American College of Surgeons

29/03/2026

Nearly 20 years of data reveal a persistent disconnect in the treatment of follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC):
- One-third of high-risk patients don’t receive radioactive iodine (RAI) despite survival benefit
- One-third of low-risk patients receive it without clear advantage

What’s causing this gap—and how can surgeons help close it?

This ACS Bulletin Viewpoint explores the clinical, systemic, and equity implications of misaligned care and offers practical considerations for improving postoperative decision-making.

Read more:

National data show surgeons face misaligned iodine use in follicular thyroid cancer, undertreating high-risk patients and overusing therapy.

27/03/2026

: Surgical Residencies See Surging Interest and High Fill Rates 📈

The 2026 Main Residency Match reached a new milestone, with a record 53,373 applicants and 41,482 PGY-1 and PGY-2 positions filled across 6,809 program tracks.

Surgical specialties once again proved highly competitive, with fill rates of at least 99.1% across disciplines—including 100% fill rates in orthopedic surgery, neurological surgery, and vascular surgery.

General surgery positions also continue to expand, increasing 11% since 2022, reflecting sustained demand and growth across the field.

Congratulations to all who matched and welcome to the House of Surgery!

🔗 Read the full report:

The 2026 Match sets records with more than 53,000 applicants and continued growth in surgical residency positions.

26/03/2026

📣 Exciting news!

The American College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada have renewed their collaboration to support lifelong learning and elevate patient care internationally.

Royal College Fellows and participants in the Royal College’s Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program can now earn Section 3 credits through approved ACS educational activities—including the Surgical Education and Self-Assessment Program (SESAP) 19, SESAP 19 Advanced, and the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

“Collaboration between these two organizations is critical to improving surgical care everywhere, and opportunities like this are a natural extension of our shared missions,” said Dr. Kyla P. Terhune, ACS Senior Vice President, Education.

🔗 Learn more:

Royal College Fellows can earn Section 3 MOC credits through ACS programs, including SESAP 19 and JACS, under a renewed partnership.

25/03/2026

The Advocacy Summit at brought 262 surgeons from across the country to Washington, DC to tackle critical issues like workforce shortages, rural access, and reimbursement.

Thank you to everyone who joined us on the Hill! Together we are helping make progress for patients and the future of the profession. 👏

🔗 Read the full recap: https://brnw.ch/21x12us

24/03/2026

Join us this Wednesday at 4 pm CDT for a webinar on new Commission on Cancer (CoC) accreditation for rural hospitals. 🤝

Attendees will learn:
- What CoC accreditation is and how it impacts care for patients with cancer
- Why CoC accreditation is important for hospitals in rural areas
- About a new set of CoC accreditation requirements designed for hospitals in rural counties
- Who is eligible and how to apply for CoC rural cancer program accreditation
- Answers to frequently asked questions

👉 Register today:

Learn about tailored CoC accreditation for rural hospitals, expanding quality cancer care to underserved communities.

24/03/2026

ACS Fellow Dr. Chima Oluigbo, is co-leading the development of a fully robotic, MRI-compatible platform designed to enable real-time, image-guided brain interventions in pediatric patients.

Dubbed “Brainbot,” the technology aims to combine the precision of robotics with the soft-tissue clarity of MRI, marking a significant step forward in safer, minimally invasive care. 👏

🔗 Read more:

A new NIH-funded ‘Brainbot’ system aims to enable real-time, MRI-guided robotic neurosurgery for pediatric patients.

22/03/2026

🎉 Exciting news: Transplant surgeons at UAB Medicine have performed the institution’s first robotic kidney transplant surgery.

This achievement represents meaningful progress in expanding minimally invasive options for transplant patients.

We're proud to recognize our ACS Fellows who helped make this possible. 👏

21/03/2026

A recent study, published in the Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology examined the results of the Beyond ASK quality improvement initiative, a national program developed by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer.

The findings provide a framework for making cessation assistance routine care for all patients newly diagnosed with cancer.

👉 Learn more:

A new study co-authored by University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center researchers Jessica Burris, Ph.D., Timothy Mullett, M.D., and Graham Warren, M.D., Ph.D., shows that making smoking cessation assistance a standard part of cancer care is achievable on a national scale and can happen relatively q...

20/03/2026

Register now for the Surgical Palliative Care Symposium. 🤝

Join us for this virtual event to learn how to:
- Integrate palliative care principles into practice
- Enhance outcomes and experiences
- Promote education, research, and advocacy

🗓️ Thursday, April 23 at 7:00–8:30 pm CT

Join the virtual Surgical Palliative Care Symposium on April 23 to explore patient-centered strategies and emerging research.

19/03/2026

AI is reshaping surgical care, but can it replicate surgeon judgment and creativity in the OR?

A new ACS Viewpoint article explores how AI may augment decision-making while raising important questions about overreliance and preserving clinical expertise.

👉 Read more and comment your thoughts below:

AI may enhance surgical judgment and training, but human creativity and adaptability remain vital when unexpected challenges arise.

18/03/2026

Few innovations in surgery carry the same mix of promise, controversy, and urgency as the total artificial heart. 🫀

After more than 6 decades of barriers, a growing body of experimental and early clinical evidence suggests the field may be approaching a turning point.

🔗 Explore this pivotal story in surgical history: https://brnw.ch/21x0Qa6

17/03/2026

Two minutes. That’s all it takes to help protect your patients and your profession. ⏰

More than 1,600 surgeons have already joined the ACS in opposing the dangerous work RVU cuts that took effect January 1. Those efforts helped move legislation to delay the so-called “efficiency adjustment” until 2030.

But the fight isn't over. If you’ve spoken up before, now is the time to speak up again. The momentum only continues if we maintain it!

👏 Act now: https://brnw.ch/21x0Olm