Essentials for Surgical Specialties

• DC22 Employing an Allied Health Professional in Your Surgical Practice

Check the ACS website in early June when online registration opens for these and other courses at the 2014 Annual Clinical Congress. A Clinical Congress preview is now posted at http://www.facs.org/clincon2014/index.html.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) will offer several new Didactic Courses (DC) and Skills Courses (SC) at the 2014 Clinical Congress, October 26-30, in San Francisco, CA, including the following:

• SC08 Social Media for Surgeons will focus on surgeons’ daily use of health care social media to enhance patient care and outcomes, medical student and resident education, career development and personal networking.

• DC20 How to Use ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, Trauma Quality Improvement Program, Cancer Quality Improvement Program, and the Surgeon Specific Registry in Your Institution will review the available programs and how surgeons may harness the information to drive quality improvement in their institutions that ultimately improves patient care.

• DC23 Reorganizing Care to Optimize Outcomes: How to Start an Enhanced Recover-after-Surgery Program at Your Hospital will provide a practical review of the components for creating enhanced recovery pathway (ERP) programs in digestive surgery. Course participants will discuss strategies for reorganization of care.

Several DC and SC Courses are back by popular demand. Reserve your space early for these courses:

• SC04 Measurement and Analysis for Health Care Delivery Transformation

• SC05 Ultrasound for Pediatric Surgeons

• SC06 Telemedicine: The Rapidly Expanding Field of Video-Based Telemedicine Health Care

• DC14 Emergency General Surgery Update

• DC19 MOC Review: Essentials for Surgical Specialties

• DC22 Employing an Allied Health Professional in Your Surgical Practice

Check the ACS website in early June when online registration opens for these and other courses at the 2014 Annual Clinical Congress. A Clinical Congress preview is now posted at http://www.facs.org/clincon2014/index.html.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) will offer several new Didactic Courses (DC) and Skills Courses (SC) at the 2014 Clinical Congress, October 26-30, in San Francisco, CA, including the following:

• SC08 Social Media for Surgeons will focus on surgeons’ daily use of health care social media to enhance patient care and outcomes, medical student and resident education, career development and personal networking.

• DC20 How to Use ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, Trauma Quality Improvement Program, Cancer Quality Improvement Program, and the Surgeon Specific Registry in Your Institution will review the available programs and how surgeons may harness the information to drive quality improvement in their institutions that ultimately improves patient care.

• DC23 Reorganizing Care to Optimize Outcomes: How to Start an Enhanced Recover-after-Surgery Program at Your Hospital will provide a practical review of the components for creating enhanced recovery pathway (ERP) programs in digestive surgery. Course participants will discuss strategies for reorganization of care.

Several DC and SC Courses are back by popular demand. Reserve your space early for these courses:

• SC04 Measurement and Analysis for Health Care Delivery Transformation

• SC05 Ultrasound for Pediatric Surgeons

• SC06 Telemedicine: The Rapidly Expanding Field of Video-Based Telemedicine Health Care

• DC14 Emergency General Surgery Update

• DC19 MOC Review: Essentials for Surgical Specialties

• DC22 Employing an Allied Health Professional in Your Surgical Practice

Check the ACS website in early June when online registration opens for these and other courses at the 2014 Annual Clinical Congress. A Clinical Congress preview is now posted at http://www.facs.org/clincon2014/index.html.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Diversity Issues, chaired by Anthony G. Charles, MB, BS, FACS, University of North Carolina Medical Center, Chapel Hill, studies the educational and professional needs of underrepresented surgeons and surgical trainees and the impact that its work may have on eliminating of health disparities among diverse population groups in the U.S. and globally.

The committee currently seeks candidates to serve an initial three-year term, which would begin in October 2014. Surgeons interested in advancing cultural competency in surgical care and in developing efforts to expand diversity among the ACS membership are encouraged to apply. The committee seeks representation by individuals of diverse cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. Applicants should submit their curriculum vitae and a letter of interest highlighting their skills and expertise along with contributions they could make to the committee to Connie Bura at [email protected] by June 30. The committee will select eligible candidates and notify them in July and August. Those selected will be invited to attend the committee meeting that will take place during the 2014 Clinical Congress October 26-30 in San Francisco, CA.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Diversity Issues, chaired by Anthony G. Charles, MB, BS, FACS, University of North Carolina Medical Center, Chapel Hill, studies the educational and professional needs of underrepresented surgeons and surgical trainees and the impact that its work may have on eliminating of health disparities among diverse population groups in the U.S. and globally.

The committee currently seeks candidates to serve an initial three-year term, which would begin in October 2014. Surgeons interested in advancing cultural competency in surgical care and in developing efforts to expand diversity among the ACS membership are encouraged to apply. The committee seeks representation by individuals of diverse cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. Applicants should submit their curriculum vitae and a letter of interest highlighting their skills and expertise along with contributions they could make to the committee to Connie Bura at [email protected] by June 30. The committee will select eligible candidates and notify them in July and August. Those selected will be invited to attend the committee meeting that will take place during the 2014 Clinical Congress October 26-30 in San Francisco, CA.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Diversity Issues, chaired by Anthony G. Charles, MB, BS, FACS, University of North Carolina Medical Center, Chapel Hill, studies the educational and professional needs of underrepresented surgeons and surgical trainees and the impact that its work may have on eliminating of health disparities among diverse population groups in the U.S. and globally.

The committee currently seeks candidates to serve an initial three-year term, which would begin in October 2014. Surgeons interested in advancing cultural competency in surgical care and in developing efforts to expand diversity among the ACS membership are encouraged to apply. The committee seeks representation by individuals of diverse cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. Applicants should submit their curriculum vitae and a letter of interest highlighting their skills and expertise along with contributions they could make to the committee to Connie Bura at [email protected] by June 30. The committee will select eligible candidates and notify them in July and August. Those selected will be invited to attend the committee meeting that will take place during the 2014 Clinical Congress October 26-30 in San Francisco, CA.

