ACS Clinical Congress

2026 Announcements and Agenda

The 12th Annual Excelsior Surgical Society Symposium will take place at Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, DC.

Saturday, September 26

0630–0700	ESS Networking I: breakfast provided*
0700–0800	ESS Business Meeting, Capitol/Congress Room; Meeting Level 4 (M4)
0800–0830	ESS Networking II: coffee/tea provided*
0830–0900	Welcome \| Presidential Address, Marquis Salon 6-10, Meeting Level 2 (M2) CAPT Matthew Bradley, MD, FACS
0900–1000	Nominations Close/Voting Begins at 0900
0900–1000	Committee on Trauma Region 13 Paper Competition Introduction: CAPT Matthew Bradley, MD, FACS Discussants to be determined by ESS Research Committee and R13 State Chairs.
1000–1045	Additional Research Presentations
1045–1100	Break
1100–1150	Major John P. Pryor Memorial Lecture Introduction: CAPT Matthew Bradley, MD, FACS COL (Ret) Craig D. Shriver, MD, FACS Lecture Title: Your Military Surgical Career: Res Ipsa Loquitur
1150–1200	Introduction to Mentorship Programming CAPT Matthew Bradley, MD, FACS & Lt Col Robert Krell, MD, FACS
1200–12:40	ESS Mentorship Committee Breakout Lunch Sessions Session 1: Trauma & Critical Care Surgery (Marquis Salon 13; Mtg Level 2 (M2) LTC Bryan Gamble, MD, FACS & CAPT Jay Yelon, MD, FACS Connect with senior leaders and seasoned trauma and critical care surgeons Session 2: Gen Surgery & Other Subspec. (Marquis Salon 14, Mtg Lev 2 (M2) Moderator: Robert Krell, MD, FACS, and Connor Chick, MD, FACS Explore and receive guidance on navigating diverse career pathways in Military Surgery Session 3: Mentorship for Reservists (Marquis Salon 15; Mtg Level 2 (M2) Moderator: James Wiseman, MD, FACS Learn from mentors who understand the unique challenges of balancing service and civilian life
1245–1255	Breakout Session Briefs to ESS Meeting: Top 3 Opportunities/Action Items CAPT Matthew Bradley, MD, FACS & Lt Col Robert Krell MD, FACS
1300–1400	Edward D. Churchill Lecture Introduction: CAPT Matthew Bradley, MD, FACS Col (ret) Donald H. Jenkins, MD, FACS Lecture title: Is There Still Room for Empiricism in the Age of Evidence-Based Medicine?
1400–1415	Break: coffee/tea; Voting Ends at 1500
1415–1530	Panel Session: The Tyranny of Distance: Surgical Readiness in Disturbed Maritime Operations Introduction: CAPT Matthew Bradley, MD, FACS MAJ Woo S. Do, MD, FACS Col Valerie Sams, MD, FACS Col Mary Stuever, MD, FACS Col Terence Lonergan, MD Jeffrey D. Freeman, PhD, MPH Jan Michael Van Gent, DO, FACS Jason Brill, MD, FACS David Tribble, MD
1530–1550	Q & A moderated by LTC Bryan Gamble, MD, FACS
1550–1555	Conclusion CAPT Matthew Bradley, MD, FACS
1555–1600	Voting Results Announced Adjournment

0630–0700	ESS Networking I: breakfast provided*
0700–0800	ESS Business Meeting, Capitol/Congress Room; Meeting Level 4 (M4)
0800–0830	ESS Networking II: coffee/tea provided*
0830–0900	Welcome \| Presidential Address, Marquis Salon 6-10, Meeting Level 2 (M2) CAPT Matthew Bradley, MD, FACS
0900–1000	Nominations Close/Voting Begins at 0900
0900–1000	Committee on Trauma Region 13 Paper Competition Introduction: CAPT Matthew Bradley, MD, FACS Discussants to be determined by ESS Research Committee and R13 State Chairs.
1000–1045	Additional Research Presentations
1045–1100	Break
1100–1150	Major John P. Pryor Memorial Lecture Introduction: CAPT Matthew Bradley, MD, FACS COL (Ret) Craig D. Shriver, MD, FACS Lecture Title: Your Military Surgical Career: Res Ipsa Loquitur
1150–1200	Introduction to Mentorship Programming CAPT Matthew Bradley, MD, FACS & Lt Col Robert Krell, MD, FACS
1200–12:40	ESS Mentorship Committee Breakout Lunch Sessions Session 1: Trauma & Critical Care Surgery (Marquis Salon 13; Mtg Level 2 (M2) LTC Bryan Gamble, MD, FACS & CAPT Jay Yelon, MD, FACS Connect with senior leaders and seasoned trauma and critical care surgeons Session 2: Gen Surgery & Other Subspec. (Marquis Salon 14, Mtg Lev 2 (M2) Moderator: Robert Krell, MD, FACS, and Connor Chick, MD, FACS Explore and receive guidance on navigating diverse career pathways in Military Surgery Session 3: Mentorship for Reservists (Marquis Salon 15; Mtg Level 2 (M2) Moderator: James Wiseman, MD, FACS Learn from mentors who understand the unique challenges of balancing service and civilian life
1245–1255	Breakout Session Briefs to ESS Meeting: Top 3 Opportunities/Action Items CAPT Matthew Bradley, MD, FACS & Lt Col Robert Krell MD, FACS
1300–1400	Edward D. Churchill Lecture Introduction: CAPT Matthew Bradley, MD, FACS Col (ret) Donald H. Jenkins, MD, FACS Lecture title: Is There Still Room for Empiricism in the Age of Evidence-Based Medicine?
1400–1415	Break: coffee/tea; Voting Ends at 1500
1415–1530	Panel Session: The Tyranny of Distance: Surgical Readiness in Disturbed Maritime Operations Introduction: CAPT Matthew Bradley, MD, FACS MAJ Woo S. Do, MD, FACS Col Valerie Sams, MD, FACS Col Mary Stuever, MD, FACS Col Terence Lonergan, MD Jeffrey D. Freeman, PhD, MPH Jan Michael Van Gent, DO, FACS Jason Brill, MD, FACS David Tribble, MD
1530–1550	Q & A moderated by LTC Bryan Gamble, MD, FACS
1550–1555	Conclusion CAPT Matthew Bradley, MD, FACS
1555–1600	Voting Results Announced Adjournment

*Meeting restricted to ESS Members only.
**Boxed lunches are provided for ESS members in good standing.

The agenda and speakers are subject to change. The views expressed by the individual speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the American College of Surgeons.

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Questions

Please direct all questions/concerns to excelsior@facs.org.