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Read the new 2018 Foundation Annual Report
Download Below
The SVS Foundation’s 2018 Annual Report has just been published online. The report highlights the Foundation’s work, the money raised, and money spent. It tells why people give and the profound difference SVS members make, not only in their research labs but also in their communities. The Foundation offers a number of ways to give and a number of funds – the general fund, disaster relief, research and more – to which donations may be directed. This is the season for the SVS annual Giving Campaign. Please read the report and give today.
Download Below
The SVS Foundation’s 2018 Annual Report has just been published online. The report highlights the Foundation’s work, the money raised, and money spent. It tells why people give and the profound difference SVS members make, not only in their research labs but also in their communities. The Foundation offers a number of ways to give and a number of funds – the general fund, disaster relief, research and more – to which donations may be directed. This is the season for the SVS annual Giving Campaign. Please read the report and give today.
Download Below
The SVS Foundation’s 2018 Annual Report has just been published online. The report highlights the Foundation’s work, the money raised, and money spent. It tells why people give and the profound difference SVS members make, not only in their research labs but also in their communities. The Foundation offers a number of ways to give and a number of funds – the general fund, disaster relief, research and more – to which donations may be directed. This is the season for the SVS annual Giving Campaign. Please read the report and give today.
Calendar
For more information about upcoming events and award deadlines, please visit http://agau.gastro.org and http://www.gastro.org/research-funding.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Dec. 10-11, 12-13, 2018; Jan. 16-17, 22-23, 23-24, 2019; Feb. 20-21, 2019
Two-Day, In-Depth Coding Seminar by McVey Associates, Inc
.Become a certified GI coder with a two-day, in-depth training course provided by McVey Associates, Inc.
Tampa, FL (12/10-11), Dallas, TX (12/12-13), Houston, TX (1/16-17), New Orleans, LA (1/22-23), Pittsburgh, PA (1/23-24), 2/20 (Hartford, CT)
Jan. 17-19, 2019
2019 GI Cancers Symposium
Join colleagues from across the globe in San Francisco to discover and share groundbreaking research in treating gastrointestinal cancers.
San Francisco, CA
Feb. 7–9, 2019
Crohn’s & Colitis Congress™ (A Partnership of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and American Gastroenterological Association)
Expand your knowledge, network with IBD leaders, spark innovative research and get inspired to improve patient care.
Las Vegas, NV
March 8-9, 2019
2019 Women’s Leadership Conference
The conference is specifically designed for women looking to advance their careers, further professional goals, enhance personal growth and effectively network.
Bethesda, MD
March 8-10, 2019
FORWARD Program
AGA’s Fostering Opportunities Resulting in Workforce and Research Diversity (FORWARD) Program is a new initiative funded by NIH, supporting the career entry and development for underrepresented minority physician scientists in gastroenterology. The program provides concrete leadership and skill development that includes scientific manuscript and grant writing, research development, executive coaching and more.
Bethesda, MD
March 8-10, 2019
Future Leaders Program
The Future Leaders Program provides a pathway within the organization to network, connect with mentors, develop leadership skills and learn about AGA’s governance and operations while advancing your career and supporting the profession.
Bethesda, MD
March 23–24, 2019
2019 Gut Microbiota for Health World Summit
The 2019 program will present the latest evidence on the interaction between diet, nutrition and the gut microbiome. Learn how diet and nutrition are being used in concert with traditional therapies to manage GI disorders.
Miami, FL
May 18-21, 2019
Digestive Disease Week (DDW)®
DDW® is the world’s leading educational forum for academicians, clinicians, researchers, students and trainees working in gastroenterology, hepatology, GI endoscopy, gastrointestinal surgery and related fields. Whether you work in patient care, research, education or administration, the DDW program offers something for you. DDW is co-sponsored by AGA, AASLD, ASGE and SSAT.
San Diego, CA
AWARDS APPLICATION DEADLINES
AGA-Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine Research Scholar Award in Pediatric Genomics
This award provides $90,000 per year for three years (totaling $270,000) to a young investigator, instructor, research associate or equivalent working toward an independent career in gastroenterology, hepatology or related areas. The proposed research may be basic, translational or clinical and must use genomics as an approach to enhance understanding of pediatric digestive diseases toward prevention, treatment and/or cure of such diseases. The funded research must be conducted full-time at the Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine in San Diego, California, or at Rady Children’s Hospital – San Diego.
Application Deadline: Dec. 14, 2018
AGA-Bern Schwartz Family Fund Research Scholar Award in Pancreatic Cancer
This award provides $100,000 per year for three years (total $300,000) to early career faculty (i.e., investigator, instructor, research associate or equivalent) working toward an independent career in pancreatic cancer research.
Application Deadline: Dec. 14, 2018
AGA Research Scholar Award (RSA)
This award provides $90,000 per year for three years (total $270,000) to a young investigator, instructor, research associate or equivalent working toward an independent career in gastroenterology, hepatology or related areas.
Application Deadline: Dec. 14, 2018
AGA-Shire Research Scholar Award in Functional GI and Motility Disorders
This award provides $90,000 per year for three years (total $270,000) to a young investigator, instructor, research associate or equivalent working toward an independent career in functional GI and motility disorders research.
Application Deadline: Dec. 14, 2018
AGA-Takeda Pharmaceuticals Research Scholar Award in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
This award provides $90,000 per year for three years (total $270,000) to a young investigator, instructor, research associate or equivalent working toward an independent career in inflammatory bowel disease research.
Application Deadline: Dec. 14, 2018
AGA Fellow Abstract Award
This travel award provides nine $500 and one $1,000 prize to recipients who are MD, PhD or equivalent fellows presenting posters/oral sessions at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW).
Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2019
AGA Moti L. & Kamla Rustgi International Travel Awards
This travel award provides two $750 prizes to recipients who are young basic, translational or clinical investigators residing outside North America to support travel and related expenses to attend Digestive Disease Week® (DDW).
Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2019
AGA Student Abstract Award
This travel award provides nine $500 and one $1,000 prize to recipients who are high school, undergraduate, graduate, or medical students or residents (residents up to year three postgraduate) presenting posters/oral sessions at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW).
Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2019
For more information about upcoming events and award deadlines, please visit http://agau.gastro.org and http://www.gastro.org/research-funding.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Dec. 10-11, 12-13, 2018; Jan. 16-17, 22-23, 23-24, 2019; Feb. 20-21, 2019
Two-Day, In-Depth Coding Seminar by McVey Associates, Inc
.Become a certified GI coder with a two-day, in-depth training course provided by McVey Associates, Inc.
Tampa, FL (12/10-11), Dallas, TX (12/12-13), Houston, TX (1/16-17), New Orleans, LA (1/22-23), Pittsburgh, PA (1/23-24), 2/20 (Hartford, CT)
Jan. 17-19, 2019
2019 GI Cancers Symposium
Join colleagues from across the globe in San Francisco to discover and share groundbreaking research in treating gastrointestinal cancers.
San Francisco, CA
Feb. 7–9, 2019
Crohn’s & Colitis Congress™ (A Partnership of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and American Gastroenterological Association)
Expand your knowledge, network with IBD leaders, spark innovative research and get inspired to improve patient care.
Las Vegas, NV
March 8-9, 2019
2019 Women’s Leadership Conference
The conference is specifically designed for women looking to advance their careers, further professional goals, enhance personal growth and effectively network.
Bethesda, MD
March 8-10, 2019
FORWARD Program
AGA’s Fostering Opportunities Resulting in Workforce and Research Diversity (FORWARD) Program is a new initiative funded by NIH, supporting the career entry and development for underrepresented minority physician scientists in gastroenterology. The program provides concrete leadership and skill development that includes scientific manuscript and grant writing, research development, executive coaching and more.
Bethesda, MD
March 8-10, 2019
Future Leaders Program
The Future Leaders Program provides a pathway within the organization to network, connect with mentors, develop leadership skills and learn about AGA’s governance and operations while advancing your career and supporting the profession.
