The House of Surgery

In this episode of The House of Surgery, Drs. Katrin Arnolds and Ana Pena discuss the realities of operating while pregnant. Drawing from their own experiences as surgeons and mothers, they share practical tips for staying safe and comfortable in the OR, managing prenatal appointments, navigating workplace expectations, and reducing exposure to radiation, anesthesia gases, surgical smoke, chemotherapy a...

To help support sustainable surgical careers, the American College of Surgeons recently released a framework of workplace standards that can be customized by surgical discipline. This episode features Douglas E. Wood, MD, FACS, FRCSEd, Vice-Chair of the ACS Board of Regents, and Philip R. Wolinsky, MD, FACS, ACS Regent, discussing the standards, as well as new resources on surgeon unionization.

This episode features one of the fathers of metabolic surgery, Walter J. Pories, MD, FACS, from Greenville, North Carolina. In his lecture delivered at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress in Chicago, Dr. Pories will discuss his research and insights into underlying molecular biology, with particular attention to fat storage, energy production, and lactic acid levels. He also will focus on how research into bariatric ...

This episode features Selwyn M. Vickers, MD, FACS, a pancreatic cancer surgeon and president and CEO of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. During the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer Oncology Lecture at Clinical Congress 2025, Dr. Vickers discussed a transformative era in cancer care, where scientific breakthroughs are reshaping cancer therapeutics and redefining the role of surgeons.

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This episode features Kerstin Sandelin, MD, PhD, FACS(Hon), FRCS, a breast surgeon from Stockholm, Sweden, who gave the Distinguished Lecture of the International Society of Surgery during the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress in Chicago. In her lecture, Dr. Sandelin addressed the gaps in breast cancer care throughout the world and offered information about how low- and middle-income countries will benefit from g...

This episode features Jennifer S. Lawton, MD, FACS, a cardiothoracic surgeon from Baltimore, Maryland, who gave the Olga Jonasson Lecture during the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress in Chicago. In her lecture, “Pay It Forward—The Enduring Impact of Mentors,” Dr. Lawton discussed how the support of mentors is vital for early career surgeons and also pays dividends for experienced surg...

This episode features Avery B. Nathens, MD, PhD, FACS, Medical Director for Trauma Quality Programs for the American College of Surgeons (ACS), as he welcomed attendees to the 2025 Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) Annual Conference, which marked TQIP’s 15th anniversary. Dr. Nathens offered an overview of the significant improvements in trauma care that have been made over the years, described w...

This episode features Mary E. Fallat, MD, FACS, a pediatric surgeon from Louisville, Kentucky, who delivered the Scudder Oration on Trauma during the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress in Chicago. In her lecture, “Optimizing Strategies to Improve Trauma and Burn Care for Children,” Dr. Fallat talked about the need to build a coordinated system that prepares pre-hospital care clinicians and emergency departments wi...

This episode features William E. Cohn, MD, FACS, a cardiothoracic surgeon from Houston, Texas, who delivered the I. S. Ravdin Lecture during the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress in Chicago. In his lecture, “The Past, Present, and Future of the Total Artificial Heart,” Dr. Cohn not only explored the history of artificial heart innovation but also the paradigm-shifting work that may finally bring a permanent solut...

This episode features David J. Skorton, MD, president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges in Washington, DC, who delivered the Martin Memorial Lecture during the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress in Chicago. In his lecture, Dr. Skorton explained how navigating the exponential growth of scientific knowledge necessitates an integrated approach, the importance of being data-driven, and listening ...

This episode features a fireside chat with Gerald B. Healy, MD, FACS, an otolaryngologist—head and neck surgeon, with a long career of service to the ACS, including as President of the Massachusetts Chapter, Chair of the Board of Regents, and ACS president. The program host is Mohsen M. Shabahang, MD, PhD, FACS, for the ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators.

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This episode features Anton N. Sidawy, MD, MPH, FACS, who was installed during Clinical Congress 2025 in Chicago as the American College of Surgeons (ACS) 106th President. Shortly afterward, he delivered his Presidential Address, urging unity across all surgical disciplines and calling the ACS “The House of Surgery: A Home for All Surgeons.”

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This episode features a fireside chat with Ajit K. Sachdeva, MD, FACS, FRCSC, who led the ACS Division of Education for more than 24 years. Dr. Sachdeva describes his early career as a surgeon, his practice in Philadelphia, and his long tenure creating innovative educational programming for surgeons around the world. The program host is Mohsen M. Shabahang, MD, PhD, FACS, for the ACS Academy of Master S...

The ACS welcomed two new medical directors in June—Thomas C. Tsai, MD, MPH, FACS, is the Medical Director for Health Policy Research and Margaret “Megan” C. Tracci, MD, JD, FACS, is the Medical Director for Surgeon Engagement. In this episode, Steven D. Wexner, MD, PhD(Hon), FACS, talks with Drs. Tsai and Tracci about their new roles, including their current projects and strategies to advance the profes...

This episode features a fireside chat with Barbara Lee Bass, MD, FACS, who is the vice president for health affairs, dean of the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Washington, DC, and a past president of the ACS. Dr. Bass talks about what drove her into surgery at a time when very few women were in the profession, why she joined the Army, what it was like to perform...

This episode offers an overview of the recent ACS Leadership & Advocacy Summit, held in Washington, DC, including popular sessions on knowing your worth as a surgical leader and learning how to lead at every level. Michael J. Sutherland, MD, MBA, FACS, Senior Vice President of ACS Member Services, discusses these sessions and more with Kimberly M. Lumpkins, MD, MBA, FACS, the Dr. J. Laurance Hill Endowed Professor in Pediatric ...

In this episode, ACS Committee on Trauma (COT) Chair Jeffrey D. Kerby, MD, PhD, FACS, and Rural Trauma Committee Program Lead Michael Person, MD, FACS, discuss key takeaways and lessons learned from the recent COT Annual Meeting in Chicago. They talk about the 10th anniversary of the Future Trauma Leaders Program, pre-hospital blood protocols, the importance of a rural trauma system, and trauma readines...