The 2014 Resident and Associate Society of the American College of Surgeons (RAS-ACS) Symposium at the ACS Clinical Congress, will take place Sunday, October 26, 2014, from 3:00 to 5:30 pm at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA, and will focus on the future of general surgery training. Five-Year General Surgery Residency: Fix It or Flush It? will review the impact of the Affordable Care Act on reimbursement, and distribution of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education funds on surgical training. Should residents adapt to change, or will they wear "blinders" until things return to the way they were? RAS-ACS members may join the discussion and submit essays that express their opinions on whether surgical training is due for reform or for revolution.

First-place winners on both sides of the debate will be invited to present their viewpoints. Third- and fourth-place winners will have their submissions published in the Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons. Audience questions and discussion will follow.

Submission information:

•Maximum 1,000 word essay as a Word document

• References not required, but preferred

• Include name, facility, city, state, phone number, and e-mail address

• Submissions are due at 5:00 pm (CDT) on Friday, May 2, 2014 to [email protected].

The 2014 Resident and Associate Society of the American College of Surgeons (RAS-ACS) Symposium at the ACS Clinical Congress, will take place Sunday, October 26, 2014, from 3:00 to 5:30 pm at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA, and will focus on the future of general surgery training. Five-Year General Surgery Residency: Fix It or Flush It? will review the impact of the Affordable Care Act on reimbursement, and distribution of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education funds on surgical training. Should residents adapt to change, or will they wear "blinders" until things return to the way they were? RAS-ACS members may join the discussion and submit essays that express their opinions on whether surgical training is due for reform or for revolution.

First-place winners on both sides of the debate will be invited to present their viewpoints. Third- and fourth-place winners will have their submissions published in the Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons. Audience questions and discussion will follow.

Submission information:

•Maximum 1,000 word essay as a Word document

• References not required, but preferred

• Include name, facility, city, state, phone number, and e-mail address

• Submissions are due at 5:00 pm (CDT) on Friday, May 2, 2014 to [email protected].

The 2014 Resident and Associate Society of the American College of Surgeons (RAS-ACS) Symposium at the ACS Clinical Congress, will take place Sunday, October 26, 2014, from 3:00 to 5:30 pm at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA, and will focus on the future of general surgery training. Five-Year General Surgery Residency: Fix It or Flush It? will review the impact of the Affordable Care Act on reimbursement, and distribution of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education funds on surgical training. Should residents adapt to change, or will they wear "blinders" until things return to the way they were? RAS-ACS members may join the discussion and submit essays that express their opinions on whether surgical training is due for reform or for revolution.

First-place winners on both sides of the debate will be invited to present their viewpoints. Third- and fourth-place winners will have their submissions published in the Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons. Audience questions and discussion will follow.

Submission information:

•Maximum 1,000 word essay as a Word document

• References not required, but preferred

• Include name, facility, city, state, phone number, and e-mail address

• Submissions are due at 5:00 pm (CDT) on Friday, May 2, 2014 to [email protected].

The webcasts of select 2013 Clinical Congress sessions are available for viewing on demand through the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Division of Education. The webcasts may be used for self-assessment and continuing medical education credit. Purchasers of the sessions may choose from three packages:

• Complete Best Value Package, which allows the user to access all 38 webcast sessions from 2013 and 36 from 2012 and includes audio access to 35 select Panel Sessions from 2013

• Webcast Package, which provides access to all 38 webcast sessions from 2013

• Webcast Pick 12, which allows the purchaser to select 12 out of 38 webcast sessions from 2013

Go the ACS website for ordering and access information at http://acswebcast.sclivelearningcenter.com/index.aspx?PID=10151.

The webcasts of select 2013 Clinical Congress sessions are available for viewing on demand through the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Division of Education. The webcasts may be used for self-assessment and continuing medical education credit. Purchasers of the sessions may choose from three packages:

• Complete Best Value Package, which allows the user to access all 38 webcast sessions from 2013 and 36 from 2012 and includes audio access to 35 select Panel Sessions from 2013

• Webcast Package, which provides access to all 38 webcast sessions from 2013

• Webcast Pick 12, which allows the purchaser to select 12 out of 38 webcast sessions from 2013

Go the ACS website for ordering and access information at http://acswebcast.sclivelearningcenter.com/index.aspx?PID=10151.

The webcasts of select 2013 Clinical Congress sessions are available for viewing on demand through the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Division of Education. The webcasts may be used for self-assessment and continuing medical education credit. Purchasers of the sessions may choose from three packages:

• Complete Best Value Package, which allows the user to access all 38 webcast sessions from 2013 and 36 from 2012 and includes audio access to 35 select Panel Sessions from 2013

• Webcast Package, which provides access to all 38 webcast sessions from 2013

• Webcast Pick 12, which allows the purchaser to select 12 out of 38 webcast sessions from 2013

Go the ACS website for ordering and access information at http://acswebcast.sclivelearningcenter.com/index.aspx?PID=10151.

The International Relations Committee of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has announced the availability of the ACS Traveling Fellowship to Japan. This fellowship is intended to encourage international exchange of surgical scientific information. The ACS Traveling Fellow will visit Japan, and a Japanese Traveling Fellow will visit North America. Applications for the Fellowship will be accepted through June 2, 2014.

Requirements

The scholarship is available to a Fellow of the ACS in most of the surgical specialties who meets the following requirements:

• Has a major interest and accomplishment in clinical and basic science related to surgery

• Holds a current full-time academic appointment in Canada or the U.S.

• Is less than 45 years of age on the date the application is filed

• Is enthusiastic, personable, and possesses good communication skills

Activities

The Fellow is required to spend a minimum of two weeks in Japan and engage in the following activities:

• Attend and participate in the annual meeting of the Japan Surgical Society (JSS), which will be held in Nagoya April 16–18, 2015

• Attend the Japan ACS Chapter meeting during the JSS meeting

• Visit at least two medical centers outside of the annual meeting city before or after the JSS conference to lecture and to share clinical and scientific expertise with local surgeons

The academic and geographic aspects of the itinerary will be finalized in consultation and mutual agreement between the Fellow and designated representatives of the JSS and the Japan ACS Chapter. The surgical centers to be visited would depend to some extent on the special interests and expertise of the Fellow and previously established professional contacts the Fellow has with surgeons in Japan.

The successful applicant’s spouse is welcome to accompany the Fellow on the trip. There will be opportunities for social interaction, in addition to professional activities.

Financial support

The College will provide $7,500 (U.S.) to the successful applicant, who will also be exempted from registration fees for the JSS annual meeting.