Bethesda, MD
March 23–24, 2019
2019 Gut Microbiota for Health World Summit
The 2019 program will present the latest evidence on the interaction between diet, nutrition and the gut microbiome. Learn how diet and nutrition are being used in concert with traditional therapies to manage GI disorders.
Miami, FL
May 18-21, 2019
Digestive Disease Week (DDW)®
DDW® is the world’s leading educational forum for academicians, clinicians, researchers, students and trainees working in gastroenterology, hepatology, GI endoscopy, gastrointestinal surgery and related fields. Whether you work in patient care, research, education or administration, the DDW program offers something for you. DDW is co-sponsored by AGA, AASLD, ASGE and SSAT.
San Diego, CA
AWARDS APPLICATION DEADLINES
AGA-Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine Research Scholar Award in Pediatric Genomics
This award provides $90,000 per year for three years (totaling $270,000) to a young investigator, instructor, research associate or equivalent working toward an independent career in gastroenterology, hepatology or related areas. The proposed research may be basic, translational or clinical and must use genomics as an approach to enhance understanding of pediatric digestive diseases toward prevention, treatment and/or cure of such diseases. The funded research must be conducted full-time at the Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine in San Diego, California, or at Rady Children’s Hospital – San Diego.
Application Deadline: Dec. 14, 2018
AGA-Bern Schwartz Family Fund Research Scholar Award in Pancreatic Cancer
This award provides $100,000 per year for three years (total $300,000) to early career faculty (i.e., investigator, instructor, research associate or equivalent) working toward an independent career in pancreatic cancer research.
Application Deadline: Dec. 14, 2018
AGA Research Scholar Award (RSA)
This award provides $90,000 per year for three years (total $270,000) to a young investigator, instructor, research associate or equivalent working toward an independent career in gastroenterology, hepatology or related areas.
Application Deadline: Dec. 14, 2018
AGA-Shire Research Scholar Award in Functional GI and Motility Disorders
This award provides $90,000 per year for three years (total $270,000) to a young investigator, instructor, research associate or equivalent working toward an independent career in functional GI and motility disorders research.
Application Deadline: Dec. 14, 2018
AGA-Takeda Pharmaceuticals Research Scholar Award in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
This award provides $90,000 per year for three years (total $270,000) to a young investigator, instructor, research associate or equivalent working toward an independent career in inflammatory bowel disease research.
Application Deadline: Dec. 14, 2018
AGA Fellow Abstract Award
This travel award provides nine $500 and one $1,000 prize to recipients who are MD, PhD or equivalent fellows presenting posters/oral sessions at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW).
Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2019
AGA Moti L. & Kamla Rustgi International Travel Awards
This travel award provides two $750 prizes to recipients who are young basic, translational or clinical investigators residing outside North America to support travel and related expenses to attend Digestive Disease Week® (DDW).
Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2019
AGA Student Abstract Award
This travel award provides nine $500 and one $1,000 prize to recipients who are high school, undergraduate, graduate, or medical students or residents (residents up to year three postgraduate) presenting posters/oral sessions at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW).
Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2019
For more information about upcoming events and award deadlines, please visit http://agau.gastro.org and http://www.gastro.org/research-funding.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Dec. 10-11, 12-13, 2018; Jan. 16-17, 22-23, 23-24, 2019; Feb. 20-21, 2019
Two-Day, In-Depth Coding Seminar by McVey Associates, Inc
.Become a certified GI coder with a two-day, in-depth training course provided by McVey Associates, Inc.
Tampa, FL (12/10-11), Dallas, TX (12/12-13), Houston, TX (1/16-17), New Orleans, LA (1/22-23), Pittsburgh, PA (1/23-24), 2/20 (Hartford, CT)
Jan. 17-19, 2019
2019 GI Cancers Symposium
Join colleagues from across the globe in San Francisco to discover and share groundbreaking research in treating gastrointestinal cancers.
San Francisco, CA
Feb. 7–9, 2019
Crohn’s & Colitis Congress™ (A Partnership of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and American Gastroenterological Association)
Expand your knowledge, network with IBD leaders, spark innovative research and get inspired to improve patient care.
Las Vegas, NV
March 8-9, 2019
2019 Women’s Leadership Conference
The conference is specifically designed for women looking to advance their careers, further professional goals, enhance personal growth and effectively network.
Bethesda, MD
March 8-10, 2019
FORWARD Program
AGA’s Fostering Opportunities Resulting in Workforce and Research Diversity (FORWARD) Program is a new initiative funded by NIH, supporting the career entry and development for underrepresented minority physician scientists in gastroenterology. The program provides concrete leadership and skill development that includes scientific manuscript and grant writing, research development, executive coaching and more.
Bethesda, MD
March 8-10, 2019
Future Leaders Program
The Future Leaders Program provides a pathway within the organization to network, connect with mentors, develop leadership skills and learn about AGA’s governance and operations while advancing your career and supporting the profession.
Bethesda, MD
March 23–24, 2019
2019 Gut Microbiota for Health World Summit
The 2019 program will present the latest evidence on the interaction between diet, nutrition and the gut microbiome. Learn how diet and nutrition are being used in concert with traditional therapies to manage GI disorders.
Miami, FL
May 18-21, 2019
Digestive Disease Week (DDW)®
DDW® is the world’s leading educational forum for academicians, clinicians, researchers, students and trainees working in gastroenterology, hepatology, GI endoscopy, gastrointestinal surgery and related fields. Whether you work in patient care, research, education or administration, the DDW program offers something for you. DDW is co-sponsored by AGA, AASLD, ASGE and SSAT.
San Diego, CA
AWARDS APPLICATION DEADLINES
AGA-Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine Research Scholar Award in Pediatric Genomics
This award provides $90,000 per year for three years (totaling $270,000) to a young investigator, instructor, research associate or equivalent working toward an independent career in gastroenterology, hepatology or related areas. The proposed research may be basic, translational or clinical and must use genomics as an approach to enhance understanding of pediatric digestive diseases toward prevention, treatment and/or cure of such diseases. The funded research must be conducted full-time at the Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine in San Diego, California, or at Rady Children’s Hospital – San Diego.
Application Deadline: Dec. 14, 2018
AGA-Bern Schwartz Family Fund Research Scholar Award in Pancreatic Cancer
This award provides $100,000 per year for three years (total $300,000) to early career faculty (i.e., investigator, instructor, research associate or equivalent) working toward an independent career in pancreatic cancer research.
Application Deadline: Dec. 14, 2018
AGA Research Scholar Award (RSA)
This award provides $90,000 per year for three years (total $270,000) to a young investigator, instructor, research associate or equivalent working toward an independent career in gastroenterology, hepatology or related areas.
Application Deadline: Dec. 14, 2018
AGA-Shire Research Scholar Award in Functional GI and Motility Disorders
This award provides $90,000 per year for three years (total $270,000) to a young investigator, instructor, research associate or equivalent working toward an independent career in functional GI and motility disorders research.
Application Deadline: Dec. 14, 2018
AGA-Takeda Pharmaceuticals Research Scholar Award in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
This award provides $90,000 per year for three years (total $270,000) to a young investigator, instructor, research associate or equivalent working toward an independent career in inflammatory bowel disease research.
Application Deadline: Dec. 14, 2018
AGA Fellow Abstract Award
This travel award provides nine $500 and one $1,000 prize to recipients who are MD, PhD or equivalent fellows presenting posters/oral sessions at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW).
Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2019
AGA Moti L. & Kamla Rustgi International Travel Awards
This travel award provides two $750 prizes to recipients who are young basic, translational or clinical investigators residing outside North America to support travel and related expenses to attend Digestive Disease Week® (DDW).
Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2019
AGA Student Abstract Award
This travel award provides nine $500 and one $1,000 prize to recipients who are high school, undergraduate, graduate, or medical students or residents (residents up to year three postgraduate) presenting posters/oral sessions at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW).
Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2019
Top AGA Community patient cases
Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community (https://community.gastro.org/discussions) to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices and diagnoses.
