Connecticut Chapter news & updates
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President's Column
Felix Lui, MD, FACS
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Welcome 2021!
In this year of turmoil and change, the value of connection has never been more important. Connections between family, friends, colleagues, and communities have never been more strained, but also more cherished. Ongoing conversations regarding equality, diversity, inclusion, and justice are now part of daily discourse, and discourse is the fuel of democracy.
I invite you to get involved, reach out and strengthen those connections. Connecticut is a state rich in diversity, whether it be defined by age, race, culture, socioeconomic status, geography, education or orientation, and should be celebrated. Whether is it through local wellness programs, community outreach, professional mentorship or adding our voices to state and national advocacy, opportunities exist to come together, even when separated by a pandemic.
Medicine is ultimately about relationships. I look forward to the year ahead and the ways that we can creatively build stronger relationships as we navigate the evolving landscape of surgery and surgical practice in Connecticut.
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- Kathleen LaVorgna, MD, FACS was reappointed as one of our two Governors-at-Large by the College after receiving unanimous support from Council
- The Chapter was awarded a membership growth grant from the College. Watch your mail in March and April for 2021 dues notices!
- Despite a challenging year, the Chapter was able to end 2020 in a very similar financial position to how we entered it. This was do to a combination of cost saving measures, strong membership renewal, drawing on the Dudrick Fund (see below) and support from our industry partners.
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Do you plan on attending the 2021 Annual Meeting on October 8th in Trumbull?
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2020 Annual Meeting Goes Virtual |
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The Chapter very successfully pivoted the 2020 Annual Meeting to an all virtual format that was hosted over three days. Presented over two evening, resident pre-recorded their research presentations and were available live to answer questions from the judges and their peers. The winners from each of the competitions were invited back on Friday where their research was presented at the half-day "traditional" meeting that was held virtually.
Distinguished Lectures
Foster Lecture: Kirsten Anderson, MD, MPH, Clinical Lead, Infectious Disease Response Team, Senior Medical Director - New England, CVSHealth presented CVS/Aetna Integration and Its Impact on Surgical Care in Connecticut. Dr. Anderson's presentation was lively and informative.
Joint CTACSPA/CtSQC Quality Lecture. Joe "Pat" Patton,
MD, FACS, Medical Director, Surgical Services Henry Ford Health System, Vice Chairman, Department of Surgery, Staff Surgeon, Acute Care Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Associate Professor of Surgery, Wayne State University - Detroit, MI presented his talk Tackling Surgical QI Challenges: Frameworks and Fundamentals. This engaging and informative discussion is available on the Chapter website.
Our meeting would not have been possible without the generous support of our industry partners. Please be sure to visit our online Exhibitor Center to view interactive presentations. The Exhibitor Center will remain online until the 2021 Annual Meeting. We gratefully acknowledge the following industry partners for their support:
- Integris Group
- 3M KCI
- Abbott Nutrition
- Ethicon
- Gore
- Irrisept
- Medtronic
- Pacira
- FujiFilm - Sonosite
Online Meeting Resources
The Chapter has posted an abundance of content from the meeting on our website, including Dr. Meinke's Presidential address, Dr. Patton's presentation and several of the winning resident presentations. The meeting agenda books and abstracts are also available on the website.
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Resident Paper Competition Winning Papers |
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2021 Virtual ABSITE Review Class Draws Over 425 |
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As part of our 2020 COVID Pivot, the Chapter took it's 5th Annual ABSITE Review Course online this year. Click on the photo above to watch the course recordings.
The course was coordinated by Virginia Parker, MD and Sue-Ting Lim, MD, both members of the Chapter Resident Committee and residents at St. Mary's. The Chapter was grateful that St. Mary's also provided access to its WebEx account to host the 2-day event.
The Chapter partnered with Luke Moreau at The College who sent invitations to all Chapters and we were overwhelmed by the response! We welcomed over 425 residents from the continental US, Puerto Rico and Canada to the course.
The Chapter gratefully acknowledges our teaching faculty for their dedication to resident education and for taking time from their weekend to be with us live.
- Robert Botta, MD – The Vascular Experts
- Joel Calafell, MD – Lehigh Valley
- Kevin Dwyer, MD, FACS – Stamford Health
- Ann Friedrich, MD – Yale
- John Kunstman, MD, MHS – Yale
- Catherine McManus, MD – Stamford Health
- Kelly Olino, MD, FACS – Yale
- Jennifer Schwartz, MD – Yale
- Gerard Weinberg, MD – Stamford Health
We are also grateful to our industry partner, Lynne Veneziano and Acacia Pharma Inc. for their generous support
The 2022 ABSITE Review course will be held on Jan 8 and 9, 2022, virtually!
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Consider Supporting the Dr. Dudrick Memorial Fund |
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To Benefit Resident Education |
Reflecting on the extraordinary contributions Dr. Dudrick has made to medical science, surgical education, and humanity, Council unanimously voted to dedicate the recently created Chapter Charitable Giving fund in memory of Dr. Dudrick. It was immediately renamed the "Stanley Dudrick, MD, FACS Memorial Fund".
The fund is managed by the College's Foundation. 100% of all donations to the Dudrick Fund benefit the Chapter. The funds will be used to support our resident paper competition, to provide stipends for residents to attend College events, to fund local educational opportunities for residents and medical students, and other programs that are within the purview of the ACS Foundation.
We were able to draw down from the fund this year to help cover some of the expenses of the Annual Meeting as we saw a significant drop off in vendor support due to going virtual.
To make your donation please click on this link ACS Foundation Donations. When donating online, select "Chapter Programs Fund" and type in Stanley Dudrick MD, FACS Memorial Fund in the description box. If you opt to mail in your donation please indicate the same on the form. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Please consider helping support tomorrow's surgeons today.
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Earn CME for Real-time Learning with ACS Point of Care |
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The American College of Surgeons (ACS) now offers Point of Care CME to support the need for real-time learning. Point of Care learning allows physician learners (both ACS Members and non-Members) to engage in self-directed learning on topics related to clinical practice, patient care, or other areas of professional development.
Each Point of Care CME activity offers 0.5 CME Credits, corresponding with 30 minutes of research, analysis, and reflection, and costs $25 per 0.5 CME Credit. The flexible format allows the opportunity for self-paced education on relevant topics of interest, which can be linked to an individual learning plan.
Learners can complete many of these self-paced activities throughout the year. Login and access the Point of Care CME activity through the ACS course catalog.
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