Disclosure Information

In accordance with the ACCME Accreditation Criteria, the American College of Surgeons must ensure that anyone in a position to control the content of the educational activity (planners and speakers/authors/discussants/moderators) has disclosed all financial relationships with any commercial interest (termed by the ACCME as “ineligible companies”, defined below) held in the last 24 months (see below for definitions). Please note that first authors were required to collect and submit disclosure information on behalf all other authors/contributors, if applicable.

Ineligible company

The ACCME defines an “ineligible company” as any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services used on or consumed by patients. Providers of clinical services directly to patients are NOT included in this definition.

Financial Relationships

Relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit.  Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking and teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities from which remuneration is received, or expected.  

Conflict of Interest

Circumstances create a conflict of interest when an individual has an opportunity to affect CME content about products or services of an ineligible company with which he/she has a financial relationship.

The ACCME also requires that ACS manage any reported conflict and eliminate the potential for bias during the educational activity.  Any conflicts noted below have been managed to our satisfaction. The disclosure information is intended to identify any commercial relationships and allow learners to form their own judgments. However, if you perceive a bias during the educational activity, please report it on the evaluation.

Faculty Disclosures

• James W. Fleshman, Jr., MD, FACS, FASCRS, faculty for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
• Julie A. Freischlag, MD, FACS, FRCSEd(Hon), MAMSE, faculty for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
• Matthew M. Hutter, MD, MPH, MBA, FACS, faculty for this educational event, has financial relationships with: 1) GI Windows as a consultant and received stock options; 2) MarvelBiome as an Advisory Board Member and received stock options; 3) Vicarious Surgical as a consultant and received stock options; 4) Hillrom as an Advisory Board Member and received an honorarium. The disclosed conflicts were reviewed and determined as not relevant to his role in the educational activity.
• Larry R. Kaiser, MD, FACS, faculty for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
• Melina R. Kibbe, MD, FACS, FAHA, faculty for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
• Carlos A. Pellegrini, MD, FACS, FRCSI(Hon), FRCS(Hon), FRCSEd(Hon), MAMSE, faculty for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
• Kenneth Sharp, MD, FACS, MAMSE, faculty for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
• Nathaniel J. Soper, MD, FACS, faculty for this educational event, has a financial relationship with: 1) Mesh Suture, Inc., as a Scientific Advisory Board Member and received stock options. The disclosed conflict was reviewed and determined as not relevant to his role in the educational activity.
• Beth H. Sutton, MD, FACS, faculty for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
• Kyla P. Terhune, MD, MBA, FACS, faculty for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
• Gary L. Timmerman, MD, FACS, MAMSE, faculty for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
• Patricia Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, faculty for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Faculty biographies: https://www.facs.org/for-medical-professionals/education/programs/acs-surgeons-as-leaders/course-faculty.

Planning Committee Disclosures

• Patrice Gabler Blair, DrPH, MPH, planner for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
• Melina R. Kibbe, MD, FACS, FAHA, planner for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
• Susan Lawler, PhD, MBA, CPA, planner for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
• Natalie R. Loper, MPPA, planner for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
• Gary L. Timmerman, MD, FACS, MAMSE, planner for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.