American College of Surgeons Seeking Nominations for Committee Appoitments.

The membership of the American College of Surgeons is diverse, representing surgeons in community and academic practice, as well as in research and administration. The College recognizes the importance, too, that the membership of its external and internal committees reflect the increasing diversity of its Fellowship.  In keeping with this principle, staff is seeking nominations from Chapter Presidents for standing committee appointments that will be considered during the 2011 Clinical Congress, October 23-27.

Below is a list of standing committees that will be filling vacancies at their annual meetings; the number of vacancies for each committee is noted, as well as special qualifications, if appropriate. 

2011 Vacancies for ACS Standing Committees

(Note: Only committees that have vacancies are listed.)

Allied Health Professionals Committee – 1 vacancy

To comprehensively address the educational needs of allied health professionals as members of surgical teams, to educate surgeons regarding the roles of allied health professionals, to support and assist allied health professionals involved in surgical care; to participate in defining duties of allied health professionals, and to assist with the process of accreditation of their respective educational programs.

Staff: Ajit K. Sachdeva, MD, FACS, FRCSC, Patrice Gabler Blair, MPH and Kim Echert, BA

Commission on Cancer – 7 vacancies

Established by the College in 1922, the multidisciplinary Commission on Cancer is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to reducing the morbidity and mortality of cancer through education, standard-setting, and the monitoring of quality care. Commission membership is comprised of 100 individuals who are either surgeons representing the College or member organization representatives from the 37 national, professional organizations affiliated with the Commission. The activities of the Commission are coordinated through the Approvals, Cancer Liaison, and Quality Integration committees, and the Disease Site Teams.

Staff: David P. Winchester, MD, FACS, Connie Bura and Lynda Watt

Committee on Diversity Issues – 1 vacancy

The mission of the Committee on Diversity Issues is to study the educational and professional needs of underrepresented surgeons and surgical trainees and the impact that its work may have on the elimination of health disparities among diverse population groups. To this end, the Committee seeks recognition and support from the ACS through the College’s mission policies and programs.

Staff: Paul E. Collicott, MD, FACS and Peg Haar

Committee on Informatics – 1 vacancy

The charge to the committee is to guide the College in: (1) methods to propagate and disseminate information for education of the Fellowship; (2) evaluation and preparation of interactive technologies for all aspects of Fellowship management and education; (3) the preparation and maintenance of policies necessary to coordinate and insure compatibility of information technology within the College; (4) participation in national committees and leadership organizations that direct the application of healthcare information technology and direct healthcare information technology policy; and (5) a gradual but continuous migration of all forms of communication within the College, between the College and its Fellowship, and among the Fellowship, from conventional methods to methods utilizing the latest mainstream technology.

Staff: Howard Tanzman and Patti Anderson

International Relations Committee – 4 vacancies

To promote relationships between the College and surgeons throughout the world in the areas of clinical practice, education, research and health care administration.

Staff: Paul E. Collicott, MD, FACS and Kate Early

Committee on Trauma – 11 vacancies; eight: General Surgery; two: Neurosurgeons; one: Orthopaedic Surgery – Participation in the State/Provincial COT as a Chair or Vice Chair or member of a State/Provincial COT is preferred for National COT membership.  – To improve all phases of the management of the injured patient including prehospital care and transportation, hospital care, and rehabilitation; to prevent injuries in the home, in industry, on the highway, and during participation in sports; to establish and implement institutional and systems standards for care of the injured; to provide education to improve trauma care; and to cooperate with other national organizations with similar objectives.

Staff: John Fildes, MD, FACS and Carol Williams 

Committee on Video-Based Education - 7 vacancies; three: General Surgery; one: Otolaryngology; one: Cardiothoracic; one: Colon and Rectal Surgery; one: Urological  - To survey existing medical motion pictures, to decide upon subjects suitable for motion picture illustration, and to determine and develop the demand for such films.

Staff: Ajit K. Sachdeva, MD, FACS, FRCSC, Julie Tribe and Gay Lynn Dykman  

Young Fellows Association – 3 vacancies

To serve as an inclusive organization for Young Fellows (age 45 and younger); to provide opportunities for Young Fellows to be involved with College activities—four Work Groups are available: Advocacy, Communications, Education, and Member Services; to plan and conduct an annual Leadership Conference, which is held in conjunction with the Joint Advocacy Surgical Conference; and to present an Annual Forum during the College’s Clinical Congress so that Young Fellows have opportunities to network with each other, to share their concerns, and to meet with members of the College’s leadership

Staff: Paul E. Collicott, MD, FACS and Rhonda J. Peebles

If you are interested in being nominated for any of these vacanices, please notify GSACS President Hal Kent via email at hlkent@bellsouth.net as soon as possible.  All state chapter presidents have been asked by the ACS to submit their nominations no later than June 1, 2011.