The Fellow must meet all travel and living expenses. Senior JSS and Japan ACS Chapter representatives will consult with the Fellow about the centers to be visited in Japan, the local arrangements for each center, and other advice and recommendations about travel schedules. The Fellow must make travel arrangements in North America to have access to reduced fares and travel packages for travel in Japan.

Application process

The ACS International Relations Committee will select the Fellow after review and evaluation of the final applications. A personal interview may be requested before the final selection.

Applications for this traveling fellowship are available at http://www.facs.org/memberservices/acsjapan.html or by e-mailing the International Liaison at [email protected].

The successful applicant and an alternate will be selected and notified by November 30, 2014.

The International Relations Committee of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has announced the availability of the ACS Traveling Fellowship to Japan. This fellowship is intended to encourage international exchange of surgical scientific information. The ACS Traveling Fellow will visit Japan, and a Japanese Traveling Fellow will visit North America. Applications for the Fellowship will be accepted through June 2, 2014.

Requirements

The scholarship is available to a Fellow of the ACS in most of the surgical specialties who meets the following requirements:

• Has a major interest and accomplishment in clinical and basic science related to surgery

• Holds a current full-time academic appointment in Canada or the U.S.

• Is less than 45 years of age on the date the application is filed

• Is enthusiastic, personable, and possesses good communication skills

Activities

The Fellow is required to spend a minimum of two weeks in Japan and engage in the following activities:

• Attend and participate in the annual meeting of the Japan Surgical Society (JSS), which will be held in Nagoya April 16–18, 2015

• Attend the Japan ACS Chapter meeting during the JSS meeting

• Visit at least two medical centers outside of the annual meeting city before or after the JSS conference to lecture and to share clinical and scientific expertise with local surgeons

The academic and geographic aspects of the itinerary will be finalized in consultation and mutual agreement between the Fellow and designated representatives of the JSS and the Japan ACS Chapter. The surgical centers to be visited would depend to some extent on the special interests and expertise of the Fellow and previously established professional contacts the Fellow has with surgeons in Japan.

The successful applicant’s spouse is welcome to accompany the Fellow on the trip. There will be opportunities for social interaction, in addition to professional activities.

Financial support

The College will provide $7,500 (U.S.) to the successful applicant, who will also be exempted from registration fees for the JSS annual meeting.

The Fellow must meet all travel and living expenses. Senior JSS and Japan ACS Chapter representatives will consult with the Fellow about the centers to be visited in Japan, the local arrangements for each center, and other advice and recommendations about travel schedules. The Fellow must make travel arrangements in North America to have access to reduced fares and travel packages for travel in Japan.

Application process

The ACS International Relations Committee will select the Fellow after review and evaluation of the final applications. A personal interview may be requested before the final selection.

Applications for this traveling fellowship are available at http://www.facs.org/memberservices/acsjapan.html or by e-mailing the International Liaison at [email protected].

The successful applicant and an alternate will be selected and notified by November 30, 2014.

The International Relations Committee of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has announced the availability of the ACS Traveling Fellowship to Japan. This fellowship is intended to encourage international exchange of surgical scientific information. The ACS Traveling Fellow will visit Japan, and a Japanese Traveling Fellow will visit North America. Applications for the Fellowship will be accepted through June 2, 2014.

Requirements

The scholarship is available to a Fellow of the ACS in most of the surgical specialties who meets the following requirements:

• Has a major interest and accomplishment in clinical and basic science related to surgery

• Holds a current full-time academic appointment in Canada or the U.S.

• Is less than 45 years of age on the date the application is filed

• Is enthusiastic, personable, and possesses good communication skills

Activities

The Fellow is required to spend a minimum of two weeks in Japan and engage in the following activities:

• Attend and participate in the annual meeting of the Japan Surgical Society (JSS), which will be held in Nagoya April 16–18, 2015

• Attend the Japan ACS Chapter meeting during the JSS meeting

• Visit at least two medical centers outside of the annual meeting city before or after the JSS conference to lecture and to share clinical and scientific expertise with local surgeons

The academic and geographic aspects of the itinerary will be finalized in consultation and mutual agreement between the Fellow and designated representatives of the JSS and the Japan ACS Chapter. The surgical centers to be visited would depend to some extent on the special interests and expertise of the Fellow and previously established professional contacts the Fellow has with surgeons in Japan.

The successful applicant’s spouse is welcome to accompany the Fellow on the trip. There will be opportunities for social interaction, in addition to professional activities.

Financial support

The College will provide $7,500 (U.S.) to the successful applicant, who will also be exempted from registration fees for the JSS annual meeting.

The Fellow must meet all travel and living expenses. Senior JSS and Japan ACS Chapter representatives will consult with the Fellow about the centers to be visited in Japan, the local arrangements for each center, and other advice and recommendations about travel schedules. The Fellow must make travel arrangements in North America to have access to reduced fares and travel packages for travel in Japan.

Application process

The ACS International Relations Committee will select the Fellow after review and evaluation of the final applications. A personal interview may be requested before the final selection.

Applications for this traveling fellowship are available at http://www.facs.org/memberservices/acsjapan.html or by e-mailing the International Liaison at [email protected].

The successful applicant and an alternate will be selected and notified by November 30, 2014.

The 2014 Rural Surgery Symposium—Advocacy, Economics, and Patient Care—will take place at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) headquarters in Chicago, IL, May 9–10. Register online for this limited-space meeting.

The symposium will address issues that affect rural surgery, trends in rural surgery practice, and ACS resources for rural surgeons. Tyler G. Hughes, MD, FACS, an ACS Governor and Chair of the ACS Advisory Council for Rural Surgery, from McPherson, KS; and David C. Borgstrom, MD, FACS, a Member of the Advisory Council for Rural Surgery, from Cooperstown, NY, are the Symposium Directors.

Symposium participants will gain an understanding of national and local influences on surgical care in rural America as well as how changes in surgical education may affect future rural surgical care. Participants also will attend sessions examining health care reform’s influence on surgical care in rural America and staffing needs in rural health care.

To register, go to the ACS website at http://www.facs.org/about/councils/advrural/symposium.html.

