The following are messages from the 2012 ICS-US Section President, Dr. Larry Sasaki.
12/28/12
My term as your ICS-US Section President is coming to an end and I must say that it has been a successful, if not challenging, year. Our Section has prospered despite the ongoing poor economic climate and the difficult decision of the Executive Committee at the end of 2011 to reduce our Headquarters staff. I feel blessed to have had the privilege to serve as your leader this past year. I wish to take a few moments of your time to recap the highlights of my term.
In early February I convened the entire Executive Council in Chicago to address several important topics and finalize the scientific program for the Annual Meeting in Atlanta. The College property, the Bylaws and Headquarters staff were all reviewed with appropriate action taken. As noted in a previous communication, steps were initiated at this meeting that would lead to a resolution later in the year by the House of Delegates to list the Headquarters building for sale. Unfortunately, due to our shared ownership with the World Body this action has been delayed as consensus must be reached with our partners before we can move forward. This has been a sensitive issue for many years and it is my hope that we will soon be able to convince everyone involved that it is the correct decision. Bylaws changes adding a class of membership for medical students and also providing appropriate recognition of Past Presidents at Executive Council meetings were adopted, passed to the House of Delegates for ratification and ultimately approved by the World Body. The significant staff change made at the end of 2011 was reviewed and resolutions were adopted to ensure that a functioning Headquarters staff would be in place for the foreseeable future.
The Annual Surgical Update in Atlanta was expertly planned by the remaining staff of the US Section and was deemed to be a success based on evaluations completed by attendees. We covered hot topics in robotic surgery as well as new advances in minimally invasive surgery. Keynote Speakers like Dr. Grace Rozycki, who covered “The Surgeon's Use of Ultrasound in the Acute Setting,” and Dr. Xishan Wang from China who made a presentation entitled, “Current Status on MIS Colorectal Surgery in China,” provided something for everyone. There were cadaver workshops presented including, “Component Separation for Complex Abdominal Wound Closure” that provided participants with first hand exposure to the latest innovations and surgical advancements. In addition, attendees had a unique opportunity to try out the latest robotic equipment in a setting that was ideal for learning and experimentation – the Da Vinci surgical system that was available all day on Saturday made the meeting very special for many in attendance.
Later on Saturday, during the Convocation Ceremony, 28 New Fellows were inducted into the College. This was the highest number of inductees in ten years, truly a testament to the fact that ICS has promise for the future. In addition, we honored one of our own, Dr. Dom Alvear from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Dr. Alvear is a Pediatric Surgeon who was recognized for his charitable outreach efforts with the 2012 Humanitarian Service Award.
Backtracking a bit, two other high profile projects of the Section in 2012 were Surgical Team missions to the Philippines in February and Kurdistan in April. Dr. Dom Alvear led a significant team to remote areas of the Philippines providing medical and surgical care to over 100 individuals. Our US Section President Elect and 2011 recipient of the Humanitarian Service Award, Dr. Gazi Zibari, once again conducted his annual trip to Kurdistan under the auspices of ICS, where he and his team trained local surgeons and performed complex procedures including living donor transplants. To both these ICS Fellows and all the members of their teams our sincere gratitude is extended. Their actions and dedication to humanity is a model for us all.
In October, the US Section participated in the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress in Chicago. I was present at the Opening Ceremony along with our ICS World President, Dr. Said Daee from Maryland. We were recognized for our positions within the ICS and gained important exposure for the College. The College also secured an exhibit booth during the Congress and had the opportunity to demonstrate what we have to offer to those in attendance. In addition, a reception was held for ICS members at our historic Museum. Approximately 50 individuals attended this event on the evening of October 1st where funds were raised for our future surgical team projects.
