Uncover Engagement Opportunities for Early Career Surgeons at the ACS

This article reviews opportunities for becoming actively involved with the College, including serving on committees, acting as a liaison, or working with governing bodies like the Board of Governors (BoG). By exploring these pathways, I hope to inspire you to find your place within the College and maximize the benefits of active engagement.

As a surgeon who has been engaged with the ACS in various capacities, I can attest to the rewards of involvement. I began my journey at the state and national levels within RAS, which was instrumental in shaping my professional growth and, essentially, my career trajectory.

I later became the YFA Representative for the BoG Survey Workgroup, and I gained invaluable insight into how the College operates. This experience paved the way for my involvement within YFA, as I was nominated and selected into the Governing Council (GC) of YFA and served as Chair of the Communications Workgroup.

Eventually, I was honored to serve as Chair of YFA, a role that allowed me to lead initiatives and engage deeply with the ACS membership, and cultivate a better understanding of the College, specifically around the Regents, their board, and role within the ACS. My journey is just one example of how this organization fosters leadership and engagement among its members.

How Are Regents Selected?

The ACS Board of Regents (BoR) is responsible for the College’s overall management and policy development. To me, they represent the elite of American surgery. These individuals are typically senior surgeons who are often well-known names within modern surgery. If you wish to change the course of surgery, this is the group to join. 

Regents are selected through a rigorous process that begins with nominations by Fellows of the ACS. Nominees are chosen based on their demonstrated commitment to the College, leadership abilities, and contributions to surgery. The final selection is made by the Nominating Committee of the BoG. Regents are elected to serve 3-year terms and may be re-elected for additional terms, up to a maximum of 9 years.

The Chair and Vice-Chair roles are selected by the BoR Nominating Committee and maintain an effective working relationship with other Regents, Officers, and staff. In total, the BoR comprises 24 members, including the President of the College and elected Regents. 

The BoG, YFA, and RAS have representation on many of the BoR standing committees. These committees span all areas of the College, and below is a list of several BoR committees:

• Bylaws Committee
• Central Judiciary Committee
• Communications Committee
• Education Advisory Committee
• Ethics Committee
• Executive Committee
• Finance Committee
• Health Policy & Advocacy Group
• Inclusive Excellence Committee
• Member Services Liaison Committee
• Research & Optimal Care Committee

The BoR also works closely with the BoG, which serves as a liaison between the Regents and ACS Fellows.

Becoming a Regent is a culmination of sustained commitment and leadership within the ACS. If you aspire to this level of engagement, it is essential to build a performance history of service and leadership within the ACS, beginning with roles in committees, advisory councils, and/or the BoG.

Understanding the BoG

The BoG serves as a vital link between the membership and the BoR. Governors represent their respective states, regions, or surgical specialties, providing a voice for the broader ACS membership. In total, there are approximately 300 Governors, each nominated by their respective chapters or specialty societies and appointed to the role as a result of their dedication to advancing the ACS mission and their ability to represent the interests of their constituencies. Governors serve 3-year terms and may be eligible for re-election, for a total of 6 years.

The Executive Committee leads the BoG and ensures the efficient operation of its functions and consists of three key members, including: Chair, who presides over meetings and serves as the primary spokesperson for the BoG; the Vice-Chair who assists the Chair and acts in their absence; and the Secretary who chairs the Fiscal Affairs Committee and serves on the BoR Finance Committee.

The BoG operates under a pillar structure to organize its work into functional areas. These include:

• Advocacy and Health Policy Pillar: Focuses on legislative and regulatory issues affecting surgeons and patients
• Communications Pillar: Increases communication between Governors and their chapters and specialty societies through presentations, reports, summaries, Bulletin articles, and surveys
• Education Pillar: Addresses surgical education, training, and lifelong learning initiatives
• Inclusive Excellence Pillar: Ensures alignment with the strategic vision of the College
• Member Services Pillar: Advocates, provides resources, helps strengthen chapters, and reviews and recommends recipients of the Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards
• Research and Optimal Patient Care Pillar: Oversees initiatives to improve surgical outcomes and patient care, and supports clinical research and guidelines for optimal surgical practice

Within each pillar, there are workgroups tasked with specific objectives. Examples of these workgroups include the Integrated Communications Workgroup, which works to enhance communication between the BoG and Fellows. 