Symposium topics will include the following:

• Rural Health Care Systems—Surgical Perspective

• Benign Liver Lesions– Practical Surgical Management

• Rural Cancer Care

• The Economic Impact of a General Surgeon to a Rural Community

• Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, Stark Law, Critical Access Hospitals—What You Need to Know

• Unusual Cases from the Frontier—"Stump the Chumps" (Participants should bring a case study to share for a panel discussion).

The 2014 Rural Surgery Symposium—Advocacy, Economics, and Patient Care—will take place at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) headquarters in Chicago, IL, May 9–10. Register online for this limited-space meeting.

The symposium will address issues that affect rural surgery, trends in rural surgery practice, and ACS resources for rural surgeons. Tyler G. Hughes, MD, FACS, an ACS Governor and Chair of the ACS Advisory Council for Rural Surgery, from McPherson, KS; and David C. Borgstrom, MD, FACS, a Member of the Advisory Council for Rural Surgery, from Cooperstown, NY, are the Symposium Directors.

Symposium participants will gain an understanding of national and local influences on surgical care in rural America as well as how changes in surgical education may affect future rural surgical care. Participants also will attend sessions examining health care reform’s influence on surgical care in rural America and staffing needs in rural health care.

To register, go to the ACS website at http://www.facs.org/about/councils/advrural/symposium.html.

Symposium topics will include the following:

• Rural Health Care Systems—Surgical Perspective

• Benign Liver Lesions– Practical Surgical Management

• Rural Cancer Care

• The Economic Impact of a General Surgeon to a Rural Community

• Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, Stark Law, Critical Access Hospitals—What You Need to Know

• Unusual Cases from the Frontier—"Stump the Chumps" (Participants should bring a case study to share for a panel discussion).

The 2014 Rural Surgery Symposium—Advocacy, Economics, and Patient Care—will take place at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) headquarters in Chicago, IL, May 9–10. Register online for this limited-space meeting.

The symposium will address issues that affect rural surgery, trends in rural surgery practice, and ACS resources for rural surgeons. Tyler G. Hughes, MD, FACS, an ACS Governor and Chair of the ACS Advisory Council for Rural Surgery, from McPherson, KS; and David C. Borgstrom, MD, FACS, a Member of the Advisory Council for Rural Surgery, from Cooperstown, NY, are the Symposium Directors.

Symposium participants will gain an understanding of national and local influences on surgical care in rural America as well as how changes in surgical education may affect future rural surgical care. Participants also will attend sessions examining health care reform’s influence on surgical care in rural America and staffing needs in rural health care.

To register, go to the ACS website at http://www.facs.org/about/councils/advrural/symposium.html.

Symposium topics will include the following:

• Rural Health Care Systems—Surgical Perspective

• Benign Liver Lesions– Practical Surgical Management

• Rural Cancer Care

• The Economic Impact of a General Surgeon to a Rural Community

• Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, Stark Law, Critical Access Hospitals—What You Need to Know

• Unusual Cases from the Frontier—"Stump the Chumps" (Participants should bring a case study to share for a panel discussion).

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has published new comprehensive guidelines that define the resources the nation’s surgical facilities need to perform operations effectively and safely in infants and children. The standards – published in the March issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons – also have the approval of the American Pediatric Surgical Association and the Society of Pediatric Anesthesia.* Representatives of these organizations as well as invited leaders in other pediatric medical specialties, known as the Task Force for Children’s Surgical Care, developed the consensus recommendations over the past three years.

"The intent of these recommendations is to ensure that all infants and children in the U.S. receive care in a surgical environment matched to their individual medical, emotional, and social needs," said Keith T. Oldham, MD, FACS, task force chair and the surgeon-in-chief at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Many studies show better results—including fewer complications and shorter hospital stays—when newborns and children undergo surgical procedures in environments that have expert resources for pediatric patients, compared with non-specialized centers.

In its report, the Task Force for Children’s Surgical Care defined the proper surgical environment for children as one "that offers all of the facilities, equipment, and, most especially, access to the professional providers who have the appropriate background and training to provide optimal care."

The task force assigned levels of resources, as the ACS has done for trauma centers for decades. The classification for children’s surgical centers is as follows:

Level I (highest level): Possesses adequate resources to provide comprehensive surgical care and perform both complex and noncomplex surgical procedures in newborns and children of all ages, including those with the most severe health conditions and birth defects. Is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week with properly credentialed pediatric specialists, including pediatric and subspecialty surgeons, pediatric anesthesiologists, pediatric diagnostic and interventional radiologists, and pediatric emergency physicians. Has a Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the highest level of critical care for newborns.

Level II: Possesses adequate resources to provide advanced surgical care for children of all ages, including those who have accompanying ("comorbid") medical conditions. Operations would typically be performed by a single surgical specialty. Personnel include a board-certified pediatric surgeon, pediatric anesthesiologist, and pediatric radiologist with other pediatric specialists readily available for consultation, and has an emergency physician and an intensive care unit that both have pediatric expertise. Has a Level III or higher NICU.

Level III: Possesses adequate resources to provide basic surgical care and perform common, low-risk surgical procedures in children older than one year who are otherwise healthy. Has a general surgeon, anesthesiologist, radiologist, and emergency physician, all of whom have pediatric expertise. Has a Level I NICU (well-newborn nursery) or higher.

Both Level II and III surgical centers must be able to stabilize and transfer critically ill children to a hospital with higher-level resources. All children’s surgical centers must have at least one pediatric surgical nurse, a pediatric rapid response team of critical care professionals available at all hours, and an in-house physician with Pediatric Advanced Life Support certification or equivalent qualifications. Furthermore, all areas of these centers must have the resources needed to perform pediatric resuscitation.

Additional guidelines for ambulatory, or outpatient, surgical centers include having preoperative and recovery areas dedicated to pediatric patients. Also, according to the task force report, a pediatric anesthesiologist at an ambulatory surgical center should administer or supervise the administration of a general anesthetic or sedative to all infants younger than one year old.

Acknowledging that the standards are high, ACS Executive Director David B. Hoyt, MD, FACS, a member of the Task Force for Children’s Surgical Care, added, "I think many hospitals will rise to these new standards by adding resources."