In case you missed it, here are the most popular clinical discussions shared in the forum recently:
1. Addressing early-onset CRC
With the recommendation by the American Cancer Society to start colorectal cancer screening at 45, Dr. Samir Gupta and Dr. Peter Liang led a hearty discussion on the intended and unintended consequences of widespread implementation of these recommendations.
2. Surveillance colonoscopies in IBD patients
The question “are GIs doing too many surveillance colonoscopies in IBD patients” evolved into a call for more clinical guidance on the topic. IBD experts, AGA President Dr. David Lieberman, and the AGA Guidelines and Clinical Practice Update Committees tackle next steps and recommendations.
3. Patient case: severe colitis in asymptomatic patient
When a 51-year-old patient was seen for a colonoscopy screening, subsequent biopsies revealed severe active chronic colitis with lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, crypts, and crypt abscesses and no granulomas. Would you treat as ulcerative colitis or wait?
4. Patient case: IBD patient with steroid dependency
A 35-year-old female who was seen for refractory diarrhea and cramps tested positive for perinuclear antineutrophil antibodies cytoplasmic (pANCA). Her symptoms resolved after she received prednisone for an unrelated issue. The physician asks: is a low dose of prednisone “safer” than Remicade?
More clinical cases and discussions are at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.
[email protected]
Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community (https://community.gastro.org/discussions) to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices and diagnoses.
In case you missed it, here are the most popular clinical discussions shared in the forum recently:
1. Addressing early-onset CRC
With the recommendation by the American Cancer Society to start colorectal cancer screening at 45, Dr. Samir Gupta and Dr. Peter Liang led a hearty discussion on the intended and unintended consequences of widespread implementation of these recommendations.
2. Surveillance colonoscopies in IBD patients
The question “are GIs doing too many surveillance colonoscopies in IBD patients” evolved into a call for more clinical guidance on the topic. IBD experts, AGA President Dr. David Lieberman, and the AGA Guidelines and Clinical Practice Update Committees tackle next steps and recommendations.
3. Patient case: severe colitis in asymptomatic patient
When a 51-year-old patient was seen for a colonoscopy screening, subsequent biopsies revealed severe active chronic colitis with lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, crypts, and crypt abscesses and no granulomas. Would you treat as ulcerative colitis or wait?
4. Patient case: IBD patient with steroid dependency
A 35-year-old female who was seen for refractory diarrhea and cramps tested positive for perinuclear antineutrophil antibodies cytoplasmic (pANCA). Her symptoms resolved after she received prednisone for an unrelated issue. The physician asks: is a low dose of prednisone “safer” than Remicade?
More clinical cases and discussions are at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.
[email protected]
Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community (https://community.gastro.org/discussions) to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices and diagnoses.
In case you missed it, here are the most popular clinical discussions shared in the forum recently:
1. Addressing early-onset CRC
With the recommendation by the American Cancer Society to start colorectal cancer screening at 45, Dr. Samir Gupta and Dr. Peter Liang led a hearty discussion on the intended and unintended consequences of widespread implementation of these recommendations.
2. Surveillance colonoscopies in IBD patients
The question “are GIs doing too many surveillance colonoscopies in IBD patients” evolved into a call for more clinical guidance on the topic. IBD experts, AGA President Dr. David Lieberman, and the AGA Guidelines and Clinical Practice Update Committees tackle next steps and recommendations.
3. Patient case: severe colitis in asymptomatic patient
When a 51-year-old patient was seen for a colonoscopy screening, subsequent biopsies revealed severe active chronic colitis with lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, crypts, and crypt abscesses and no granulomas. Would you treat as ulcerative colitis or wait?
4. Patient case: IBD patient with steroid dependency
A 35-year-old female who was seen for refractory diarrhea and cramps tested positive for perinuclear antineutrophil antibodies cytoplasmic (pANCA). Her symptoms resolved after she received prednisone for an unrelated issue. The physician asks: is a low dose of prednisone “safer” than Remicade?
More clinical cases and discussions are at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.
[email protected]
AGA advocates on Capitol Hill
Thank you to members who met with their congressperson and who participated in Virtual Advocacy Day.
Advocates met with House and Senate offices to push for passage of the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act, legislation that waives the coinsurance for screening colonoscopies that become therapeutic and has broad, bipartisan and bicameral support. They made the argument that paying for prevention services saves the government money in the long term by preventing treatment costs on cancer treatment.
H.R. 2077, the Restoring Patient’s Voice Act, addresses step therapy protocols that threaten the physician-patient relationship and delay timely treatment to care. Support for the legislation is growing and our advocates were able to relay experiences they have encountered with their patients’ care being delayed and also the administrative burden this policy places on practices.
Katherine Clark, D-Mass., a member of the House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, met with our advocates and let them know that the House-Senate conferees agreed to the $2 billion increase in NIH funding in the final bill. Rep. Clark is a strong supporter of NIH and called it the “pillar of our economy.” AGA members encouraged their legislators to support the final Labor-HHS package that includes this $2 billion increase, which amounts to a 5.5% increase. The Senate recently approved the final agreement on Labor-HHS for fiscal year 2019 and we call on the House to follow suit.
AGA appreciates all those advocates who took time out of their busy schedules to advocate on behalf of their colleagues and patients. We also appreciate those who took time to participate in Virtual Advocacy Day. Remember, if we don’t advocate for GI, no one will.
To learn more about how you can get involved visit www.gastro.org/advocacy.
Thank you to members who met with their congressperson and who participated in Virtual Advocacy Day.
Advocates met with House and Senate offices to push for passage of the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act, legislation that waives the coinsurance for screening colonoscopies that become therapeutic and has broad, bipartisan and bicameral support. They made the argument that paying for prevention services saves the government money in the long term by preventing treatment costs on cancer treatment.
H.R. 2077, the Restoring Patient’s Voice Act, addresses step therapy protocols that threaten the physician-patient relationship and delay timely treatment to care. Support for the legislation is growing and our advocates were able to relay experiences they have encountered with their patients’ care being delayed and also the administrative burden this policy places on practices.
Katherine Clark, D-Mass., a member of the House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, met with our advocates and let them know that the House-Senate conferees agreed to the $2 billion increase in NIH funding in the final bill. Rep. Clark is a strong supporter of NIH and called it the “pillar of our economy.” AGA members encouraged their legislators to support the final Labor-HHS package that includes this $2 billion increase, which amounts to a 5.5% increase. The Senate recently approved the final agreement on Labor-HHS for fiscal year 2019 and we call on the House to follow suit.
AGA appreciates all those advocates who took time out of their busy schedules to advocate on behalf of their colleagues and patients. We also appreciate those who took time to participate in Virtual Advocacy Day. Remember, if we don’t advocate for GI, no one will.
To learn more about how you can get involved visit www.gastro.org/advocacy.
Thank you to members who met with their congressperson and who participated in Virtual Advocacy Day.
Advocates met with House and Senate offices to push for passage of the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act, legislation that waives the coinsurance for screening colonoscopies that become therapeutic and has broad, bipartisan and bicameral support. They made the argument that paying for prevention services saves the government money in the long term by preventing treatment costs on cancer treatment.
H.R. 2077, the Restoring Patient’s Voice Act, addresses step therapy protocols that threaten the physician-patient relationship and delay timely treatment to care. Support for the legislation is growing and our advocates were able to relay experiences they have encountered with their patients’ care being delayed and also the administrative burden this policy places on practices.
Katherine Clark, D-Mass., a member of the House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, met with our advocates and let them know that the House-Senate conferees agreed to the $2 billion increase in NIH funding in the final bill. Rep. Clark is a strong supporter of NIH and called it the “pillar of our economy.” AGA members encouraged their legislators to support the final Labor-HHS package that includes this $2 billion increase, which amounts to a 5.5% increase. The Senate recently approved the final agreement on Labor-HHS for fiscal year 2019 and we call on the House to follow suit.
