An ongoing record of communications from the 2011 US Section President, Dr. Dinesh Ranjan.
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October 11, 2011
Dear ICS Colleague,
A major component of the International College of Surgeons is its Surgical Teams program. Fellows of ICS from all over the world routinely travel to underserved areas to help those in need and teach local medical professionals who normally would not have access to continuing education. Statistics indicate that over one billion people live in poverty globally and one third of all disease in developing countries is likely treatable by surgery.
During 2011 the United States Section has sponsored several Surgical Teams that have been lead by ICS Fellows to destinations like the Philippines (Dom Alvear), Bolivia (Frank Podbielski) and Kurdistan in Northern Iraq. US Section Treasurer, Dr. Gazi Zibari from Shreveport has been traveling to Kurdistan since the first Gulf War. His most recent trip this past April was the first that included a State of Art Scientific Medical Symposia to instruct local surgeons on the latest advances in a variety of complex procedures and medical conditions.
Joining ICS for this project were co-sponsors Operation Hope (OH) and the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA). Team members included Drs. Quyen Chu (Surgical Oncologist), Michael Moore (Hematologist/Oncologist), Susan Shattuck (OBGYN), Mark Dean (ENT) and Gazi Zibari (Transplant and HPB) from Shreveport, Louisiana; Dr. Lou Smith (Trauma and Critical Care) from Knoxville, TN; and Drs. John Thomas (Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeon), Patricia Aldridge (Plastic Surgeon) and Kirk Labor (Ophthalmologist) from TX, along with Scrub Technician Gabriel Joseph Buentello also from TX. A News Reporter from ABC affiliate KMAC News, Stephanie Berzinski and her cameraman from TX were also present to document and report on the team’s activities.
This is just one example of the worthwhile work that many ICS Fellows are conducting through our Surgical Teams program. On November 11th, Drs. Wickii Vigneswaran and Frank Podbielski will once again host an Evening at the Museum to raise awareness and funds for future medical missions sponsored by the US Section. Click on the link below to find out more. If you are from the Chicago area or have plans to be in Chicago please consider attending this reception. Even if you can’t attend donations are being accepted through FICS Online or by contacting the Chicago office. Every little bit helps.
Don’t forget that your support is needed not only for Surgical Teams but other programs like scholarships and CME as well. You can make a directed donation for any purpose through the link below.
Dinesh Ranjan, MD
President
United States Section
International College of Surgeons
An Evening at the Museum (Surgical Teams Fund Raiser)
Other Charitable Contributions
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September 15, 2011
Dear ICS Colleague,
While I would prefer that all my messages contained only positive information, I must sadly inform you of the passing of Professor Refaat Kamel on September 11, 2011. Professor Refaat Kamel was a Past World President of the International College of Surgeons (1993-94) and Professor of Surgery at the Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt. Professor Kamel was one of Egypt’s most distinguished physicians – he was the sort of eminent doctor who inspired the young to enter medicine.
Since early in his career Professor Kamel cared about the problems of the needy. He always spoke with a passion about the disadvantaged. “They suffer their misery with no great help and deficient social security.” Travelling to many developing and poor nations in Africa, Asia and South America showed him that human life is not given its due respect. Even in the latter part of his life, he was most concerned about treating needy people. He believed that health care should be regarded as a human right and not as a privilege. “It should be practiced humbly with advocacy and compassion.”
I had the privilege to meet this wonderful individual and spend some time with his family in 2009. As expected he was extremely gracious, but obviously in ill health – all the while still pursuing his passion for surgery. Prof. Kamel was recently honored for his numerous contributions to humanitarian causes during the 73rd Convocation and Presidential Recognition Ceremony of the US Section in Portland on June 11th. Even though he could not attend in person to accept his award everyone certainly understood the importance of what he accomplished during his career. He will be greatly missed.
To ensure that the ICS and the US Section can continue to help those in need as Prof. Kamel did throughout his life, our Third Annual Evening at the Museum will be held on Friday, November 11th at the International Museum of Surgical Science in Chicago. This event will remind us of how our Surgical Teams projects do just that. Please mark your calendars and watch for more information about this important benefit to raise awareness and funding for the humanitarian activities of the College.
Sincerely,
Dinesh Ranjan, MD
President
United States Section
International College of Surgeons
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August 11, 2011
Dear ICS Fellow,
As you may know, the US Section of ICS has representation in the AMA House of Delegates. Every year we submit resolutions for consideration at the AMA annual meeting that are presented by our officially seated delegate, Dr. Raymond Dieter or our alternate delegate, Dr. Wickii Vigneswaran.
