American College of Surgeons

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice. The College currently has more than 56,000 Fellows including more than 3,400 Fellows in other countries, making it the largest organization of surgeons in the world. There are presently more than 3,300 Associate Fellows. The American College of Surgeons sponsors a variety of continuing medical education (CME) programs and conducts various programs through its Commission on Cancer to improve the care of the cancer patient. Through its Committee on Trauma, ACS works to improve the care of injured and critically ill patients before, en route to, and during hospitalization. The College also monitors and analyzes socioeconomic, legislative, and regulatory issues affecting the field of surgery through its Socioeconomic Affairs Department and Washington, DC office and serves as a sponsoring organization for the Residency Review Committees for Colon and Rectal Surgery, Neurological Surgery, Otolaryngology, Plastic Surgery, Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, and Urology and supports postdoctoral education in surgery through several scholarship programs. Through its Office of Public Information, ACS provides public education services to patients with general information to help them make informed decisions about surgical care, and distributes a brochure series on frequently performed surgical procedures.