ACS Shares Resources for Intimate Partner Violence Awareness Month

October is Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Awareness Month. IPV can affect anyone and can take forms beyond physical violence.

This year, the ACS Committee on Intimate Partner Violence, along with other surgical associations—Society of Gynecologic Surgeons, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and American Urogynecologic Society—will continue to raise awareness of IPV, including its impact on surgeons.

Throughout October, the ACS will share information on various IPV-related issues:

IPV Awareness Month 2026: Introduction
Dr. Stephanie Bonne, Chair of the ACS Committee on Intimate Partner Violence, introduces this year’s Intimate Partner Violence Awareness Month.

Intimate Partner Violence Awareness Month: Dating and Stalking 
Ann Rogers, MD, FACS, a member of the ACS Intimate Partner Violence Task Force (IPV), discusses warning signs of dating violence and stalking that surgeons may encounter.

If you or someone you know is experiencing IPV, consider using these resources for support:

• The National Domestic Violence Hotline—Support is available 24/7. Call 1-800-799-7233. If you are unable to speak safely, you can log on to www.thehotline.org or text START to 88788 
• The National Sexual Assault Hotline, 24/7, confidential and free, 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or via chat