While the BoG is a sizable entity—representing Fellows domestically and internationally—it does provide ample opportunity to become an engaged member of the College. Serving as a Governor allows you to contribute to the governance of the ACS, while also networking with surgical leaders from across the world.

Exploring YFA and RAS

YFA

YFA is designed for ACS members who are under the age of 46 and are within 10 years of completing their surgical training. The association provides a platform for young surgeons to connect, collaborate, and influence the future of the profession.

YFA has a GC that oversees its activities, including workgroups focused on advocacy, communications, education, member engagement, inclusive excellence, and quality. The GC consists of 15 nominated and selected individuals. Key members of the GC include the Chair who oversees the association’s activities and represents YFA within the ACS to the BoG and Regents.

The Vice-Chair assists the Chair and may assume their duties if necessary, while learning the Chair role, and the responsibilities associated with the six workgroup Chairs. The GC also consists of seven members-at-large—individuals who contribute to the council’s initiatives and represent the broader young fellow community.

Members can serve two 3-year terms for a total of 6 years, as long as they continue to meet the age requirement for YFA membership. GC members are eligible for the Vice-Chair role, for which there is a national election and vote.  

YFA has representation within nearly every aspect of the College; for example, there are YFA liaison roles within ACS chapters and on ACS BoG Workgroups. Getting involved in YFA is an incredible opportunity. For more information, email Brad DeFabo Akin at bakin@facs.org. 

The YFA workgroups have similar goals to those in the BoG and RAS. These workgroups are:

• Advocacy & Issues
• Communications
• Inclusive Excellence
• Education
• Member Services
• Quality

Each of these workgroups have members that hold liaison positions within other areas of the College, specifically the BoG, ensuring that if you are in YFA, there is likely an area of meaningful engagement available for you.

My tenure as Chair of the YFA GC was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. It allowed me to work alongside passionate peers, develop leadership skills, and contribute to projects that benefited ACS members nationwide.

RAS

RAS is the gateway to ACS engagement for residents and Associate Fellows of the College. Like YFA, RAS has a GC and several committees that focus on areas such as education, advocacy, and global surgery. Membership in RAS offers trainees the chance to build their professional network, gain leadership experience, and influence the future of surgery.

If you are a surgical resident, you are eligible for involvement within RAS. Of note, if an individual is past their resident-level training and is in fellowship training or their first few years as an attendant, they would remain an ACS Resident Member and involved in RAS.

Similar to YFA, RAS has a GC that includes a Chair, which leads RAS initiatives and serves as the primary representative for RAS at the ACS level. The Vice-Chair assists the Chair and serves as a deputy leader for RAS. The Secretary position manages communications and documentation for RAS. The RAS GC also includes workgroup chairs who oversee the key functional areas of RAS through workgroups.

Leveraging the ACS Surgeon’s Dashboard

In short, the ACS provides countless opportunities to get involved, whether you aspire to serve as a Regent, Governor, or an active member of YFA or RAS. Each pathway offers unique benefits and opportunities for personal and professional growth. To explore these opportunities, I encourage you to use the new ACS Surgeon’s Dashboard. This innovative platform provides easy access to information about the College, upcoming events, and ways to engage with committees, associations, and other ACS initiatives.

Active engagement with the ACS not only enhances your career but also allows you to contribute to the advancement of surgery and the betterment of patient care. No matter where you are in your career, there is a place for you within the College. By taking the first step and getting involved, you can find your spot within the ACS and make a lasting impact on our surgical community.

Dr. Christopher DuCoin is a professor of surgery, vice-chair of surgery, and chief of the Division of Gastrointestinal and General Surgery at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He also is a former Chair of the YFA Governing Council.