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. 
 

Planning Committee Disclosures

Barbara L. Bass, MD, FACS, FRCS (Hon) FRCSI (Hon.), FCOSECSA (Hon.)– Nothing to disclose 
John H. Armstrong, MD, FACS– Nothing to disclose 
Ellen Hagopian, MD, FACS– Sirtex Medical, Inc.: Consultant/Honorarium
Amy L. Halverson, MD, FACS– Nothing to disclose 
Lenworth M. Jacobs Jr., MD, MPH, FACS– Nothing to disclose 
V. Suzanne Klimberg, MD, PhD, FACS– Nothing to disclose 
Helen MacRae, MD, FRCSC, FACS– Nothing to disclose 
Jeffrey M. Marks, MD, FACS– Olympus: Consultant/Consulting fee.  Boston Scientific: Consultant/Consulting fee.
Lena Napolitano, MD, FACS, FCCP, MCCM– Nothing to disclose 
Alexander Perez, MD, FACS– Nothing to disclose  
Carla Pugh, MD, PhD, FACS– Nothing to disclose 
Raul Rosenthal, MD FACS– Karl Storz: Speaker/consultant/Honoraria. Medtronic: Speaker/consultant/Honoraria. Diagnostic Green: Advisory Board/Honoraria. Ethicon: Consultant/Honoraria.
Ajit K. Sachdeva, MD, FACS, FRCSC, FSACME– Nothing to disclose 
Stefan Scholz, MD, PhD, FAAP, FACS– Nothing to disclose 
Vivian E. Strong, MD, FACS– Nothing to disclose 
Robert M. Sweet, MD, FACS– Simagine Health: Founder and CEO/$0 start-up
 

Faculty Disclosures

V. Suzanne Klimberg, MD, PhD, FACS – Nothing to disclose 
Cany Arentz, MD, MBA, FACS – Nothing to disclose 
Ronda Henry-Tillman, MD, FACS – Nothing to disclose 
Roi Weiser, MD – Nothing to disclose
Linda G. Phillips, MD, FACS - Nothing to disclose