In designating the resources that children’s surgical centers need, the Task Force for Children’s Surgical Care reportedly relied on published scientific evidence and expert opinion. According to Dr. Oldham, supporting evidence included the success of the ACS’ nationwide classification and verification system for trauma centers. By helping ensure that injured patients receive care at the appropriate level, the trauma system has saved many lives, he noted.

Plans are under way to develop criteria for evaluating existing facilities that perform children’s surgical procedures. The ACS will oversee the site verification process, which Dr. Oldham anticipates will become available sometime this year.

*Optimal resources for children’s surgical care in the United States. J Am Coll Surg. 2014;218(3):479-487.e4.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has published new comprehensive guidelines that define the resources the nation’s surgical facilities need to perform operations effectively and safely in infants and children. The standards – published in the March issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons – also have the approval of the American Pediatric Surgical Association and the Society of Pediatric Anesthesia.* Representatives of these organizations as well as invited leaders in other pediatric medical specialties, known as the Task Force for Children’s Surgical Care, developed the consensus recommendations over the past three years.

"The intent of these recommendations is to ensure that all infants and children in the U.S. receive care in a surgical environment matched to their individual medical, emotional, and social needs," said Keith T. Oldham, MD, FACS, task force chair and the surgeon-in-chief at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Many studies show better results—including fewer complications and shorter hospital stays—when newborns and children undergo surgical procedures in environments that have expert resources for pediatric patients, compared with non-specialized centers.

In its report, the Task Force for Children’s Surgical Care defined the proper surgical environment for children as one "that offers all of the facilities, equipment, and, most especially, access to the professional providers who have the appropriate background and training to provide optimal care."

The task force assigned levels of resources, as the ACS has done for trauma centers for decades. The classification for children’s surgical centers is as follows:

Level I (highest level): Possesses adequate resources to provide comprehensive surgical care and perform both complex and noncomplex surgical procedures in newborns and children of all ages, including those with the most severe health conditions and birth defects. Is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week with properly credentialed pediatric specialists, including pediatric and subspecialty surgeons, pediatric anesthesiologists, pediatric diagnostic and interventional radiologists, and pediatric emergency physicians. Has a Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the highest level of critical care for newborns.

Level II: Possesses adequate resources to provide advanced surgical care for children of all ages, including those who have accompanying ("comorbid") medical conditions. Operations would typically be performed by a single surgical specialty. Personnel include a board-certified pediatric surgeon, pediatric anesthesiologist, and pediatric radiologist with other pediatric specialists readily available for consultation, and has an emergency physician and an intensive care unit that both have pediatric expertise. Has a Level III or higher NICU.

Level III: Possesses adequate resources to provide basic surgical care and perform common, low-risk surgical procedures in children older than one year who are otherwise healthy. Has a general surgeon, anesthesiologist, radiologist, and emergency physician, all of whom have pediatric expertise. Has a Level I NICU (well-newborn nursery) or higher.

Both Level II and III surgical centers must be able to stabilize and transfer critically ill children to a hospital with higher-level resources. All children’s surgical centers must have at least one pediatric surgical nurse, a pediatric rapid response team of critical care professionals available at all hours, and an in-house physician with Pediatric Advanced Life Support certification or equivalent qualifications. Furthermore, all areas of these centers must have the resources needed to perform pediatric resuscitation.

Additional guidelines for ambulatory, or outpatient, surgical centers include having preoperative and recovery areas dedicated to pediatric patients. Also, according to the task force report, a pediatric anesthesiologist at an ambulatory surgical center should administer or supervise the administration of a general anesthetic or sedative to all infants younger than one year old.

Acknowledging that the standards are high, ACS Executive Director David B. Hoyt, MD, FACS, a member of the Task Force for Children’s Surgical Care, added, "I think many hospitals will rise to these new standards by adding resources."

In designating the resources that children’s surgical centers need, the Task Force for Children’s Surgical Care reportedly relied on published scientific evidence and expert opinion. According to Dr. Oldham, supporting evidence included the success of the ACS’ nationwide classification and verification system for trauma centers. By helping ensure that injured patients receive care at the appropriate level, the trauma system has saved many lives, he noted.

Plans are under way to develop criteria for evaluating existing facilities that perform children’s surgical procedures. The ACS will oversee the site verification process, which Dr. Oldham anticipates will become available sometime this year.

*Optimal resources for children’s surgical care in the United States. J Am Coll Surg. 2014;218(3):479-487.e4.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has published new comprehensive guidelines that define the resources the nation’s surgical facilities need to perform operations effectively and safely in infants and children. The standards – published in the March issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons – also have the approval of the American Pediatric Surgical Association and the Society of Pediatric Anesthesia.* Representatives of these organizations as well as invited leaders in other pediatric medical specialties, known as the Task Force for Children’s Surgical Care, developed the consensus recommendations over the past three years.

"The intent of these recommendations is to ensure that all infants and children in the U.S. receive care in a surgical environment matched to their individual medical, emotional, and social needs," said Keith T. Oldham, MD, FACS, task force chair and the surgeon-in-chief at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Many studies show better results—including fewer complications and shorter hospital stays—when newborns and children undergo surgical procedures in environments that have expert resources for pediatric patients, compared with non-specialized centers.

In its report, the Task Force for Children’s Surgical Care defined the proper surgical environment for children as one "that offers all of the facilities, equipment, and, most especially, access to the professional providers who have the appropriate background and training to provide optimal care."

The task force assigned levels of resources, as the ACS has done for trauma centers for decades. The classification for children’s surgical centers is as follows:

Level I (highest level): Possesses adequate resources to provide comprehensive surgical care and perform both complex and noncomplex surgical procedures in newborns and children of all ages, including those with the most severe health conditions and birth defects. Is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week with properly credentialed pediatric specialists, including pediatric and subspecialty surgeons, pediatric anesthesiologists, pediatric diagnostic and interventional radiologists, and pediatric emergency physicians. Has a Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the highest level of critical care for newborns.

Level II: Possesses adequate resources to provide advanced surgical care for children of all ages, including those who have accompanying ("comorbid") medical conditions. Operations would typically be performed by a single surgical specialty. Personnel include a board-certified pediatric surgeon, pediatric anesthesiologist, and pediatric radiologist with other pediatric specialists readily available for consultation, and has an emergency physician and an intensive care unit that both have pediatric expertise. Has a Level III or higher NICU.