AGA appreciates all those advocates who took time out of their busy schedules to advocate on behalf of their colleagues and patients. We also appreciate those who took time to participate in Virtual Advocacy Day. Remember, if we don’t advocate for GI, no one will.
To learn more about how you can get involved visit www.gastro.org/advocacy.
Travel Advocacy Scholarship Deadline Approaching
Applications are due by October 31 for the SVS Vascular Surgery Trainee Advocacy Travel Scholarship. The scholarship is designed to enhance the trainee’s health policy and advocacy development. The recipient gets the chance to participate in Capitol Hill visits and learn more about the SVS’ health policy and advocacy activities. Applicants must be an SVS Candidate Member currently enrolled in or accepted into a vascular surgery training program and have interest in health policy and advocacy issues related to vascular surgery.
Applications are due by October 31 for the SVS Vascular Surgery Trainee Advocacy Travel Scholarship. The scholarship is designed to enhance the trainee’s health policy and advocacy development. The recipient gets the chance to participate in Capitol Hill visits and learn more about the SVS’ health policy and advocacy activities. Applicants must be an SVS Candidate Member currently enrolled in or accepted into a vascular surgery training program and have interest in health policy and advocacy issues related to vascular surgery.
Applications are due by October 31 for the SVS Vascular Surgery Trainee Advocacy Travel Scholarship. The scholarship is designed to enhance the trainee’s health policy and advocacy development. The recipient gets the chance to participate in Capitol Hill visits and learn more about the SVS’ health policy and advocacy activities. Applicants must be an SVS Candidate Member currently enrolled in or accepted into a vascular surgery training program and have interest in health policy and advocacy issues related to vascular surgery.
Form CMS Virtual MIPS Group
The election period to form a virtual group for the 2019 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance year is now open. These groups give participants the opportunity to coordinate resources that can help achieve and meet requirements under each MIPS performance category. A virtual group may be formed by location, specialty or shared patient population. If you fall within the criteria of those who can participate, apply today. More information can be found in the 2019 Toolkit, which includes a fact sheet, information on the election process, an agreement template and a sample email for election submission. The application deadline for a virtual group and its members is Dec. 31, 2018.
The election period to form a virtual group for the 2019 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance year is now open. These groups give participants the opportunity to coordinate resources that can help achieve and meet requirements under each MIPS performance category. A virtual group may be formed by location, specialty or shared patient population. If you fall within the criteria of those who can participate, apply today. More information can be found in the 2019 Toolkit, which includes a fact sheet, information on the election process, an agreement template and a sample email for election submission. The application deadline for a virtual group and its members is Dec. 31, 2018.
The election period to form a virtual group for the 2019 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance year is now open. These groups give participants the opportunity to coordinate resources that can help achieve and meet requirements under each MIPS performance category. A virtual group may be formed by location, specialty or shared patient population. If you fall within the criteria of those who can participate, apply today. More information can be found in the 2019 Toolkit, which includes a fact sheet, information on the election process, an agreement template and a sample email for election submission. The application deadline for a virtual group and its members is Dec. 31, 2018.
Your ACS Benefits: ACS guidelines and statements help you deliver quality care
One of the primary goals of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) is to provide surgeons with knowledge and skills to deliver the highest quality of patient care. The guidelines and statements developed by the ACS are intended to inform and guide Fellows in the care of their patients and to educate their patients and their institutions on best practices in those situations that may warrant specific guidance and direction.
Guidelines
Over the last decade, the College has participated in the development of guidelines and “point of care” modules that address those diagnoses most relevant to general surgeons. The Evidence-Based Decisions in Surgery (EBDS) are clinical guideline summaries that provide recommendations based on the latest practice guidelines in an easy-to-use, widely accessible format, including mobile devices and tablets. Module development involves a rigorous multi-step process, including contributions from experts on the ACS Board of Governors and the ACS Advisory Council for General Surgery. It is important to note that EBDS is not intended to reflect standards of care as defined by the ACS, but rather to serve as educational resources that practicing surgeons can use within the context of their respective practices. These guidelines should be used when appropriate based on the surgical condition and the surgeon’s experience, as well as the patient’s needs and preferences.
EBDS now comprises more than 70 point of care modules covering the following categories—bariatric surgery, biliary tract and pancreas, breast disease, colon, rectum and anus, critical care, endocrine, gastrointestinal surgery, geriatrics and palliative care, miscellaneous surgical conditions, perioperative care, surgical oncology, and vascular.
The complete list of guidelines is available at ebds.facs.org/topics, and new modules are released regularly. To access individual guidelines, members are required to log in. Contact [email protected] for member log-in information, and go to facs.org/ebds for more information about the program.
The Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP®) generates the ACS TQIP Best Practice Guidelines to provide recommendations for managing patient populations or injury types. The TQIP Best Practices Project Team and a panel of guest experts from appropriate specialties work together over the course of the year to create each guideline. The guidelines are created from evidence-based literature when available and the consensus of the group when evidence is lacking. To date, the following guidelines have been created for use by trauma centers and are available for download at facs.org/quality-programs/trauma/tqip/best-practice:
• Geriatric Trauma Management
• Massive Transfusion in Trauma
• Management of Traumatic Brain Injury
• Management of Orthopaedic Trauma
• Palliative Care
The College’s National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®) and the American Geriatrics Society’s Geriatrics for Specialists Initiative have developed two best practice guidelines that address management of older patients: Optimal Preoperative Assessment of the Geriatric Surgical Patient and Optimal Perioperative Management of the Geriatric Patient. These consensus-based recommendations were developed with support from the John A. Hartford Foundation and are available for download at facs.org/quality-programs/acs-nsqip/geriatric-periop-guideline.
Statements
Founded to provide opportunities for the continuing education of surgeons, the ACS has had a deep concern for the improvement of patient care and for the ethical practice of medicine. These values are reflected in the ACS Statements on Principles, which serve as the guidepost resource for all ACS Fellows. In addition to the Fellowship Pledge and Code of Professional Conduct, the Statements on Principles address the qualifications of the responsible surgeon, the surgeon-patient relationship, interprofessional relations, medical education, and surgeons and society. Fellows are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the contents of the Statements on Principles, which can be accessed at facs.org/about-acs/statements/stonprin.
In addition to the Statements on Principles, the ACS has issued more than 90 statements that have been adopted by the Board of Regents and address topics of importance to surgeons and the surgical profession. These statements have been developed by a range of volunteer committees and workgroups within the College, including the ACS Board of Governors, the ACS Advisory Councils, and various ACS standing committees. Statements are reviewed and updated annually, and new statements are created as appropriate. Statements are generally communicated to the membership via the Bulletin and are posted to the ACS website. Thus far in 2018, the Board of Regents has approved seven new statements and two revised statements. To review the complete list of ACS statements, go to facs.org/about-acs/statements and share those of interest with your colleagues and your institution.
Ms. Bura is Associate Director, ACS Division of Member Services, Chicago, IL.
One of the primary goals of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) is to provide surgeons with knowledge and skills to deliver the highest quality of patient care. The guidelines and statements developed by the ACS are intended to inform and guide Fellows in the care of their patients and to educate their patients and their institutions on best practices in those situations that may warrant specific guidance and direction.
Guidelines
Over the last decade, the College has participated in the development of guidelines and “point of care” modules that address those diagnoses most relevant to general surgeons. The Evidence-Based Decisions in Surgery (EBDS) are clinical guideline summaries that provide recommendations based on the latest practice guidelines in an easy-to-use, widely accessible format, including mobile devices and tablets. Module development involves a rigorous multi-step process, including contributions from experts on the ACS Board of Governors and the ACS Advisory Council for General Surgery. It is important to note that EBDS is not intended to reflect standards of care as defined by the ACS, but rather to serve as educational resources that practicing surgeons can use within the context of their respective practices. These guidelines should be used when appropriate based on the surgical condition and the surgeon’s experience, as well as the patient’s needs and preferences.