Since the US Section is a 501(c)3 it cannot submit political or legislatively targeted resolutions, but the scientifically based resolutions we have proposed over the years have been received very well. At the recent meeting the two resolutions at the end of this message were submitted and one was adopted to become AMA Policy.
While there is no guarantee that all the resolutions we submit will be received positively, our status within the AMA House of Delegates certainly gives us a voice in organized medicine. While many surgeons around the country may feel that the AMA has not represented us well, the fact that we still qualify to have a seat in their House of Delegates indicates that a significant portion of our members have at least some level of interest. The most recent review of our qualifications indicated that at least 35% of US Section members were also AMA members.
I encourage anyone who is interested in becoming active on our AMA Advisory Committee to contact Headquarters today. Should you have an idea for a resolution, please submit your ideas as well. Our relationship with the AMA is an opportunity and we should utilize it to its fullest.
Thank you.
Dinesh Ranjan, MD
President, United States Section
International College of Surgeons
Resolutions submitted to the American Medical Association for consideration at their 2011 annual meeting.
1. Measuring Medication Dosages (Amended and Adopted)
WHEREAS, there is a great inconsistency in proper dosing of medication, and
WHEREAS, proper and appropriate measuring devices and instructions may not coincide, and
WHEREAS, such inconsistencies may lead to confusion and errors in patient treatment,
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the AMA endorse a review by the Food and Drug Administration, for the development of guidelines to eliminate these concerns.
2. Drinking/Tap Water Supply (Not Adopted)
WHEREAS, water supply monitoring and violation reports are not regularly entered into the federal database, and
WHEREAS, even less information is available regarding emergency supplies, and
WHEREAS, there is no common understanding of when and how emergency facilities may use and test their water supply,
THEREFORE be it resolved that the AMA endorse the development of appropriate guidelines and monitoring systems for daily and emergency potable water systems in conjunction with the EPA.
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July 19, 2011
Dear ICS Fellow,
When Max Thorek founded the ICS in 1935 he envisioned that the College would be a channel through which surgical knowledge could flow quickly to all parts of the world. Since that time ICS has always had a primary focus on education, from the CME programs conducted all over the world, to the research scholarships awarded on an annual basis by the US Section.
A little known division of the ICS is the Dr. Max Thorek Student Loan Fund. Established by Dr. Thorek with a generous donation in 1961, this Fund has provided student loans to medical students for half a century.
Recently the Loan Fund Board of Directors modified their policy to allow for expanded availability of funds. Where previously only third and fourth year medical students were eligible for loans, now all medical students are eligible as are surgical residents. The maximum loan amount was also increased from $5,000 to $10,000 per recipient. Funds are limited as this is a revolving fund that relies on loans that are repaid to grant new ones.
Currently funds are available, so if you have ties to a medical school or have a family member or acquaintance that might benefit from a student loan, please let them know about this program. Information is available on FICS Online by clicking on the link below.
Sincerely,
Dinesh Ranjan, MD
ICS-US Section President
This past June the United States Section held its 73rd Annual Surgical Update in conjunction with the ICS 42nd North American Federation Congress in the majestic Pacific Northwest city of Portland, Oregon and it was an incredible success. The designated theme of the meeting was “Trauma and Critical Care” and several sessions provided highly informative multidisciplinary lectures that engaged the audience from start to finish.
During these sessions we were privileged to have several very special guests who made extremely interesting and informative presentations. On Thursday during the Opening Session, the Keynote Presentation, “The Impact of Healthcare Reform on Surgery,” was presented by Dr. Donald D. Trunkey. He is a past Honorary Fellowship recipient and world renowned Trauma Surgeon, who is also a Professor of Surgery at Oregon Health & Science University, Section of Trauma and Critical Care. On Saturday, the 2011 Honorary Fellowship recipient and my mentor, Dr. Byers W. Shaw from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha presented, “Transitions,” an enlightening look into the various challenges in a surgeon's life, particularly those related to aging, illness, and retirement. The Dr. Arno A. Roscher Endowed Lecture was also presented on Saturday by Dr. Ira A. Shulman from the University of Southern California. His presentation entitled, “Critical Bleeding and Coagulopathy Following Trauma; Implications for Blood Product and Coagulation Factor Replacement Therapy,” was part of the Trauma: What’s New session.
In addition to the aforementioned presentations, there was also a dynamic session that included presentations by 11 Surgical Residents and Medical Students who competed in our annual scholarship competition. Three prizes were awarded to the individuals who were judged not only on their research papers, but also on the oral presentation of their research. Visit www.ficsonline.org to see a list of the winners and to view their papers.
The inclusion of younger and newer members of the College was an integral part of my plan as the meeting program was developed. From an expanded scholarship program for future members to the addition of newer members as moderators for each session, it has been my belief that since these individuals will one day run this organization they should be afforded the opportunity to become involved early on and participate fully in this diverse group.