Level III: Possesses adequate resources to provide basic surgical care and perform common, low-risk surgical procedures in children older than one year who are otherwise healthy. Has a general surgeon, anesthesiologist, radiologist, and emergency physician, all of whom have pediatric expertise. Has a Level I NICU (well-newborn nursery) or higher.

Both Level II and III surgical centers must be able to stabilize and transfer critically ill children to a hospital with higher-level resources. All children’s surgical centers must have at least one pediatric surgical nurse, a pediatric rapid response team of critical care professionals available at all hours, and an in-house physician with Pediatric Advanced Life Support certification or equivalent qualifications. Furthermore, all areas of these centers must have the resources needed to perform pediatric resuscitation.

Additional guidelines for ambulatory, or outpatient, surgical centers include having preoperative and recovery areas dedicated to pediatric patients. Also, according to the task force report, a pediatric anesthesiologist at an ambulatory surgical center should administer or supervise the administration of a general anesthetic or sedative to all infants younger than one year old.

Acknowledging that the standards are high, ACS Executive Director David B. Hoyt, MD, FACS, a member of the Task Force for Children’s Surgical Care, added, "I think many hospitals will rise to these new standards by adding resources."

In designating the resources that children’s surgical centers need, the Task Force for Children’s Surgical Care reportedly relied on published scientific evidence and expert opinion. According to Dr. Oldham, supporting evidence included the success of the ACS’ nationwide classification and verification system for trauma centers. By helping ensure that injured patients receive care at the appropriate level, the trauma system has saved many lives, he noted.

Plans are under way to develop criteria for evaluating existing facilities that perform children’s surgical procedures. The ACS will oversee the site verification process, which Dr. Oldham anticipates will become available sometime this year.

*Optimal resources for children’s surgical care in the United States. J Am Coll Surg. 2014;218(3):479-487.e4.

For almost a year, trauma surgeons, federal law enforcement personnel, and emergency responders have led an effort aimed at increasing the number of survivors of active shooter or mass-casualty incidents. An important part of this initiative calls for all law enforcement officers to be trained and equipped to control bleeding, a goal set forth by the Hartford Consensus, a collaborative group composed of leaders from the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), and the Prehospital Trauma Life Support program.

THREAT response

The principle of more training and equipment is central to the findings of the Hartford Consensus, according to "The Hartford Consensus: THREAT, A Medical Disaster Preparedness Concept," an article published in the March issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS). A companion piece, "Joint Committee to Create a National Policy to Enhance Survivability from Mass-Casualty Shooting Events: Hartford Consensus II," calls for a broad educational strategy and a robust evaluation of the implementation of THREAT in order to quantify its benefits in the management of active shooter and mass-casualty events. THREAT is an acronym for the needed response to mass shooting events developed by the Hartford Consensus: T–Threat suppression, H–Hemorrhage control, RE–Rapid Extrication to safety, A–Assessment by medical providers, and T–Transport to definitive care. 

Driving the recommendations of the Hartford Consensus is the fact that victims of active shooter and mass-casualty events often bleed to death before medically trained emergency responders can reach the scene. Law enforcement officers are typically the first to arrive at the scene of such an incident, but they often lack the medical training and equipment to treat the victims. Filling that need has become one of the central calls to action of the Hartford Consensus, which is led by the ACS Committee on Trauma and builds on guidelines developed by the U.S. military to advance battlefield trauma care.

"Controlling hemorrhage has to be a core law enforcement tactic," said Alexander Eastman, MD, MPH, FACS, chief of trauma at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern/Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, and a Dallas Police Department Lieutenant. "We saw the dramatic impact of this tactic in the Tucson, AZ, shooting in 2011. With training and tourniquets, law enforcement officers will save lives—many lives."

The Hartford Consensus is already having an impact. In concert with ACS and the MCCA, more than 36,000 police officers in Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Houston, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Dallas; New Orleans, LA; Tampa, FL; and Washington, DC, will receive bleeding control kits and training this year. The Hartford Consensus also urges cities to develop an integrated response system customized to the needs of their community and focused on the importance of initial actions to control hemorrhage.

We can no longer wait until casualties are brought out to the perimeter," said ACS Regent Lenworth M. Jacobs, MD, MPH, FACS, vice-president of academic affairs and chief academic officer and director, Trauma Institute at Hartford Hospital, CT. "We must prepare responders to safely intervene, control bleeding, and save lives."

Another recommendation of the Hartford Consensus is to educate and equip the public to respond to the needs of victims. However, activating that type of response effort means that tourniquets and other equipment need to be broadly available in schools, offices, shopping centers, churches, and other public places.

"Just as automatic external defibrillators are easily usable and quickly available to the public, so should easily applied tourniquets be available in a similar manner and locations," said Norman McSwain, Jr., MD, FACS, medical director, pre-hospital trauma life support, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans. "It’s not a complicated process, and it will save lives."

"We need to expand the pool of first responders," added Michael F. Rotondo, MD, FACS, Chair, ACS Committee on Trauma. "With proper training, under the right circumstances anyone can act as a rescuer."

For almost a year, trauma surgeons, federal law enforcement personnel, and emergency responders have led an effort aimed at increasing the number of survivors of active shooter or mass-casualty incidents. An important part of this initiative calls for all law enforcement officers to be trained and equipped to control bleeding, a goal set forth by the Hartford Consensus, a collaborative group composed of leaders from the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), and the Prehospital Trauma Life Support program.

THREAT response

The principle of more training and equipment is central to the findings of the Hartford Consensus, according to "The Hartford Consensus: THREAT, A Medical Disaster Preparedness Concept," an article published in the March issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS). A companion piece, "Joint Committee to Create a National Policy to Enhance Survivability from Mass-Casualty Shooting Events: Hartford Consensus II," calls for a broad educational strategy and a robust evaluation of the implementation of THREAT in order to quantify its benefits in the management of active shooter and mass-casualty events. THREAT is an acronym for the needed response to mass shooting events developed by the Hartford Consensus: T–Threat suppression, H–Hemorrhage control, RE–Rapid Extrication to safety, A–Assessment by medical providers, and T–Transport to definitive care. 

