ACS Bulletin - December 2015

The ACS has also made considerable progress in growing its social media presence. The College now has approximately 22,400 followers on Twitter, 12,355 “Likes” on Facebook, 372,773 views on You Tube, 6,895 followers on LinkedIn, and 388 in circles on Google+.

ACS Foundation

The Foundation continues to focus on its four strategic objectives:

•Promote unrestricted/discretionary use giving to the College.

•Secure philanthropic support that advances College priorities. The 1913 Legacy Campaign was at the core of this effort and had three major objectives: identify opportunities for investment during the ACS Centennial period; engage an increased base of prospective donors to make a gift to support the Surgeon, the Profession, and the Societal Good; and develop infrastructure and strategies for long-term growth in the College’s philanthropy initiatives, especially planned and deferred giving. In addition, the Thomas R. Russell, MD, FACS, Scholarship Fund and Dr. Pon Community Surgeon awardees were announced, and the ACS Foundation launched the Gerald B. Healy, MD, FACS, Mentorship Fellowship initiative.

•Build a basis for planned gifts that ensure the stability of future ACS programs and priorities. The 1913 Legacy Campaign “moment of opportunity” had a positive impact on Mayne Heritage Society enrollment. In the approximate two-year time period of the campaign, the planned giving program acquired 18 new members and more than $400,000 in bequests.

•Increase the engagement of Fellows as partners in philanthropy to ensure ACS financial vitality. The Chapter Philanthropic Champion program completed its first full year in 2014 and has continued to develop and grow in 2015. This effort encourages “home-grown” philanthropic champions in each ACS chapter.

Closing comments

I conclude this report by thanking all of the ACS volunteers and staff for their dedication to improving the care of the surgical patient.

Dr. Jacobs deserves special recognition for his work on the Hartford Consensus and the compendium mentioned earlier in this report. This project has enabled the College, through the COT, to meet and collaborate with the White House, a range of government agencies, and emergency providers to make a real difference in the lives of patients who have been involved in mass casualty events.

I also want to thank ACS Past-President L. D. Britt, MD, MPH, DSc(Hon), FACS, FCCM, FRCSEng(Hon), FRCSEd(Hon), F WACS(Hon), FRCSI(Hon), FCS(SA)(Hon), FRCSGlasg(Hon), and Adil Haider, MD, MPH, FACS, Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, of the ACS Committee on Health Care Disparities, for establishing a collaborative relationship with the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). Given the College’s history with quality improvement programs and the NIMHD’s considerable research and scientific resources, we anticipate that this partnership will substantially expand access to surgical care for all Americans.

With regard to staff, I want to recognize Felix Niespodziewanski for his 26 years of service in ACS Convention and Meetings, and Marty Wojcik, for his many years with the ACS Foundation. Both of these individuals are retiring this year.

Through the hard work and commitment of people like these individuals, the ACS continues to lead the way in ensuring all Americans have access to high-quality surgical care. ♦