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.  ACCME considers relationships of the person involved in the CME activity to include financial relationships of a spouse or partner.

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.

Planning Committee Disclosures

Fabrizio Michelassi, MD, FACS, MAMSE - Tsumura, Inc.

Sharmila Dissanaike, MD, FACS, FCCM - Heron Therapeutics

Brooke C. Bredbeck, MD - Nothing to disclose

Kellie R. Brown, MD, FACS - Nothing to disclose

Yolanda L. Colson, MD, PhD, FACS - Canon USA; Stryker

Cynthia D. Downard, MD, MMSc, FACS, FAAP - Nothing to disclose

Quan-Yang Duh, MD, FACS - Nothing to disclose

Neal D. Futran, MD, DMD, FACS - Stryker

B.J. Hancock, MD, FRCSC, FACS - Nothing to disclose

Jonathan A. Laryea, MBChB, FACS, FASCRS, FWACS - Nothing to disclose

Amy E. Liepert, MD, FACS -  Nothing to disclose

Ronald V. Maier, MD, FACS, FRCSED(Hon), FCSHK(Hon), FCCS(Hon), FISS(Hon), MAMSE - Nothing to disclose

Viraj Master, MD, PhD, FACS - Ethicon; Exelixis

Nipun B. Merchant, MD, FACS -  Nothing to disclose

Susan C. Modesitt, MD, FACOG, FACS - Nothing to disclose

Lena Napolitano, MD FACS, MAMSE - Nothing to disclose

M. Timothy Nelson, MD, FACS, DABS - Nothing to disclose

Patrick R. Reardon, MD, FACS - Nothing to disclose

Kenneth W. Sharp, MD, FACS, MAMSE - Nothing to disclose

Ali Tavakkoli, MBBS, FACS - AltrixBio

Steve D. Wexner, MD, PhD (Hon), FACS, FRCS (Eng), FRCS(Ed), FRCSI (Hon), Hon FRCS (Glasg), Hon FRCS (Eng), MAMSE - Baxter; BD (Becton, Dickinson & Co); Glaxo Smith Kline; Intuitive Surgical; Livsmed; Medtronic; OstomyCure; Stryker; Takeda; Virtual Ports; JSR/WCG/ACI; Polypid; Boomerang; Intuitive Surgical; Karl Storz Endoscopy America Inc; Unique Surgical Innovations LLC; Pragma/GibLib; Renew Medical

Speakers/Faculty Disclosures

Jill R. Streams, MD, FACS – Prytime Medical

Stephanie Streit, MD, FACS – Nothing to disclose

Robert J. Winchell, MD, FACS – Intuitive Corporation

Patricia Ayoung-Chee, MD, FACS – Nothing to disclose