Driving the recommendations of the Hartford Consensus is the fact that victims of active shooter and mass-casualty events often bleed to death before medically trained emergency responders can reach the scene. Law enforcement officers are typically the first to arrive at the scene of such an incident, but they often lack the medical training and equipment to treat the victims. Filling that need has become one of the central calls to action of the Hartford Consensus, which is led by the ACS Committee on Trauma and builds on guidelines developed by the U.S. military to advance battlefield trauma care.

"Controlling hemorrhage has to be a core law enforcement tactic," said Alexander Eastman, MD, MPH, FACS, chief of trauma at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern/Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, and a Dallas Police Department Lieutenant. "We saw the dramatic impact of this tactic in the Tucson, AZ, shooting in 2011. With training and tourniquets, law enforcement officers will save lives—many lives."

The Hartford Consensus is already having an impact. In concert with ACS and the MCCA, more than 36,000 police officers in Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Houston, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Dallas; New Orleans, LA; Tampa, FL; and Washington, DC, will receive bleeding control kits and training this year. The Hartford Consensus also urges cities to develop an integrated response system customized to the needs of their community and focused on the importance of initial actions to control hemorrhage.

We can no longer wait until casualties are brought out to the perimeter," said ACS Regent Lenworth M. Jacobs, MD, MPH, FACS, vice-president of academic affairs and chief academic officer and director, Trauma Institute at Hartford Hospital, CT. "We must prepare responders to safely intervene, control bleeding, and save lives."

Another recommendation of the Hartford Consensus is to educate and equip the public to respond to the needs of victims. However, activating that type of response effort means that tourniquets and other equipment need to be broadly available in schools, offices, shopping centers, churches, and other public places.

"Just as automatic external defibrillators are easily usable and quickly available to the public, so should easily applied tourniquets be available in a similar manner and locations," said Norman McSwain, Jr., MD, FACS, medical director, pre-hospital trauma life support, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans. "It’s not a complicated process, and it will save lives."

"We need to expand the pool of first responders," added Michael F. Rotondo, MD, FACS, Chair, ACS Committee on Trauma. "With proper training, under the right circumstances anyone can act as a rescuer."

For almost a year, trauma surgeons, federal law enforcement personnel, and emergency responders have led an effort aimed at increasing the number of survivors of active shooter or mass-casualty incidents. An important part of this initiative calls for all law enforcement officers to be trained and equipped to control bleeding, a goal set forth by the Hartford Consensus, a collaborative group composed of leaders from the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), and the Prehospital Trauma Life Support program.

THREAT response

The principle of more training and equipment is central to the findings of the Hartford Consensus, according to "The Hartford Consensus: THREAT, A Medical Disaster Preparedness Concept," an article published in the March issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS). A companion piece, "Joint Committee to Create a National Policy to Enhance Survivability from Mass-Casualty Shooting Events: Hartford Consensus II," calls for a broad educational strategy and a robust evaluation of the implementation of THREAT in order to quantify its benefits in the management of active shooter and mass-casualty events. THREAT is an acronym for the needed response to mass shooting events developed by the Hartford Consensus: T–Threat suppression, H–Hemorrhage control, RE–Rapid Extrication to safety, A–Assessment by medical providers, and T–Transport to definitive care. 

Driving the recommendations of the Hartford Consensus is the fact that victims of active shooter and mass-casualty events often bleed to death before medically trained emergency responders can reach the scene. Law enforcement officers are typically the first to arrive at the scene of such an incident, but they often lack the medical training and equipment to treat the victims. Filling that need has become one of the central calls to action of the Hartford Consensus, which is led by the ACS Committee on Trauma and builds on guidelines developed by the U.S. military to advance battlefield trauma care.

"Controlling hemorrhage has to be a core law enforcement tactic," said Alexander Eastman, MD, MPH, FACS, chief of trauma at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern/Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, and a Dallas Police Department Lieutenant. "We saw the dramatic impact of this tactic in the Tucson, AZ, shooting in 2011. With training and tourniquets, law enforcement officers will save lives—many lives."

The Hartford Consensus is already having an impact. In concert with ACS and the MCCA, more than 36,000 police officers in Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Houston, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Dallas; New Orleans, LA; Tampa, FL; and Washington, DC, will receive bleeding control kits and training this year. The Hartford Consensus also urges cities to develop an integrated response system customized to the needs of their community and focused on the importance of initial actions to control hemorrhage.

We can no longer wait until casualties are brought out to the perimeter," said ACS Regent Lenworth M. Jacobs, MD, MPH, FACS, vice-president of academic affairs and chief academic officer and director, Trauma Institute at Hartford Hospital, CT. "We must prepare responders to safely intervene, control bleeding, and save lives."

Another recommendation of the Hartford Consensus is to educate and equip the public to respond to the needs of victims. However, activating that type of response effort means that tourniquets and other equipment need to be broadly available in schools, offices, shopping centers, churches, and other public places.

"Just as automatic external defibrillators are easily usable and quickly available to the public, so should easily applied tourniquets be available in a similar manner and locations," said Norman McSwain, Jr., MD, FACS, medical director, pre-hospital trauma life support, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans. "It’s not a complicated process, and it will save lives."

"We need to expand the pool of first responders," added Michael F. Rotondo, MD, FACS, Chair, ACS Committee on Trauma. "With proper training, under the right circumstances anyone can act as a rescuer."

The Board of Directors of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Foundation has announced that Fellows and friends have contributed $1.75 million to the 1913 Legacy Campaign, which meets 35 percent of the campaign’s $5 million goal. Applied Medical Technology, Inc. and Coloplast Corp. both recently donated Leadership Gifts ($100,000 and up) to the campaign, in support of the ACS Division of Education’s Patient Education Program.

The 1913 Legacy Campaign, officially announced at the 25th Annual Fellows Leadership Society Luncheon during the 2013 ACS Clinical Congress, continues to secure gifts to advance programming that is critical to the College’s mission. Philanthropic investments will benefit the surgeon, the profession, and the societal good.

The Surgeon

Investments in the development of innovative programs to advance simulation-based surgical education and training as well as funding to better engage and embrace international surgeons.