The preceding highlights only scrape the surface of a very busy year. I would however, not have been able to successfully carry out my duties as your President without the assistance of everyone working behind the scenes. I would like to specifically recognize a few of those individuals, knowing that many more should be included. During my term I have obtained valuable assistance, advice and guidance from: ICS World President, Said Daee; ICSUS Past Presidents Vijay Mittal and Jay Bachicha; Treasurer, Ari Halldorsson; Vice President, Frank Podbielski; and Local Organizing Chair for the Atlanta meeting, Saed Khansarinia – thank you all for helping me make this year a success. A special heartfelt thank you must also goes out to my dear wife Jenny for her ongoing support and understanding, as well as for undertaking the role of President of the Alliance. Last, but certainly not least, Nick Rebel and Maggie Kearney at Headquarters deserve not only my thanks, but the gratitude of every member for their dedication and efforts these past 12 months.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve.
Larry S. Sasaki, MD
2012 President, United States Section
International College of Surgeons
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9/7/2012
Dear ICS Fellow,
As we approach the ICS World Congress in Brisbane, Australia being held November 7-10, the most recent slate of candidates that will be considered by the Board of Governors has been released. The links below include an introductory letter from World President, Dr. Said Daee, as well as the slate of candidates. You will note that this slate includes many members of the US Section and in fact it includes all those that were recommended by the Section’s Executive Committee. Please note that changes or additional nominations can still be made to this slate of candidates up to 5 days before the Board of Governors meeting in Brisbane. The additional nominations for any of these positions can be made by individual Fellows as well as national sections. If you wish to make a nomination you should notify Mr. Max Downham (max@icsglobal.org ) at World Headquarters in Chicago for further information.
I hope to see many members of the US Section in Brisbane in November.
Sincerely,
Larry Sasaki, MD
President, United States Section
International College of Surgeons
Letter from Dr. Daee
Slate of Candidates
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July 24, 2012
Dear ICS Colleague,
Evaluations and post meeting surveys have been tabulated and it is my great pleasure to report that the US Section’s recent Annual Surgical Update in Atlanta was a tremendous success. Almost 200 surgeons, residents and allied health professionals attended this four day event held in downtown Atlanta at the lovely Hyatt Regency Hotel only minutes away from Centennial Olympic Park, the World of Coke and numerous other attractions. Overall attendance was slightly higher than last year, which given our current economic climate is a remarkable feat.
Our meeting began on Wednesday with a full day of business meetings that included meetings of the Board of Trustees as well as the Scholarship, Honors, Development, AMA, Past Presidents Advisory, CME and Executive Committees. Additionally the Board of Regents met to discuss membership related matters and develop strategies to improve this important issue for our organization. The House of Delegates also met for their annual session to conduct the formal business of the US Section.
The most important item on the agenda for the House of Delegates was consideration of the sale of our Headquarters building in Chicago. The Headquarters offices of the US Section and the World Body are housed in a converted mansion that has been land marked, but is in serious need of repair. The US Section owns this property jointly with the World Body; however neither group has the reserves to undertake all the necessary repairs. After considerable debate it was ultimately decided by an overwhelming majority vote to list the Headquarters building for sale at a price of 15 million dollars. It is important to note that the other building that is jointly owned by the US Section and the World Body was not included in this action and will continue to house the International Museum of Surgical Science for the foreseeable future. Prior to actually listing the property the World Body must obtain approval from the International Board of Governors, which will meet in Brisbane this November. Proceeds from a sale would certainly change the way the US Section and the College conduct business and allow for an expansion of our programs.
As customary, the final agenda item that required action by the House was to elect officers for the coming term beginning January 1, 2013. The President Elect position went unanimously to Dr. Ari Halldorsson, the current Treasurer. Dr. Halldorsson is a Thoracic Surgeon practicing in Lubbock, Texas. He has only been a member of the US Section since 2002, but has been extremely active in recruitment and CME development. He has also served as Secretary, Vice President and Chair of the Council of Specialty Groups. Other key Executive Council positions acted on included Uretz Oliphant from Urbana, Illinois for Treasurer and Chand Ramaiah from Lexington, Kentucky for Secretary. To see a list of all those elected to positions for 2013 visit FICS Online and click on “News.”
