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Oakbrook Terrace, IL – The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) is pleased to announce Tracy Hull, MD, FACS, FASCRS, a surgeon at Cleveland Clinic, as its 2019-2020 president. Dr. Hull joins the ASCRS executive council to begin her presidential term at the 2019 ASCRS Annual Scientific Meeting in Cleveland, Ohio.

"It is an honor to lead this exceptional organization," said Dr. Hull. "I look forward to helping colon and rectal surgeons utilize their unique knowledge and skills to improve patient care."

Dr. Hull has been staff surgeon in the Department of Colorectal Surgery at Cleveland Clinic since 1993. She is the section chief of inflammatory bowel disease within the department and holds the Thomas and Sandra Sullivan Family Endowed Chair in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. She is also a professor of surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine.

Dr. Hull takes care of patients with all forms of colorectal disease and has a special interest in redo pelvic surgery, including redo pelvic pouches. She also specializes in surgically treating patients with ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and pelvic floor dysfunction.

She has authored many peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and edited two textbooks on colon and rectal surgery. She speaks at major meetings around the world. Dr. Hull is active in numerous professional societies, including Alpha Omega Alpha and the American College of Surgeons. She has served as secretary for ASCRS and as chair of the written examination committee for the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. Dr. Hull is the third female president of ASCRS, after Ann C. Lowry, MD, from 2005 to 2006, and Patricia L. Roberts, MD, from 2016 to 2017.

Joining her as newly elected members of the ASCRS executive council are:

• President-elect: Neil H. Hyman, MD
• Vice president: Thomas E. Read, MD
• Secretary: Matthew G. Mutch, MD
• Treasurer: Conor P. Delaney, MD, PhD
• Member-at-large: Charles M. Friel, MD
• Member-at-large: Jan Rakinic, MD
• Member-at-large: Sharon L. Stein, MD

Also returning to continue their terms in 2019 and 2020:

• Past president: David A. Margolin, MD,
• Research Foundation president: Scott Strong, MD
• Member-at-large: Bradley J. Champagne, MD
• Member-at-large: William C. Cirocco, MD
• Member-at-large: Arden M. Morris, MD
• Member-at-large: Najjia N. Mahmoud, MD
• Member-at-large: Charles B. Whitlow, MD
• Member-at-large: Kristen B. Wilkins, MD

About the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS)

ASCRS is the premier society for colon and rectal surgeons and other surgeons dedicated to advancing the understanding, prevention and treatment of diseases and disorders of the colon, rectum and anus. ASCRS promotes patient-centered, high quality, high value health care through education, research and professional development. Its board-certified colon and rectal surgeons complete a residency in general surgery, plus an additional year in colon and rectal surgery, and pass an intensive examination conducted by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. For more information, visit www.fascrs.org.

Jason Mizell
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Little Rock, Arkansas

Why I am a member of ASCRS:

I first came to the meeting when I was a 4th year resident, and I realized so many members were happy and enjoyed their profession. I wanted to be like them, and be a part of a society that was friendly, did good work, and enjoyed camaraderie. I have found that all my initial impressions were true, and I have continued to be a member and try to help where I can.

Tell us something about yourself that we might not otherwise know.

Instead of going to medical school after college, I almost chose to go to seminary and be a preacher. My goal is to love and care for people, and I realized early on that God could use that desire in the church pulpit or in the OR. For me, surgery is just the venue God has given me to love and care for people. It’s what keep me motivated when cases are hard, nights are long, and fatigue is heavy.

Jennifer S. Davids, MD, FACS, FASCRS
University of Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts

Why I am a member of ASCRS:

ASCRS is the heart and soul of our specialty. I take great pride in being a colon and rectal surgeon, and ASCRS provides me with the opportunity to connect meaningfully with surgeons from across the country who share common interests and goals. ASCRS also provides our patients with high-quality educational resources, which highlight the benefits of colon and rectal surgery specialty training.

What do you want your patients to know about you?

Coming to see a colon and rectal surgeon may make you feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. Almost no one is thrilled to have to go see a colon and rectal surgeon! My job is not only to get you through surgery safely and with a great outcome, but also to provide comfort and reassurance. I may ask personal or private questions, or ask for a lot of details about your bowel function, because I care. I want to treat your surgical condition effectively while also maintaining or improving your function and quality of life. I view the patient-physician relationship as a team—we make decisions together.

Presented by:
Liliana Bordeianou, MD, Boston, MA
Eric Weiss, MD, Weston, FL
Joseph Carmichael, MD, Orange, CA

This free webcast on the new ASCRS Enhanced Recovery Program (ERP) Guidelines addresses physiologic principles behind preoperative carbohydrate loading, the medications used in multimodal analgesia (MMA), and strategies for prophylaxis of post-operative ileus (POI). Instruction is given on how to implement ERP at learner’s institutions and on the benefits for all elective colorectal surgery patients, including those undergoing complex operations to reduce sub-optimal post-operative patient outcomes.

To watch the recording: Log in as an ASCRS member or create a nonmember account, then go to the online learning center. Look for the recording link on the left side of the LMS home page.

This activity is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Merck & Co.

The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. ASCRS takes responsibility for the content, quality and scientific integrity of this CME activity

The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Attendees can earn 1 CME credit for every 60 minutes of educational time.

SynAptiv is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the California Board of Registered Nursing. Provider approved by California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #16031 for 1 contact hour.

Joint Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Continuing Pharmacy Education

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this continuing education activity for 1 contact hour(s) (0.1 CEUs) of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
(Universal Activity Number – JA4008162-9999-19-452-L01-P)
Type of Activity: knowledge

The following faculty indicated that they have financial relationships to disclose:

• Joseph Carmichael, MD, Orange, CA- Johnson & Johnson, Speaker
• Liliana Bordeianou, MD, Boston, MA- Ethicon, Consultant; 11 Health, Research Support; CRICO, Medico legal reviews

The following have no relevant financial relationships to disclose:

• Eric Weiss, MD, Weston, FL