EBDS now comprises more than 70 point of care modules covering the following categories—bariatric surgery, biliary tract and pancreas, breast disease, colon, rectum and anus, critical care, endocrine, gastrointestinal surgery, geriatrics and palliative care, miscellaneous surgical conditions, perioperative care, surgical oncology, and vascular.
The complete list of guidelines is available at ebds.facs.org/topics, and new modules are released regularly. To access individual guidelines, members are required to log in. Contact [email protected] for member log-in information, and go to facs.org/ebds for more information about the program.
The Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP®) generates the ACS TQIP Best Practice Guidelines to provide recommendations for managing patient populations or injury types. The TQIP Best Practices Project Team and a panel of guest experts from appropriate specialties work together over the course of the year to create each guideline. The guidelines are created from evidence-based literature when available and the consensus of the group when evidence is lacking. To date, the following guidelines have been created for use by trauma centers and are available for download at facs.org/quality-programs/trauma/tqip/best-practice:
• Geriatric Trauma Management
• Massive Transfusion in Trauma
• Management of Traumatic Brain Injury
• Management of Orthopaedic Trauma
• Palliative Care
The College’s National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®) and the American Geriatrics Society’s Geriatrics for Specialists Initiative have developed two best practice guidelines that address management of older patients: Optimal Preoperative Assessment of the Geriatric Surgical Patient and Optimal Perioperative Management of the Geriatric Patient. These consensus-based recommendations were developed with support from the John A. Hartford Foundation and are available for download at facs.org/quality-programs/acs-nsqip/geriatric-periop-guideline.
Statements
Founded to provide opportunities for the continuing education of surgeons, the ACS has had a deep concern for the improvement of patient care and for the ethical practice of medicine. These values are reflected in the ACS Statements on Principles, which serve as the guidepost resource for all ACS Fellows. In addition to the Fellowship Pledge and Code of Professional Conduct, the Statements on Principles address the qualifications of the responsible surgeon, the surgeon-patient relationship, interprofessional relations, medical education, and surgeons and society. Fellows are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the contents of the Statements on Principles, which can be accessed at facs.org/about-acs/statements/stonprin.
In addition to the Statements on Principles, the ACS has issued more than 90 statements that have been adopted by the Board of Regents and address topics of importance to surgeons and the surgical profession. These statements have been developed by a range of volunteer committees and workgroups within the College, including the ACS Board of Governors, the ACS Advisory Councils, and various ACS standing committees. Statements are reviewed and updated annually, and new statements are created as appropriate. Statements are generally communicated to the membership via the Bulletin and are posted to the ACS website. Thus far in 2018, the Board of Regents has approved seven new statements and two revised statements. To review the complete list of ACS statements, go to facs.org/about-acs/statements and share those of interest with your colleagues and your institution.
Ms. Bura is Associate Director, ACS Division of Member Services, Chicago, IL.
One of the primary goals of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) is to provide surgeons with knowledge and skills to deliver the highest quality of patient care. The guidelines and statements developed by the ACS are intended to inform and guide Fellows in the care of their patients and to educate their patients and their institutions on best practices in those situations that may warrant specific guidance and direction.
Guidelines
Over the last decade, the College has participated in the development of guidelines and “point of care” modules that address those diagnoses most relevant to general surgeons. The Evidence-Based Decisions in Surgery (EBDS) are clinical guideline summaries that provide recommendations based on the latest practice guidelines in an easy-to-use, widely accessible format, including mobile devices and tablets. Module development involves a rigorous multi-step process, including contributions from experts on the ACS Board of Governors and the ACS Advisory Council for General Surgery. It is important to note that EBDS is not intended to reflect standards of care as defined by the ACS, but rather to serve as educational resources that practicing surgeons can use within the context of their respective practices. These guidelines should be used when appropriate based on the surgical condition and the surgeon’s experience, as well as the patient’s needs and preferences.
EBDS now comprises more than 70 point of care modules covering the following categories—bariatric surgery, biliary tract and pancreas, breast disease, colon, rectum and anus, critical care, endocrine, gastrointestinal surgery, geriatrics and palliative care, miscellaneous surgical conditions, perioperative care, surgical oncology, and vascular.
The complete list of guidelines is available at ebds.facs.org/topics, and new modules are released regularly. To access individual guidelines, members are required to log in. Contact [email protected] for member log-in information, and go to facs.org/ebds for more information about the program.
The Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP®) generates the ACS TQIP Best Practice Guidelines to provide recommendations for managing patient populations or injury types. The TQIP Best Practices Project Team and a panel of guest experts from appropriate specialties work together over the course of the year to create each guideline. The guidelines are created from evidence-based literature when available and the consensus of the group when evidence is lacking. To date, the following guidelines have been created for use by trauma centers and are available for download at facs.org/quality-programs/trauma/tqip/best-practice:
• Geriatric Trauma Management
• Massive Transfusion in Trauma
• Management of Traumatic Brain Injury
• Management of Orthopaedic Trauma
• Palliative Care
The College’s National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®) and the American Geriatrics Society’s Geriatrics for Specialists Initiative have developed two best practice guidelines that address management of older patients: Optimal Preoperative Assessment of the Geriatric Surgical Patient and Optimal Perioperative Management of the Geriatric Patient. These consensus-based recommendations were developed with support from the John A. Hartford Foundation and are available for download at facs.org/quality-programs/acs-nsqip/geriatric-periop-guideline.
Statements
Founded to provide opportunities for the continuing education of surgeons, the ACS has had a deep concern for the improvement of patient care and for the ethical practice of medicine. These values are reflected in the ACS Statements on Principles, which serve as the guidepost resource for all ACS Fellows. In addition to the Fellowship Pledge and Code of Professional Conduct, the Statements on Principles address the qualifications of the responsible surgeon, the surgeon-patient relationship, interprofessional relations, medical education, and surgeons and society. Fellows are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the contents of the Statements on Principles, which can be accessed at facs.org/about-acs/statements/stonprin.
In addition to the Statements on Principles, the ACS has issued more than 90 statements that have been adopted by the Board of Regents and address topics of importance to surgeons and the surgical profession. These statements have been developed by a range of volunteer committees and workgroups within the College, including the ACS Board of Governors, the ACS Advisory Councils, and various ACS standing committees. Statements are reviewed and updated annually, and new statements are created as appropriate. Statements are generally communicated to the membership via the Bulletin and are posted to the ACS website. Thus far in 2018, the Board of Regents has approved seven new statements and two revised statements. To review the complete list of ACS statements, go to facs.org/about-acs/statements and share those of interest with your colleagues and your institution.
Ms. Bura is Associate Director, ACS Division of Member Services, Chicago, IL.
Visit ACS Central at Clinical Congress 2018 and View ACS Theatre Sessions
Make the most of your American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress experience by visiting ACS Central in the Exhibit Hall. Open 9:00 am–4:30 pm Monday, October 22, to Wednesday, October 24, ACS Central is the place to meet with staff, learn about ACS products and programs, purchase ACS-branded items and publications, and relax during the meeting. Other select ACS programs will have a presence in the main lobby of the center, including ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC, Wi-fi and Clinical Congress App Support, Become a Member/Member Services, MyCME, SESAP® (Surgical Education and Self-Assessment Program), and Webcast Sales.
Featured areas in ACS Central include the following:
• ACS Foundation
• ACS Store
• Advocacy and Regulatory Affairs
• Education
• Manage Your Profile (receive a free professional photo)
• Member Engagement
• My Specialty and Quality Programs
• Publications and Online Resources
• Surgeon Specific Registry (SSR)
ACS Central also features the ACS Theatre. The following programs will take place during the lunch hour, so grab a bite to eat and stop by to listen.
Monday, October 22: 1:15 pm–2:15 pm
Life Skills for the Surgeon: Savings Advice for Retirement
Mark Aeder, MD, FACS, will provide advice on how to handle your debt, how to find the right financial advisor, and how to protect your family and your income?
Special Considerations for a Successful Simulation Program
Rick Feins, MD, FACS, will explain why surgical simulation is an important pathway for achieving competency in surgical resident performance and adoption of new technology by established surgeons.