We lived our theme, “Surgical Innovations and Current Advancements,” at the Annual Surgical Update by beginning the CME portion of the meeting on Thursday morning with renowned trauma surgeon and our Keynote Speaker, Dr. Grace Rozycki, covering “The Surgeon's Use of Ultrasound in the Acute Setting.” Her presentation was a wonderful introduction to an afternoon symposia on Ultrasound that was extremely informative. Before this session however, there was a comprehensive session on Robotics in Surgery that included an “Ask the Experts” panel discussion that allowed participants to delve into this new method of providing surgical care. Session evaluations confirmed that nearly 95% of those in attendance found the information that was presented to be valuable and it would have an impact on their practice.
As an international organization we strive to regularly include faculty from around the world and this year was no different. On Friday our Keynote Speaker was Dr. Xishan Wang from China who kicked-off our colo-rectal symposium with a presentation entitled, “Current Status on MIS Colorectal Surgery in China.” My sincere thanks go out to him for his willingness to join us. His presentation was a wonderful lead-in to an afternoon of presentations covering advancements in minimally invasive surgery for a variety of specialties.
On Saturday the CME continued and included two cadaver labs that were held off-site. Also included was the always popular Ethics session and the closing session that focused on humanitarian outreach. In total, participants were able to obtain up to 24 category 1 CME credits. Included this year were also daily lunch presentations that provided an additional half credit per day.
I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the participation of the members of the American Academy of Neurological and Orthopaedic Surgeons who held their 36th Annual Scientific Meeting in conjunction with ours. Their Scientific Organizing Committee played an integral part in the development of Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic programming held throughout the meeting to benefit both our groups.
The meeting concluded with the induction of our new Fellows during the Convocation on Saturday evening, followed by the Gala Banquet. Please visit FICS Online and our Facebook page to see pictures and read more about various other aspects of the meeting. I wish to thank all those who made this meeting a success. If you were at the meeting and took pictures, please upload them on our Facebook page or forward them to headquarters staff for publication.
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Now that the US Section’s Annual Surgical Update has concluded, our next major ICS event will be the World Congress in Brisbane, Australia. Prof. Yik-Hong Ho has been developing an excellent program, details of which are available at www.2012icscongress.com . Abstracts for free papers will be accepted through the end of August and I encourage members from the US Section to make every effort to attend this meeting. Visit the website for more information and detailed instructions on how to submit your abstract. Please also note that early registration discounts are available until August 17th .
As previously mentioned, the International Board of Governors will meet during the World Congress in Brisbane. The US Section has 11 elected positions on the Board of Governors, but due to our size we receive an additional set of Governors to also represent the Section. It is my hope that we can have an extremely large contingent to represent us during this meeting. If you are planning to go to Brisbane for the meeting please reply to this message and let me know. As we develop our list of additional delegates your name will be considered. Please note that the Board of Governors meeting is at 8am on Wednesday, November 7th. If you are selected to be a Governor you will need to arrive no later than Tuesday evening.
In closing, I wish to note that while the year began with major changes at Headquarters and a reduction in staff, we have moved forward and produced a truly successful educational event and continue to meet the needs of our members. I look forward to the remaining months of my Presidency and wish all the best to Dr. Gazi Zibari who has already started the process of planning for our 2013 meeting in Jacksonville, Florida.
Have a wonderful summer!
Larry S. Sasaki, MD
President, United States Section
International College of Surgeons
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April 10, 2012
Dear ICS Colleague,
If you have not yet received the Registration Brochure for the 2012 Annual Meeting in Atlanta, you should have it very shortly. Final preparations regarding the details of the program are underway and Headquarters staff is working to ensure a wonderful experience for all.
