Blue Ribbon Committee Recommendations for Surgical Education

The ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators Grand Rounds Series is pleased to present this virtual panel discussion with E. Christopher Ellison, MD, FACS, MAMSE and Steven C. Stain, MD, FACS, MAMSE, moderated by Dr. Mohsen Shabahang, with welcoming remarks by Dr. Ajit K. Sachdeva. The purpose of this panel is to discuss the Blue Ribbon Committee Recommendations for Surgical Education.

Participation in the Academy Virtual Grand Rounds is designated for 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

E. Christopher Ellison, MD, FACS, MAMSE

E. Christopher Ellison MD, FACS, is Past President of the American College of Surgeons. He is the Robert M Zollinger Professor of Surgery Emeritus and academy professor at The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Medicine (COM). He served as the president and CEO of the OSU physicians practice plan, interim dean of the OSU COM (2014-2016) and chair of surgery (2000-2013). He was recognized as the OSU COM Professor of the Year in 2000 and Distinguished Professor in 2012. He was a recipient of the OSU Distinguished Service Award in 2020 and the Distinguished Service Award from the MCW/Marquette Medical Alumni Association in 2021.

Steven C. Stain, MD, FACS, MAMSE

Steven C. Stain received his undergraduate and MD degree from University of California, at Irvine. He completed his residency training in surgery at Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center in 1988 followed by fellowships in surgical critical care (USC), hepatobiliary surgery (University of Berne, Switzerland), and Health Services Research (AAMC). While at USC, he was promoted to associate professor, with tenure. In 2000 Dr. Stain became professor and chair of the department of surgery at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, and received a secondary appointment as professor of surgery at Vanderbilt University. From 2005-2020 he served at Albany Medical College as professor, and Henry and Sally Schaffer Chair of the department of surgery. Dr. Stain was recruited to Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, starting as chair of the department of surgery January 2021.

He is the author of 175 peer-reviewed publications, 13 book chapters, and one book. His current research efforts are in oncology, health disparities, and surgical training. He has served in leadership roles in numerous organizations, including the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgery (board of governors 1996-2006); Western Surgical Association (president 2013-2014), Southern Medical Association (chair of the surgical section 2002-2003); Society of Black Academic Surgeons (president 2007-2008); surgical section of the National Medical Association (chair 2006-2007), American Board of Surgery (director, 2002-2008, chair 2009-2010); Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (board of trustees 2011- present; president 2018-2019; Chair Board of Trustees 2019-2021); American Surgical Association (recorder 2011-2016); ACGME residency review committee for surgery (2011-2017, chair 2015-2017), American College of Surgeons (Board of Governors Chair 2018-2019; Regent 2019-present), and ACGME board of directors (2024–present). He recently completed his term as president of the American Surgical Association (2023-2024).

The session will be moderated by Mohsen Shabahang, MD, PhD, FACS, MAMSE, Chair of the Subcommittee on Novel Teaching and Assessment Methods and Educational Resources for the ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators. Dr. Shabahang is the VP/CMO of the Wellspan Surgery Service Line, York, PA. Dr. Shabahang joined Wellspan in summer 2021.

Ajit K. Sachdeva, MD, FACS, FRCSC, FSACME, MAMSE, will deliver opening remarks. Dr. Sachdeva is the founding director of the division of education at the American College of Surgeons. He established this new division, which is responsible for the development and implementation of innovative educational programs for surgeons, surgery residents, medical students and members of surgical teams. Under Dr. Sachdeva’s leadership, several major education and training initiatives have been launched. These include programs to promote expertise and excellence in surgery; cutting-edge simulation-based programs; Program for Accreditation of Education Institutes (simulation centers); ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators; a range of continuous professional development programs; and an innovative Patient Education Program. Dr. Sachdeva also serves as adjunct professor of surgery at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.

Dr. Sachdeva was awarded the Distinguished Educator Award (a lifetime achievement award) by the Association for Surgical Education, and the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Healthcare Simulation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. He has also received the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching, the Blockley-Osler Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching, the Board of Trustees’ Award for Teaching Excellence, and Golden Apple Awards for teaching excellence. Dr. Sachdeva has served on the boards of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and Accreditation Council for Graduation Medical Education (ACGME). Dr. Sachdeva has served as president of the Association for Surgical Education, president of the American Association for Cancer Education, president of the Alliance for Clinical Education, president of the Council of Medical Specialty Societies, and president of the Society for Academic Continuing Medical Education.