UTHealth Houston Surgeons Well Represented at the American College of Surgeons Fall Clinical Congress
Leadership Roles in ACS
Lillian S. Kao, MD, FACS, professor, and Jack H. Mayfield, MD, Chair in the Department of Surgery, completed her year as Chair of the Board of Governors (BOG) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). She has served as a governor of the South Texas Chapter of the ACS for the past 6 years; during this time frame, she was on the Executive Committee for three years (as the Lead of the Quality Pillar and Vice-Chair, then Chair). She also represented the BOG at the Board of Regents meetings as a non-voting participant. The governors are the official, direct link between ACS members and the Board of Regents leadership. Kao will continue as President of the South Texas Chapter of the ACS (STxACS).
Congratulations to Jonah J. Stulberg, MD, PhD, MPH, FACS, Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Research, on his election to a 3-year term on the BOG representing the South Texas Chapter. His expertise and commitment will be an asset to the ACS.
Randolph Bailey, MD, FACS, Professor Emeritus, serves as Chair of the ACS Foundation. This philanthropic organization raises funds to support the ACS mission, including scholarships for trainees. The STxACS has a chapter fund where donations can be designated to support local trainees for travel and research.
Congratulations to New Fellows
Congratulations to Nicole Villafane-Ferriol, MD, Assistant Professor, for her induction as a new Fellow of the ACS. New fellows were invited to the Convocation Ceremony, where they took the Fellowship Pledge to exemplify and develop the highest traditions of the surgical profession.
Research Presentations from UTHealth Houston
We are honored to highlight the following presentations by UTHealth Houston general surgery residents at the ACS Annual Meeting. Their research and presentations reflect UTHealth Houston’s commitment to advancing surgical knowledge and patient care.
- Devi Bavishi, MD – Poster presentation on “Air Ambulance: Every Minute Counts”
- Janet Ashley, MD – Two oral presentations:
High-Impact Clinical Trials: “Autologous Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury”
Scientific Forum: “Do MSC-Derived EVs Amplify Immune Response after Injury?”
Both presentations were conducted under the mentorship of Charles S. Cox Jr., MD. - Rachel Bordelon, MD – Oral presentation in the ACS Scientific Forum titled “Novel 3D Imaging Quantification of ENS in Human Pediatric Intestine”, detailing a pioneering 3D imaging technique for quantifying the enteric nervous system (ENS) in pediatric intestine. This technology will guide future studies on human intestinal organoids to optimize ENS development.
- Stephanie Martinez-Ugarte, MD – Poster presentation on “Biologic Versus Permanent Synthetic Mesh: What Hernia Recurrence Risk Will Patients Accept to Avoid a Permanent Implant?” focused on assessing patients’ willingness to accept hernia recurrence risks to avoid synthetic mesh implants.
Thank you to all our residents for representing UTHealth Houston with such impactful contributions.
ACS Alumni Reception
The ACS Alumni Reception was an opportunity for alums, faculty, and current members to connect and celebrate achievements within the community. Check out our photos capturing the memorable moments from the event.
Upcoming South Texas ACS Chapter Events
Mark your calendars for February 22-25 for the STxACS meeting in Houston. For more details, visit the STxACS website.
Getting Involved with ACS
If you’re interested in joining ACS or becoming more involved in the local chapter, please contact Dr. Kao ([email protected]).
Explore our photo gallery to see highlights from our dedicated attendees at the ACS Clinical Congress 2024.
