Northern California Chapter Meeting Highlights Surgical Practice Models, Local Advocacy

The ACS Northern California Chapter extends from the Oregon border, between the Pacific Ocean and Nevada, across the state of California to the San Joaquin Valley.

For the first time since 2019, Chapter members gathered Friday–Saturday, March 14–15, in San Francisco to discuss surgical practice, well-being, local advocacy, and collaboration. ACS President Beth H. Sutton, MD, FACS, represented the College and filed the following report:

I was honored to attend this meeting, which was the first that the Chapter had since the pandemic. The attendees were very excited to meet again.

It was a pleasure to participate with Chapter President Andre R. Campbell, MD, FACS, members of the program committee, and Chapter President-Elect Tammy T. Chang, MD, PhD, FACS. Friday afternoon there were three outstanding panels. The first discussed the business aspects of surgery in different models including large group practice, employed, academic, private practice, and hybrid types. The presentations focused on surgeon well-being and were very well received.

A very compelling panel discussion highlighted the successful advocacy efforts to pass legislation containing some regulation of e-bikes, which have been involved in a dramatic increase in fatal injuries. Amelia Stafford, a patient injured by this mechanism, told the story of her recovery. Her treating surgeons and California legislators were among the other participants.

On Saturday morning, the Thomas Russell Surgical Trainee Research Competition was held, with basic science and clinical sections. I gave the ACS update during lunch. I then spoke about the current process for moving from Resident Member to Associate Fellow to Fellow, stressing that the College is currently giving free resident memberships to surgeons in all disciplines. I also described efforts to encourage increased collaboration between the College and all surgical disciplines. The last session on Saturday was about career pathways in surgery, which was very much appreciated by the trainees present.

Beth H. Sutton, MD, FACS
ACS President