Tuesday, October 23: 11:30 am–12:30 pm
Efforts to Reduce Administrative Burdens and Regulations and State Level Advocacy
Come listen to how the ACS is addressing the increasing administrative burdens and regulations that are frustrating our Fellows across the country with Vinita Ollapally, JD, ACS Manager of Regulatory Affairs.
Wednesday, October 24: 11:30 am–12:30 pm
Addressing Intimate Partner Violence in the Surgical Community: Is there a need?
ACS President Barbara Lee Bass, MD, FACS, formed an ACS Task Force earlier this year to begin to consider what the ACS should do to address and prevent intimate partner violence (IPV) within the surgical community. Dr. Bass will address the work of the task force and the resources that have been developed to address this issue.
Make the most of your American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress experience by visiting ACS Central in the Exhibit Hall. Open 9:00 am–4:30 pm Monday, October 22, to Wednesday, October 24, ACS Central is the place to meet with staff, learn about ACS products and programs, purchase ACS-branded items and publications, and relax during the meeting. Other select ACS programs will have a presence in the main lobby of the center, including ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC, Wi-fi and Clinical Congress App Support, Become a Member/Member Services, MyCME, SESAP® (Surgical Education and Self-Assessment Program), and Webcast Sales.
Featured areas in ACS Central include the following:
• ACS Foundation
• ACS Store
• Advocacy and Regulatory Affairs
• Education
• Manage Your Profile (receive a free professional photo)
• Member Engagement
• My Specialty and Quality Programs
• Publications and Online Resources
• Surgeon Specific Registry (SSR)
ACS Central also features the ACS Theatre. The following programs will take place during the lunch hour, so grab a bite to eat and stop by to listen.
Monday, October 22: 1:15 pm–2:15 pm
Life Skills for the Surgeon: Savings Advice for Retirement
Mark Aeder, MD, FACS, will provide advice on how to handle your debt, how to find the right financial advisor, and how to protect your family and your income?
Special Considerations for a Successful Simulation Program
Rick Feins, MD, FACS, will explain why surgical simulation is an important pathway for achieving competency in surgical resident performance and adoption of new technology by established surgeons.
Tuesday, October 23: 11:30 am–12:30 pm
Efforts to Reduce Administrative Burdens and Regulations and State Level Advocacy
Come listen to how the ACS is addressing the increasing administrative burdens and regulations that are frustrating our Fellows across the country with Vinita Ollapally, JD, ACS Manager of Regulatory Affairs.
Wednesday, October 24: 11:30 am–12:30 pm
Addressing Intimate Partner Violence in the Surgical Community: Is there a need?
ACS President Barbara Lee Bass, MD, FACS, formed an ACS Task Force earlier this year to begin to consider what the ACS should do to address and prevent intimate partner violence (IPV) within the surgical community. Dr. Bass will address the work of the task force and the resources that have been developed to address this issue.
Make the most of your American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress experience by visiting ACS Central in the Exhibit Hall. Open 9:00 am–4:30 pm Monday, October 22, to Wednesday, October 24, ACS Central is the place to meet with staff, learn about ACS products and programs, purchase ACS-branded items and publications, and relax during the meeting. Other select ACS programs will have a presence in the main lobby of the center, including ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC, Wi-fi and Clinical Congress App Support, Become a Member/Member Services, MyCME, SESAP® (Surgical Education and Self-Assessment Program), and Webcast Sales.
Featured areas in ACS Central include the following:
• ACS Foundation
• ACS Store
• Advocacy and Regulatory Affairs
• Education
• Manage Your Profile (receive a free professional photo)
• Member Engagement
• My Specialty and Quality Programs
• Publications and Online Resources
• Surgeon Specific Registry (SSR)
ACS Central also features the ACS Theatre. The following programs will take place during the lunch hour, so grab a bite to eat and stop by to listen.
Monday, October 22: 1:15 pm–2:15 pm
Life Skills for the Surgeon: Savings Advice for Retirement
Mark Aeder, MD, FACS, will provide advice on how to handle your debt, how to find the right financial advisor, and how to protect your family and your income?
Special Considerations for a Successful Simulation Program
Rick Feins, MD, FACS, will explain why surgical simulation is an important pathway for achieving competency in surgical resident performance and adoption of new technology by established surgeons.
Tuesday, October 23: 11:30 am–12:30 pm
Efforts to Reduce Administrative Burdens and Regulations and State Level Advocacy
Come listen to how the ACS is addressing the increasing administrative burdens and regulations that are frustrating our Fellows across the country with Vinita Ollapally, JD, ACS Manager of Regulatory Affairs.
Wednesday, October 24: 11:30 am–12:30 pm
Addressing Intimate Partner Violence in the Surgical Community: Is there a need?
ACS President Barbara Lee Bass, MD, FACS, formed an ACS Task Force earlier this year to begin to consider what the ACS should do to address and prevent intimate partner violence (IPV) within the surgical community. Dr. Bass will address the work of the task force and the resources that have been developed to address this issue.
Second volume of Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery Manual now available
Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, Volume 2, a collaborative manual from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, is now available for print and electronic purchase. This second volume focuses on thyroid cancer, gastric cancer, rectal cancer, esophageal cancer, and melanoma. The goal of the manual is to recommend the steps that need to occur in the operating room, from skin incision to skin closure, that ensure the best oncological outcomes for patients. Recommendations from the first two volumes serve as an initial point of discussion as the ACS Commission on Cancer (CoC) works to revise its accreditation manual and requirements. Preliminary work is being done to incorporate a portion of the recommendations into the new CoC standards for implementation by 2020.
The recommendations in the manual are part of a shift in the way surgeons perform cancer operations to ensure the procedures are guided by the strongest available evidence, according to the leadership of the Alliance/ACS Clinical Research Program (ACS CRP) Cancer Care Standards Development Committee, which led development of both volumes.
Similar to the first volume of the manual, which covered cancer of the breast, colon, lung, and pancreas, this volume breaks down the major cancer operations for each of the five disease sites into the critical steps that teams of experts and stakeholders around the country have identified as having the most significant influence on outcomes.
“We hope that the recommendations become actively used and achieve greater legitimacy,” said Committee Chair Mathew H. G. Katz, MD, FACS.
Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, Volume 2, is available for purchase on the Wolters Kluwer website at bit.ly/2PCHUCn. For more information, contact [email protected].
Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, Volume 2, a collaborative manual from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, is now available for print and electronic purchase. This second volume focuses on thyroid cancer, gastric cancer, rectal cancer, esophageal cancer, and melanoma. The goal of the manual is to recommend the steps that need to occur in the operating room, from skin incision to skin closure, that ensure the best oncological outcomes for patients. Recommendations from the first two volumes serve as an initial point of discussion as the ACS Commission on Cancer (CoC) works to revise its accreditation manual and requirements. Preliminary work is being done to incorporate a portion of the recommendations into the new CoC standards for implementation by 2020.
The recommendations in the manual are part of a shift in the way surgeons perform cancer operations to ensure the procedures are guided by the strongest available evidence, according to the leadership of the Alliance/ACS Clinical Research Program (ACS CRP) Cancer Care Standards Development Committee, which led development of both volumes.
Similar to the first volume of the manual, which covered cancer of the breast, colon, lung, and pancreas, this volume breaks down the major cancer operations for each of the five disease sites into the critical steps that teams of experts and stakeholders around the country have identified as having the most significant influence on outcomes.
“We hope that the recommendations become actively used and achieve greater legitimacy,” said Committee Chair Mathew H. G. Katz, MD, FACS.
Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, Volume 2, is available for purchase on the Wolters Kluwer website at bit.ly/2PCHUCn. For more information, contact [email protected].
Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, Volume 2, a collaborative manual from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, is now available for print and electronic purchase. This second volume focuses on thyroid cancer, gastric cancer, rectal cancer, esophageal cancer, and melanoma. The goal of the manual is to recommend the steps that need to occur in the operating room, from skin incision to skin closure, that ensure the best oncological outcomes for patients. Recommendations from the first two volumes serve as an initial point of discussion as the ACS Commission on Cancer (CoC) works to revise its accreditation manual and requirements. Preliminary work is being done to incorporate a portion of the recommendations into the new CoC standards for implementation by 2020.
The recommendations in the manual are part of a shift in the way surgeons perform cancer operations to ensure the procedures are guided by the strongest available evidence, according to the leadership of the Alliance/ACS Clinical Research Program (ACS CRP) Cancer Care Standards Development Committee, which led development of both volumes.
Similar to the first volume of the manual, which covered cancer of the breast, colon, lung, and pancreas, this volume breaks down the major cancer operations for each of the five disease sites into the critical steps that teams of experts and stakeholders around the country have identified as having the most significant influence on outcomes.
“We hope that the recommendations become actively used and achieve greater legitimacy,” said Committee Chair Mathew H. G. Katz, MD, FACS.
Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, Volume 2, is available for purchase on the Wolters Kluwer website at bit.ly/2PCHUCn. For more information, contact [email protected].
Exciting changes in the Scientific Forum this year
The Scientific Forum of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress has evolved since the concept was first introduced as the Surgical Forum in 1951. This year’s Scientific Forum will build on these transformations and will offer attendees greater exposure to the surgical research conducted by the ACS community.
Background
The Surgical Forum was established in 1951 to provide a supportive venue for trainees and junior faculty to present and discuss their research. Presenting at the Forum has always been a rite of passage for aspiring academic surgeon-scientists. In 1993, the Surgical Forum was renamed to honor the program founder, Owen H. Wangensteen, MD, PhD, FACS, past-chair, department of surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
As surgical science evolved, the Program Committee developed a separate Scientific Papers session for established investigators and Fellows who were not early in their career. As these two programs evolved, it became increasingly clear that there was substantial overlap. In 2014, the Surgical Forum and Scientific Papers merged into a single entity under the oversight of the existing Surgical Forum Committee.
The merged program was renamed the Scientific Forum to reflect the contributions of the Surgical Forum and the Scientific Papers, and the committee was renamed the Scientific Forum Committee. Because of the increase in scientific abstracts resulting from this merger, the committee expanded its membership to reflect the type of scientific abstracts in the broader program. The basic and translational research focus of the Surgical Forum was expanded to include clinical research in health services, education, global surgery, ethics, and other evolving areas of surgical science.
These changes have revitalized the scientific effort. The number and quality of the abstracts submitted to the Scientific Forum has grown significantly—more than 2,000 abstracts were submitted for review for Clinical Congress 2018.
The spirit of the Surgical Forum has been maintained in the new Scientific Forum, continuing with the clustering of focused areas of research to encourage discussion and collaboration among the attendees. The Program Committee continues to place great emphasis on highlighting the work of young investigators while incorporating the expertise of senior investigators into the sessions.
Changes at Clinical Congress 2017
Quick Shots and e-Posters were introduced at Clinical Congress 2017 in San Diego, CA. Quick Shots are three-minute oral abstract presentations, which were incorporated into the Scientific Forum sessions. This addition, which allowed for more presenters in a session, was met with a positive reception.
The poster sessions were restructured to an electronic format. The e-Posters were placed in a central, dedicated location among the Scientific Forum sessions rather than the Exhibit Hall. The modern e-Poster sessions brought greater visibility to the poster presentations and energized the format. In the e-Poster room, special sessions were scheduled to highlight the exceptional research efforts of the surgical trainees through the Excellence in Research Awards and the Posters of Exceptional Merit. In addition, the Scientific Forum is dedicated to a senior surgeon-scientist who has demonstrated a career-long commitment to training surgeon-scientists and the academic mission.
To further promote and support surgical research, the Scientific Forum Committee partnered with the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS) to solicit the highest-rated abstracts for publication in JACS. In the first year, the top 5 percent of abstracts in the clinical sciences were solicited for manuscript submissions. More than half of those authors submitted a manuscript for review. All accepted manuscripts will be electronically published concurrently with the ACS Clinical Congress 2018 to provide greater visibility to the high-quality research being generated by the ACS community.
Clinical trials session added in 2018
The Scientific Forum Committee strongly believes the Clinical Congress is the premier venue to present practice-changing research. New for 2018, a call for late-breaking clinical trials abstracts was issued, and the committee selected six clinical trials that have the potential to change practice and improve patient care. This new clinical trials session will be presented at Clinical Congress 2018 Monday, October 22, at 9:45 am.
The ACS Clinical Congress is the largest surgical meeting in the U.S. The vision of the Scientific Forum Committee is for leaders of surgical trials to view the Clinical Congress as the premier venue to present their results. These exciting and transformative changes to the Scientific Forum will bring greater exposure to the leading-edge research in clinical care, while continuing to support and encourage young surgeon-scientists—the future of the study and practice of surgery—in their work. ♦
Note
The authors of this article are part of the Owen H. Wangensteen Scientific Forum Committee—Mary T. Hawn, MD, FACS; Edith Tzeng, MD, FACS; and Valerie W. Rusch, MD, FACS, are members, and M. Jane Burns, MJHL; Richard V. King, PhD; and Ajit K. Sachdeva, MD, FACS, FRCSC, are ACS staff.
Dr. Hawn is professor of surgery and chair, department of surgery, Stanford University, CA. She is Chair, ACS Scientific Forum Committee.
Dr. Tzeng is professor of surgery, University of Pittsburgh, and chief, vascular surgery, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive Campus, PA. She is Vice-Chair, ACS Scientific Forum Committee.
Dr. Rusch is vice-chair, clinical research, department of surgery; Miner Family Chair in Intrathoracic Cancers; attending surgeon, thoracic service, department of surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; and professor of surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College. She is a consultant for the ACS Program Committee.
Ms. Burns is Senior Manager, Clinical Congress Program, ACS Division of Education, Chicago.
Mr. King is Assistant Director, Clinical Congress Program and Skills Courses, ACS Division of Education.
Dr. Sachdeva is Director, ACS Division of Education.
The Scientific Forum of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress has evolved since the concept was first introduced as the Surgical Forum in 1951. This year’s Scientific Forum will build on these transformations and will offer attendees greater exposure to the surgical research conducted by the ACS community.
Background
The Surgical Forum was established in 1951 to provide a supportive venue for trainees and junior faculty to present and discuss their research. Presenting at the Forum has always been a rite of passage for aspiring academic surgeon-scientists. In 1993, the Surgical Forum was renamed to honor the program founder, Owen H. Wangensteen, MD, PhD, FACS, past-chair, department of surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
As surgical science evolved, the Program Committee developed a separate Scientific Papers session for established investigators and Fellows who were not early in their career. As these two programs evolved, it became increasingly clear that there was substantial overlap. In 2014, the Surgical Forum and Scientific Papers merged into a single entity under the oversight of the existing Surgical Forum Committee.
The merged program was renamed the Scientific Forum to reflect the contributions of the Surgical Forum and the Scientific Papers, and the committee was renamed the Scientific Forum Committee. Because of the increase in scientific abstracts resulting from this merger, the committee expanded its membership to reflect the type of scientific abstracts in the broader program. The basic and translational research focus of the Surgical Forum was expanded to include clinical research in health services, education, global surgery, ethics, and other evolving areas of surgical science.
These changes have revitalized the scientific effort. The number and quality of the abstracts submitted to the Scientific Forum has grown significantly—more than 2,000 abstracts were submitted for review for Clinical Congress 2018.
The spirit of the Surgical Forum has been maintained in the new Scientific Forum, continuing with the clustering of focused areas of research to encourage discussion and collaboration among the attendees. The Program Committee continues to place great emphasis on highlighting the work of young investigators while incorporating the expertise of senior investigators into the sessions.
Changes at Clinical Congress 2017
Quick Shots and e-Posters were introduced at Clinical Congress 2017 in San Diego, CA. Quick Shots are three-minute oral abstract presentations, which were incorporated into the Scientific Forum sessions. This addition, which allowed for more presenters in a session, was met with a positive reception.