Continuing a tradition established recently, I hope to have significant involvement from our younger and newer members. If you have recently joined the College and are planning to attend the meeting, I would like you to consider volunteering to be a session moderator in Atlanta. There are a number of spots available and I hope you will consider this unique opportunity to introduce yourself to your colleagues in an educational setting. The spots available are limited, so please respond quickly.
Response to the invitation for New Fellows to participate in the Convocation has been encouraging. If you have not yet responded, please note that I have extended the deadline until April 15th. Click the link below to join us for this formal induction into the ICS.
Don’t forget that you can register securely through FICS Online and receive immediate confirmation that your registration has been processed.
Thank you.
Larry Sasaki, MD, FICS
President, United States Section
International College of Surgeons
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March 29, 2012
Dear Colleague,
Registration for the 74th Annual Surgical Update of the US Section of the International College of Surgeons is now open. You may go to www.ficsonline.org/reg12 to register electronically or click the link below to download a copy of the Registration Brochure, which will be in the mail next week. A spectacular program has been developed that will feature sessions on Robotics, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Ethics and Surgical Specialty topics.
The College is pleased to once again have the participation of the members of the American Academy of Neurological and Orthopaedic Surgeons, who will hold their 36th Annual Scientific Meeting in conjunction with ours. With the assistance of the Academy’s Scientific Organizing Committee two full days of Neurosurgical and Orthopaedic programming have been developed as part of the College meeting. In addition, two neurosurgical presentations will be included in the Robotics session on Thursday. If you are a neurosurgeon or an orthopaedic surgeon you have the opportunity to obtain approximately 16 hours of specialty specific CME credit.
Of course there will be additional opportunities for other specialties as well, as illustrated in the Registration Brochure. We have once again planned several workshops, including two cadaveric labs. Corporate support has been obtained to provide an exceptional learning experience for a minimal fee. Each cadaveric lab requires an additional fee of only $100.
I hope you will be able to join us in Atlanta – I look forward to seeing you there.
Larry Sasaki, MD
President
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March 21, 2012
Dear ICS Colleague,
I wanted to take this opportunity to provide a brief update on the Annual Surgical Update scheduled for June 6-9 in Atlanta. The registration brochure is being finalized as we speak, but a significant amount of information is already available that I wish to convey to you now.
It is my pleasure to inform you that we will have a da Vinci robot at the meeting. Intuitive has committed to have their mobile system in Atlanta all day on Saturday, June 9th. This will be a unique opportunity for you to get an up-close and personal look at the latest robotic surgical technology in an intimate setting with a hands-on opportunity to experience the future of surgery.
Our scientific program will begin on Thursday, June 7th with several exciting sessions including one on Robotics. Please see the preliminary program for Thursday as it currently exists at the end of this message to get a peak at what is in store for attendees. Visit www.ficsonline.org in the weeks ahead to see the entire program and register for the meeting.
We will have several special presentations during the course of the meeting including a keynote address on Thursday, June 7th by Dr. Grace Rozycki, Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Trauma/Surgical Critical Care from the Emory University School of Medicine, who will present “The Surgeon’s Use of Ultrasound in the Acute Setting.” On Friday, June 8th the Dr. Arno Roscher Endowed Lecture will be presented by Dr. Wayne Grody who is a Professor in the Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Pediatrics, and Human Genetics at the UCLA School of Medicine. He will present, “From Double Helix to Whole-Genome Sequencing: Molecular Genetic Testing in the Age of Personalized Medicine and Surgery.” Also presenting Friday’s keynote address will be Dr. Xishan Wang, Chairman of Surgery at Harbin University in China who will present “Current Status on MIS Colorectal Surgery in China.”
Many other well-known and highly respected speakers have accepted invitations to present so look for your registration brochure in the coming weeks and check the website often for more updates.