The remainder of the meeting was of course very educational and also provided a bit of social diversion. The Alliance, chaired this year by my wife Ratna, worked with staff to present a variety of entertainment options for our families. We were fortunate to be in Portland during their annual Rose Festival and were privileged to have the Choncord’s Chorale provide an excellent musical interlude during the Gala Dinner on Saturday evening. These events rounded out a meeting that I will remember for years to come.
I wish to acknowledge the participation of the American Academy of Neurological and Orthopaedic Surgeons. Through this affiliation we have been able to include substantial Neurosurgical and Orthopaedic programming for our members for several years. Drs. Kazem Fathie, William Mathews, Maxime Coles and Clara Epstein, all members of ICS as well, should be commended for their efforts. It is also my desire to express my sincere thanks to all those who made the Congress a success – from the members of the planning committee and speakers to all our families and staff.
In the coming months my attention will turn to member recruitment and the development of new online CME offerings. Continuing my goal of new member involvement at all levels I have engaged several of our younger Fellows to assist in these projects. As our membership demographic shifts to the young it has become apparent that these electronically aware surgeons need better and faster communication. While many of you have provided email addresses we still only have email contact information for approximately 50% of all active members. We are moving towards less printed material being circulated via regular mail and I encourage everyone to provide this information to Headquarters as soon as possible to avoid missing out on what is happening in your College.
In closing, I encourage you to remain or become active in ICS and participate at whatever level you can. We are making significant progress and this is due to each and every member’s input and assistance. Every contribution makes a difference.
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June 21, 2011
Dear ICS Fellow,
The Program in Global Surgery and Social Change at the Harvard Medical School has invited our participation in an online survey of surgeons to better understand the “Brain Drain” phenomenon. Namely, they are seeking objective evidence about personal, professional and institutional/political factors in surgeon migration. With this novel information specific for surgeons, they hope to identify infrastructure-level opportunities for the improvement of the shortage of surgeons in resource-limited regions around the world.
The target population for the survey includes surgeons working in the US who were born or grew up and went to medical school in Africa, South America, Central America, the Caribbean Islands, the Middle East or Asia. Dr. John Meara of Children’s Hospital Boston is leading this project and has reached out to ethnic specific medical societies as listed by the AMA in an effort to access a broader group of practitioners that might fit the study demographic.
Please click on the link below to determine the inclusion and exclusion criteria for this survey. If you qualify, take the time to complete this important survey. Participants will be offered the opportunity to enter into a raffle to win either one of two $500 gift certificates or one of five $50 gift certificates for American Airlines.
Thank you!
Dinesh Ranjan, MD
ICS-US Section President
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April 27, 2011
Dear Fellow,
It is approximately one month until our annual meeting in Portland. The Program Registration brochure has been mailed and you should have it by the end of the week.
(Click here to download a PDF version.)
As you already know, this year's theme is "Trauma and Critical Care." While we have developed a highly informative scientific program focusing on this subject matter, which will be of interest to all specialties, I have made it my personal goal to engage the newer members of the Section to showcase their talents at the meeting. I encourage every member to make an effort to join us for what promises to be a spectacular event.
Don’t forget that the room block at the Hilton is only guaranteed through May 1st. After that date availability and the $117 per night rate may not be available. Call 1-800-HILTONS and refer to group code “ICS” today to reserve your room.
This is one of the best times to be in Portland, right in the middle of the world-famous Rose Festival! There is so much to do in and around Portland at this time of the year that you will certainly want to consider bringing your entire family.
To register for the meeting click on the link below or contact Headquarters with any questions you may have. I look forward to seeing you in Portland.
Dinesh Ranjan, MD, FICS
ICS-US Section President
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March 16, 2011
Dear ICS Colleague,
You may have heard of or seen a reference to the affiliation that ICS has with the WHO, but perhaps you aren’t quite sure what that means. Following is a brief report by Dr. Raymond A. Dieter, Jr., who has represented ICS at the WHO that will hopefully give you a better idea of why this affiliation is so important.
Dinesh Ranjan, MD
President, US Section ICS
The WHO and ICS by Raymond A. Dieter, Jr., MD
The World Health Organization (WHO), whose main office is in Geneva, Switzerland, monitors health problems around the world. Policy and recommendations are developed and promulgated for the benefit of the world population according to needs and the ability to so provide. Over 200 countries are represented in the WHO and have input into the programs and policies as needed. Funding from the member countries provides support for the organization.