The poster sessions were restructured to an electronic format. The e-Posters were placed in a central, dedicated location among the Scientific Forum sessions rather than the Exhibit Hall. The modern e-Poster sessions brought greater visibility to the poster presentations and energized the format. In the e-Poster room, special sessions were scheduled to highlight the exceptional research efforts of the surgical trainees through the Excellence in Research Awards and the Posters of Exceptional Merit. In addition, the Scientific Forum is dedicated to a senior surgeon-scientist who has demonstrated a career-long commitment to training surgeon-scientists and the academic mission.
To further promote and support surgical research, the Scientific Forum Committee partnered with the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS) to solicit the highest-rated abstracts for publication in JACS. In the first year, the top 5 percent of abstracts in the clinical sciences were solicited for manuscript submissions. More than half of those authors submitted a manuscript for review. All accepted manuscripts will be electronically published concurrently with the ACS Clinical Congress 2018 to provide greater visibility to the high-quality research being generated by the ACS community.
Clinical trials session added in 2018
The Scientific Forum Committee strongly believes the Clinical Congress is the premier venue to present practice-changing research. New for 2018, a call for late-breaking clinical trials abstracts was issued, and the committee selected six clinical trials that have the potential to change practice and improve patient care. This new clinical trials session will be presented at Clinical Congress 2018 Monday, October 22, at 9:45 am.
The ACS Clinical Congress is the largest surgical meeting in the U.S. The vision of the Scientific Forum Committee is for leaders of surgical trials to view the Clinical Congress as the premier venue to present their results. These exciting and transformative changes to the Scientific Forum will bring greater exposure to the leading-edge research in clinical care, while continuing to support and encourage young surgeon-scientists—the future of the study and practice of surgery—in their work. ♦
Note
The authors of this article are part of the Owen H. Wangensteen Scientific Forum Committee—Mary T. Hawn, MD, FACS; Edith Tzeng, MD, FACS; and Valerie W. Rusch, MD, FACS, are members, and M. Jane Burns, MJHL; Richard V. King, PhD; and Ajit K. Sachdeva, MD, FACS, FRCSC, are ACS staff.
Dr. Hawn is professor of surgery and chair, department of surgery, Stanford University, CA. She is Chair, ACS Scientific Forum Committee.
Dr. Tzeng is professor of surgery, University of Pittsburgh, and chief, vascular surgery, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive Campus, PA. She is Vice-Chair, ACS Scientific Forum Committee.
Dr. Rusch is vice-chair, clinical research, department of surgery; Miner Family Chair in Intrathoracic Cancers; attending surgeon, thoracic service, department of surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; and professor of surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College. She is a consultant for the ACS Program Committee.
Ms. Burns is Senior Manager, Clinical Congress Program, ACS Division of Education, Chicago.
Mr. King is Assistant Director, Clinical Congress Program and Skills Courses, ACS Division of Education.
Dr. Sachdeva is Director, ACS Division of Education.
The Scientific Forum of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress has evolved since the concept was first introduced as the Surgical Forum in 1951. This year’s Scientific Forum will build on these transformations and will offer attendees greater exposure to the surgical research conducted by the ACS community.
Background
The Surgical Forum was established in 1951 to provide a supportive venue for trainees and junior faculty to present and discuss their research. Presenting at the Forum has always been a rite of passage for aspiring academic surgeon-scientists. In 1993, the Surgical Forum was renamed to honor the program founder, Owen H. Wangensteen, MD, PhD, FACS, past-chair, department of surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
As surgical science evolved, the Program Committee developed a separate Scientific Papers session for established investigators and Fellows who were not early in their career. As these two programs evolved, it became increasingly clear that there was substantial overlap. In 2014, the Surgical Forum and Scientific Papers merged into a single entity under the oversight of the existing Surgical Forum Committee.
The merged program was renamed the Scientific Forum to reflect the contributions of the Surgical Forum and the Scientific Papers, and the committee was renamed the Scientific Forum Committee. Because of the increase in scientific abstracts resulting from this merger, the committee expanded its membership to reflect the type of scientific abstracts in the broader program. The basic and translational research focus of the Surgical Forum was expanded to include clinical research in health services, education, global surgery, ethics, and other evolving areas of surgical science.
These changes have revitalized the scientific effort. The number and quality of the abstracts submitted to the Scientific Forum has grown significantly—more than 2,000 abstracts were submitted for review for Clinical Congress 2018.
The spirit of the Surgical Forum has been maintained in the new Scientific Forum, continuing with the clustering of focused areas of research to encourage discussion and collaboration among the attendees. The Program Committee continues to place great emphasis on highlighting the work of young investigators while incorporating the expertise of senior investigators into the sessions.
Changes at Clinical Congress 2017
Quick Shots and e-Posters were introduced at Clinical Congress 2017 in San Diego, CA. Quick Shots are three-minute oral abstract presentations, which were incorporated into the Scientific Forum sessions. This addition, which allowed for more presenters in a session, was met with a positive reception.
The poster sessions were restructured to an electronic format. The e-Posters were placed in a central, dedicated location among the Scientific Forum sessions rather than the Exhibit Hall. The modern e-Poster sessions brought greater visibility to the poster presentations and energized the format. In the e-Poster room, special sessions were scheduled to highlight the exceptional research efforts of the surgical trainees through the Excellence in Research Awards and the Posters of Exceptional Merit. In addition, the Scientific Forum is dedicated to a senior surgeon-scientist who has demonstrated a career-long commitment to training surgeon-scientists and the academic mission.
To further promote and support surgical research, the Scientific Forum Committee partnered with the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS) to solicit the highest-rated abstracts for publication in JACS. In the first year, the top 5 percent of abstracts in the clinical sciences were solicited for manuscript submissions. More than half of those authors submitted a manuscript for review. All accepted manuscripts will be electronically published concurrently with the ACS Clinical Congress 2018 to provide greater visibility to the high-quality research being generated by the ACS community.
Clinical trials session added in 2018
The Scientific Forum Committee strongly believes the Clinical Congress is the premier venue to present practice-changing research. New for 2018, a call for late-breaking clinical trials abstracts was issued, and the committee selected six clinical trials that have the potential to change practice and improve patient care. This new clinical trials session will be presented at Clinical Congress 2018 Monday, October 22, at 9:45 am.
The ACS Clinical Congress is the largest surgical meeting in the U.S. The vision of the Scientific Forum Committee is for leaders of surgical trials to view the Clinical Congress as the premier venue to present their results. These exciting and transformative changes to the Scientific Forum will bring greater exposure to the leading-edge research in clinical care, while continuing to support and encourage young surgeon-scientists—the future of the study and practice of surgery—in their work. ♦
Note
The authors of this article are part of the Owen H. Wangensteen Scientific Forum Committee—Mary T. Hawn, MD, FACS; Edith Tzeng, MD, FACS; and Valerie W. Rusch, MD, FACS, are members, and M. Jane Burns, MJHL; Richard V. King, PhD; and Ajit K. Sachdeva, MD, FACS, FRCSC, are ACS staff.
Dr. Hawn is professor of surgery and chair, department of surgery, Stanford University, CA. She is Chair, ACS Scientific Forum Committee.
Dr. Tzeng is professor of surgery, University of Pittsburgh, and chief, vascular surgery, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive Campus, PA. She is Vice-Chair, ACS Scientific Forum Committee.
Dr. Rusch is vice-chair, clinical research, department of surgery; Miner Family Chair in Intrathoracic Cancers; attending surgeon, thoracic service, department of surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; and professor of surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College. She is a consultant for the ACS Program Committee.
Ms. Burns is Senior Manager, Clinical Congress Program, ACS Division of Education, Chicago.
Mr. King is Assistant Director, Clinical Congress Program and Skills Courses, ACS Division of Education.
Dr. Sachdeva is Director, ACS Division of Education.