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. 

Faculty Disclosures

For the American College of Surgeons:  

Jonah J. Stulberg, MD, PhD, MPH, FACS  - Nothing to Disclose
Vice Chair of Research 
Program Director, Complex Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Fellowship 
Director, Texas Hernia Center 
Associate Professor of Surgery 
Department of Surgery 

For Health Care Services Corporation:  

Ben Kurian, MD  - Nothing to Disclose
Executive Medical Director 
Risk Identification & Outreach Program 
Health Care Services Corporation 

For American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons:  

Mary F. Carnduff, MD, MBA, FAAOS - Nothing to Disclose
Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon 
Washington DC  

For American Association of Neurological Surgeons:  

Owoicho Adogwa, MD, MPH - Nothing to Disclose
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery 
University of Cincinnati