Disclosure Information 

In compliance 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 has disclosed all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest. All reported conflicts are managed by a designated official to ensure a bias-free presentation. 

Ineligible Company

Defined by the ACCME 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 a commercial interest 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 and Disclosures  

The SSR PII Planning Committee is comprised of SSR Surgeons and ACS Staff.

David Welsh, MD, MBA, FACS — Nothing to disclose
Surgical Associates of Southeastern Indiana, PC, Batesville, IN

Clifford Ko, MD, MS, MSHS, FACS, FASCRS – Nothing to disclose
University of California LA (UCLA) Medical Center; Veterans Administration Greater Los Angeles, CA; Healthcare Medical Center; UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, CA

Cristina Checka, MD — Nothing to disclose
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Julia Coleman, MD, MPH — Nothing to disclose
Post-doc – University of Colorado Denver Program, Denver, CO

Richard Ehlers, II, MD, MBA, FACS — Nothing to disclose
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Matthew Facktor, MD, FACS — Nothing to disclose
Geisinger Medical Center: Heart Institute, Danville, PA

Alessandro Fichera, MD, FACS, FASCRS, FISS – Nothing to disclose
Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX

Nancy Gantt, MD, FACS – Nothing to disclose
Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, Youngstown

Ross Goldberg, MD, FACS — Johnson & Johnson, Honoraria, Surgical consultant Valleywise Health Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ

Jerry Hardacre, MD, FACS — Nothing to disclose
Ascension All Saints Hospital, Racine, WI

Jan Kletter, MD, FACS — Nothing to disclose
WVU Medicine, Ranson, WV

Lydell Lettsome, MD, FACS — Nothing to disclose
St. Anthony’s Community Hospital, Warwick, NY

Raj Mittal, MD, FACS — Nothing to disclose
Torrance Memorial Medical Center, Torrance, CA

Deepak Nair, MD, FACS, MS, MHA, RVT — Nothing to disclose
Sarasota Vascular Specialists, Sarasota, FL

Neil Patel, MD – Nothing to disclose
CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center Bergan Mercy, Omaha, NE

Ana Paula Refinetti, MD, FACS — Nothing to disclose
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Kaitlin Ritter, MD — Nothing to disclose
Post-doc – University of Colorado Denver Program, Denver, CO

Tomasz Rogula, MD, PhD, FACS – Nothing to disclose
Jagiellonian University I Department of Surgery, Krakov, Poland

Nelson Royall, MD, FACS – Medcase, Consultant Fees; Nestle, Honoraria Hillcrest Medical Center, Tulsa, OK

John Stowers, DO, FACOS, FACS — Intuitive Surgical Inc., Consultant Fees, Surgical proctor and speaker; Vital Talk, Honoraria, Curricular development and speaking Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland Division, Portland, OR

Ulrike Langenscheidt, MS — Nothing to disclose
Surgeon Specific Registry Manager, American College of Surgeons

Tyler Shippen, BA — Nothing to disclose
Surgeon Specific Registry Program Coordinator, American College of Surgeons