The Profession

Promoting best practices and quality improvements through the newly established Codman Quality and Safety Fund and programs for rural surgery and surgical ethics. The Codman Fund is named in honor of Ernest A. Codman, MD, FACS, a key figure in founding the College who advocated for the "End Result Idea" – the premise that hospital staffs should follow every patient long enough to determine whether the treatment was successful and then learn from failures.

The Societal Good

Funding opportunities for patient education programs and support for surgical volunteerism. For more information on how to participate in this unprecedented campaign that honors the College’s Centennial, contact the ACS Foundation at 312-202-5338 or visit www.facs.org/1913Campaign.

The Board of Directors of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Foundation has announced that Fellows and friends have contributed $1.75 million to the 1913 Legacy Campaign, which meets 35 percent of the campaign’s $5 million goal. Applied Medical Technology, Inc. and Coloplast Corp. both recently donated Leadership Gifts ($100,000 and up) to the campaign, in support of the ACS Division of Education’s Patient Education Program.

The 1913 Legacy Campaign, officially announced at the 25th Annual Fellows Leadership Society Luncheon during the 2013 ACS Clinical Congress, continues to secure gifts to advance programming that is critical to the College’s mission. Philanthropic investments will benefit the surgeon, the profession, and the societal good.

The Surgeon

Investments in the development of innovative programs to advance simulation-based surgical education and training as well as funding to better engage and embrace international surgeons.

The Profession

Promoting best practices and quality improvements through the newly established Codman Quality and Safety Fund and programs for rural surgery and surgical ethics. The Codman Fund is named in honor of Ernest A. Codman, MD, FACS, a key figure in founding the College who advocated for the "End Result Idea" – the premise that hospital staffs should follow every patient long enough to determine whether the treatment was successful and then learn from failures.

The Societal Good

Funding opportunities for patient education programs and support for surgical volunteerism. For more information on how to participate in this unprecedented campaign that honors the College’s Centennial, contact the ACS Foundation at 312-202-5338 or visit www.facs.org/1913Campaign.

The Board of Directors of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Foundation has announced that Fellows and friends have contributed $1.75 million to the 1913 Legacy Campaign, which meets 35 percent of the campaign’s $5 million goal. Applied Medical Technology, Inc. and Coloplast Corp. both recently donated Leadership Gifts ($100,000 and up) to the campaign, in support of the ACS Division of Education’s Patient Education Program.

The 1913 Legacy Campaign, officially announced at the 25th Annual Fellows Leadership Society Luncheon during the 2013 ACS Clinical Congress, continues to secure gifts to advance programming that is critical to the College’s mission. Philanthropic investments will benefit the surgeon, the profession, and the societal good.

The Surgeon

Investments in the development of innovative programs to advance simulation-based surgical education and training as well as funding to better engage and embrace international surgeons.

The Profession

Promoting best practices and quality improvements through the newly established Codman Quality and Safety Fund and programs for rural surgery and surgical ethics. The Codman Fund is named in honor of Ernest A. Codman, MD, FACS, a key figure in founding the College who advocated for the "End Result Idea" – the premise that hospital staffs should follow every patient long enough to determine whether the treatment was successful and then learn from failures.

The Societal Good

Funding opportunities for patient education programs and support for surgical volunteerism. For more information on how to participate in this unprecedented campaign that honors the College’s Centennial, contact the ACS Foundation at 312-202-5338 or visit www.facs.org/1913Campaign.

Melina Kibbe, MD, FACS, recently commented on sex disparities in medical research during a segment on 60 Minutes, which aired on February 9. Dr. Kibbe is professor of surgery, division of vascular surgery, at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, and deputy director of Northwestern University’s Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine.

Correspondent Lesley Stahl conducted the interview, which focused on the conclusion of a growing number of scientists that differences between the sexes are understudied. Dr. Kibbe, who recently launched a review of 1,091 articles published in leading surgical journals, noted that only 3 percent of the reported studies included males and females. “What’s more alarming,” she added, “is that 34 percent of the articles don’t even state the sex of the animal or the cell.”

Ms. Stahl also interviewed Teresa K. Woodruff, PhD, the Thomas J. Watkins Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Feinberg School of Medicine and professor of molecular biosciences at Northwestern University’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.

Go to 60 Minutes Overtime at http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sex-matters-who-has-the-softer-heart/ to view Ms. Stahl’s extensive interview with Dr. Kibbe, much of which was posted online only.

Melina Kibbe, MD, FACS, recently commented on sex disparities in medical research during a segment on 60 Minutes, which aired on February 9. Dr. Kibbe is professor of surgery, division of vascular surgery, at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, and deputy director of Northwestern University’s Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine.

Correspondent Lesley Stahl conducted the interview, which focused on the conclusion of a growing number of scientists that differences between the sexes are understudied. Dr. Kibbe, who recently launched a review of 1,091 articles published in leading surgical journals, noted that only 3 percent of the reported studies included males and females. “What’s more alarming,” she added, “is that 34 percent of the articles don’t even state the sex of the animal or the cell.”

Ms. Stahl also interviewed Teresa K. Woodruff, PhD, the Thomas J. Watkins Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Feinberg School of Medicine and professor of molecular biosciences at Northwestern University’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.

Go to 60 Minutes Overtime at http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sex-matters-who-has-the-softer-heart/ to view Ms. Stahl’s extensive interview with Dr. Kibbe, much of which was posted online only.

Melina Kibbe, MD, FACS, recently commented on sex disparities in medical research during a segment on 60 Minutes, which aired on February 9. Dr. Kibbe is professor of surgery, division of vascular surgery, at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, and deputy director of Northwestern University’s Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine.

Correspondent Lesley Stahl conducted the interview, which focused on the conclusion of a growing number of scientists that differences between the sexes are understudied. Dr. Kibbe, who recently launched a review of 1,091 articles published in leading surgical journals, noted that only 3 percent of the reported studies included males and females. “What’s more alarming,” she added, “is that 34 percent of the articles don’t even state the sex of the animal or the cell.”

Ms. Stahl also interviewed Teresa K. Woodruff, PhD, the Thomas J. Watkins Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Feinberg School of Medicine and professor of molecular biosciences at Northwestern University’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.

Go to 60 Minutes Overtime at http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sex-matters-who-has-the-softer-heart/ to view Ms. Stahl’s extensive interview with Dr. Kibbe, much of which was posted online only.