Larry Sasaki, MD
ICS-US President
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International College of Surgeons - United States Section
74th Annual Surgical Update – Atlanta, Georgia
Preliminary Program (Speakers are listed alphabetically)
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Robotic Surgery
This session will review robotic surgery as it is currently used in general surgery, gynecology, spinal surgery, gastric bypass, colectomy, coronary artery bypass, hepto-biliary surgery, spine surgery, neurosurgery and other surgical specialties. Patient outcomes comparing conventional and robotic approaches will be presented. Participants in this session will increase their knowledge as it relates to the use of robots in the Operating Room to include the identification of advantages and disadvantages of this technology. Participants will also be able to identify patient groups that can benefit from robotic surgery.
Use of Robotics in Gynecologic Oncology
Maria Bell, MD
Sioux Falls, SD
Robotic Hepto-Biliary Surgery
Cataldo Doria, MD, PhD, FACS, FICS
Nicoletti Family Professor of Transplant Surgery, Director, Division of Transplantation, Co-Director Liver Tumor Center, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Philadelphia, PA
Neurosurgical Robotics
Clara Raquel Epstein, MD, FICS
ICS-US Vice President & Chair, Division of Neurosurgery; AANOS Co-Chair of Scientific Organizing Committee; Neurosurgeon/CEO, The Epstein Neurosurgery Center, LLC
Boulder, CO
Robotic Lobectomy: What Is the Hype All About?
Jacques P. Fontaine, MD, FACS, FICS
Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of South Florida
Tampa, FL
Robotic Colectomy
Eric Haas, MD
President, Colorectal Surgical Associates, Ltd, LLP; Program Director, Minimally Invasive Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship, University of Texas Medical School at Houston
Houston, TX
Robotic Partial Nephrectomy: Improving Renal Defect Closure Technique to Decrease Warm Ischemia Time
Jonah Murdock, MD, PhD
Greenbelt, MD
Robotic Hysterectomy
Anthony Pizarro, MD
Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery, Christus-Schumpert Health System
Shreveport, LA
Robotic Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass surgery (TECAB), Are We There Yet?
Chand Ramaiah, MD, FICS
Lexington, KY
Robotic Nephron Sparing Surgery for Renal Tumors: Current Status and Future Trends
Ramakrishna Venkatesh, MD, FICS
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Lexington, KY
Robot Assisted Anterior Lumbar Spinal Surgery
William Welch, MD, FACS, FICS
Professor of Neurosurgery, Chair, Department of Neurosurgery, Pennsylvania Hospital; Vice-Chair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Robotic Gastric Bypass
Eric Wilson, MD
Chair, Minimally Invasive Surgery, University of Texas-Houston
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Thursday, June 7, 2012
GYN/Urology: Minimally Invasive Surgery – Robots or not
This session will consider the use of robots in gynecologic cancer as well as provide alternative treatment options for prostate cancer, endometriosis and hysterectomy. Participants in this session will improve their ability to diagnose and determine the appropriate treatment for gynecologic and prostate cancer.