Regional and local offices provide technical support and information to areas served. Governmental Organizations (GO) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) participate in planning and recommendations. The International College of Surgeons (ICS) is the only NGO surgical organization affiliated with the WHO. Approval of such affiliation or membership only comes after rigorous periodic review of the NGO. We continue to be a respected part of this organization with the ability to provide comments and recommendations regarding healthcare issues affecting the population. For example, during my ICS Presidency (2003-04), we presented specific comments on ambulatory care, outpatient surgical facilities, blood products and blood transfusion safety, and endorsement of World Blood Donor Day. Genetic testing of newborns and the need for consideration was also presented in 2004.
Each ICS President and the appropriate ICS appointed representatives attend the WHO and WHA meetings which occur each year in January and May. We have had the opportunity for direct contact with the WHO President as well as country leaders from around the world, as well as regional WHO representatives. Topics for discussion have varied from the SARS epidemic to counterfeit drugs, HIV or the climate and its affect on health. A highlight was to see William Gates (founder of Microsoft) walk up to the podium in 2005 and discuss healthcare as a preview to his donation of $450,000,000. Preventable care was paramount in his presentation.
ICS Fellows should be proud to have representation in and the ability to make an impact through an organization like the WHO that has such a major role in healthcare around the world.
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Dr. Dieter became a Fellow of ICS over 30 years ago and has held numerous leadership positions within the organization including President of the United States Section in 1997 and 1998. He is also the US Section’s Delegate to the AMA House of Delegates and he was of course the World President of ICS in 2003 and 2004.
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February 28, 2011
Dear ICS Colleague,
If you can provide assistance in these areas and would like to join the team or if you know someone who is interested, please contact Dr. Zibari immediately at GZibari@lsuhsc.edu. The team will travel to Duhok in Northern Iraq and treat patients at Azadi Hospital as well as the Trauma Hospital of Duhok. The patients will consist of poor children and adults, and the project will be conducted in cooperation with Operation Hope.
Please remember that if you are conducting missionary work on your own, you may be able to obtain endorsement by the International College of Surgeons for your project to be designated an official Surgical Team. Should your project qualify, you will have access to resources that may allow you to expand your project to serve even more of those in need around the world.
Contact the Chicago Headquarters office to learn more.
Feb. 10, 2011
Dear ICS Colleague,
It is now just over one month since I assumed the Presidency of the US Section and it’s been very busy. My efforts began well before January 1st as matters that arose during the ICS World Congress in Manila last November necessitated plans for a meeting of the full Executive Council. I am pleased to report that we had a quorum at our Chicago headquarters, which allowed us to address concerns related to the Section’s relationship with the ICS World Body as well as, conduct the routine business of the Section.
Items that were addressed by the Council included; International Surgery (our official journal), the International Museum of Surgical Science, national section representation within the International Board of Governors and, the annual dues structure. Many ICS members here in the States are not aware of the internal political activities that occur outside the US Section, but as a member of ICS you are affected. The US Section is fortunate to have one of its members as the World President for the next 2 years, Dr. Said Daee from the Washington, DC area. Dr. Daee was present for a portion of the Executive Council meeting on the 22nd and he assured the US Section Executive Council members that he would do his best to advocate for our Section.
Of primary concern was our journal, International Surgery. This peer-reviewed scientific publication has suffered a decline in stature over the past few years, but during the Congress in Manila the International Executive Council took steps to hopefully reverse this trend. ICS Immediate Past President, Prof. Christopher Chen from Singapore was appointed the new Editor-in-Chief and the Board of Governors was assured that our once well respected journal would regain its stature in the medical community around the world. The US Section Executive Council decided in January to recommend guidelines and benchmarks to the World Body leadership that would hopefully provide for the development of a solid plan of action to revitalize our journal.
One aspect of the “new” journal that is being rebuilt from the ground up is the Editorial Board. While many of the past members of the Board have provided valuable assistance to the journal, change is needed. Dr. Daee indicated that the International Executive Council is seeking volunteers to join the Editorial Board. If you have an interest in being part of the Editorial Board of International Surgery and you believe you have the appropriate qualifications, please submit a letter of interest to Dr. Said Daee, ICS World President, c/o Mr. Max Downham at the Chicago office along with a CV.
Finally, please note that the 2011 Annual Meeting is approaching quickly. The First Announcement will be in the mail shortly and is already available on FICS Online with preliminary program information. The Registration brochure with a more detailed agenda will be coming soon thereafter. You can already contact the Hilton Hotel and make your reservations, so don’t delay. We have a limited room block at the group rate of $117 so reserve your room today by calling 1-800-HILTONS and refer to group reservation code “ICS.”
Thank you.
Dinesh Ranjan, MD, FICS
President
United States Section
International College of Surgeons