Nonsurgical Transurethral Radiofrequency Collagen Denaturation: Results at Three Years Posttreatment
Damian Paul Alagia III, MD, FACS, FACOG
Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, George Washington University Hospital; Women's Health Corp (Partner), McLean, VA; Medical Director and VP of Medical Affairs, Novasys Medical Inc., Eureka CA
Washington, DC
Cryo-ablation of Prostate Cancer
Paul Berger, MD
High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Prostate Cancer Therapy
Mark L. Bilowus, MD, PC
Robotic Surgery for Gynecologic Cancers
Destin Black, MD
Director, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center
Shreveport, LA
Evidence Based Hysterectomy
S. Robert Kovac, MD
Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Gynecologic Surgery Emory University School of Medicine
Supracervical Hysterectomy
Thomas L. Lyons, MS, MD, FACOG
Clinical Assistant Professor Emory University School of Medicine; Director Center for Women's Care & Reproductive Surgery
Atlanta, GA
Robotic Surgery for Endometriosis
Ceana Nezhat, MD, FACOG, FACS
Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology (Adj. Clin.) Stanford University School of Medicine; Clinical Associate Professor of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine; Fellowship Director, Atlanta Center for Special Minimally Inv
Atlanta, GA
Laparoscopic Surgery in Gynecologic Oncology: Robotics vs. Laparoscopy
Shailesh Puntambekar, MD
Pune, India
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Thursday, June 7, 2012
Innovations in Modern Surgical Practice: Ultrasound Use for Diagnostics, Monitoring and Therapy
This session will demonstrate different areas of utilization of ultrasound in the clinical practice. In addition, it will also educate the audience on different training options to learn how to use ultrasound. Upon completion the participant will understand different ways how ultrasound has improved patient care in the current clinical practice. The participant will be able to identify how ultrasound can benefit the care of a specific patient collective – and if interested the participant can attend more in-depth ultrasound specific courses to learn advanced ultrasound based skills.
Ultrasound-Guided Thrombin Injection of Arterial Pseudoaneurysms
Tec Chong, MD, FICS, FACS
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Brown Alpert School of Medicine
Providence, RI
How to Learn Ultrasound: Training Options with Simulation
Jason Garrison, MD
Senior Resident, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
Ultrasound Guided Placement of Invasive Monitoring
Zaki-Udin Hassan, M.B.B.S.
Associate Professor, Director of the Simulation Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kentucky
Lexington KY
Echocardiography for Non-Cardiac Surgeries
Oksana Klimkina, MD
Assistant Professor, Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
Ultrasound in the ICU: From Diagnostic to Therapy
Annette Rebel, MD
Assistant Professor, Critical Care Medicine, Critical Care Fellowship Program Director, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
Ultrasound Guidance in Pain Medicine
Paul A. Sloan, MD
Professor, Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, Pain Fellowship Program Director, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
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February 1, 2012
Dear Colleagues,
It is my honor and a privilege to be the United States Section’s 2012 President. I am only one month into my term and my admiration for Past Presidents has increased ten-fold. The responsibilities related to this position are immense and after a brief period I now truly understand what my predecessors were saying when they indicated that this was an immense undertaking.
As one of my primary duties I have been working for some time now to guide the development of the 74th Annual Surgical Update in Atlanta this June. This year, the theme of our meeting will be “Surgical Innovations and Current Advancements.” Plenary sessions will address robotics, minimally invasive surgical procedures and trauma, focusing on a multidisciplinary and team approach to the practice of surgery utilizing the latest technology and the most cutting edge techniques. Also included will be enhanced specialty specific sessions and workshops that will further enlighten you during three days of scientific programming. A First Announcement will be in the mail shortly and detailed program information will follow in the registration brochure coming this March.
Over the years I have found that one of the most important aspects of planning a successful meeting is funding. I have been working closely with many vendors to increase the resources we will have available for the program, but as always, one person cannot do it all. The members of the Executive Council, CME Committee and the Council of Specialty Group Chairs are all working diligently to secure what will hopefully be enough to ensure our success.
At this time I implore everyone reading this message to take a moment and think about a corporate contact or two you may have that might be able to help the College. Educational grants are difficult to come by, but there are still significant resources available on the marketing side. In addition to companies in the medical and surgical field we can also approach our car dealers, insurance agents and lawyers to request that they make a donation in our name to an organization that is providing education and humanitarian relief. Remember that a financially successful meeting means that resources will be available to support other programs like Surgical Teams.
It is my plan to send regular communications to you on what’s happening in your College. Please also remember that we want to know what’s happening with you, the average College member. If you have a recent accomplishment or award that you would like your colleagues in ICS to know about, let Headquarters know and we will post the information to the Members in the News section of the website.
Thank you for taking the time to read my message!
Larry S. Sasaki, MD, FICS
President
United States Section
International College of Surgeons
