Allan D. Kirk, MD, PhD, and Ranjan Sudan, MD, are among a group of 83 esteemed surgical educators inducted into membership in the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators™. Dr. Kirk was inducted as a Member and Dr. Sudan as an Associate Member of this prestigious academy. The academy’s second induction ceremony was held on October 4, 2019 at the John B. Murphy Memorial Auditorium in Chicago.
Dr. Kirk serves as Vice Dean of Surgical Disciplines, Chairman of the Department of Surgery, and Surgeon-in-Chief for the Duke University Health System. He is a distinguished surgical educator, mentoring countless surgical fellows, research fellows, medical students, and undergraduate students over the course of his career. An internationally recognized expert in transplant immunology, Dr. Kirk pioneered the use of costimulation pathway blockade to prevent organ rejection in transplant patients. He maintains a clinical kidney transplant practice and a laboratory effort with active funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Department of Defense. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Transplantation and has published more than 250 manuscripts in the peer-reviewed literature.
Dr. Sudan is a distinguished surgical educator and internationally renowned as a leader in surgical education. In the Department of Surgery, he serves as Vice Chair of Education and Medical Director of Surgery Grand Rounds and the Simulated Education and Activities Lab. At the national level, Dr. Sudan acts as a consultant to the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Division of Education, advising the ACS on integrating all resident- and student-related educational curricula. Dr. Sudan specializes in weight loss surgery and maintains an active bariatric practice. He is board certified in general surgery, psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry. He currently serves as President of the Clinical Robotic Surgery Association.
Developed by the ACS Division of Education, the academy recognizes surgeon educators who have devoted their careers to surgical education. Individuals are selected as Members or Associate Members following stringent peer review. The academy’s mission is to play a leadership role in advancing the science and practice of education across all surgical specialties, promoting the highest achievements in the lifetimes of surgeons. Academy membership carries an obligation for commitment to the academy’s goals, which are to identify, recognize, and recruit innovators and thought leaders committed to advancing lifelong surgical education; translate innovation into actions; offer mentorship to surgeon educators; foster exchange of creative ideas; disseminate advances in surgical education; and positively impact the quality of surgical care and patient safety.
In addition to supporting the mission and goals of the academy, members must actively participate in academy programs and activities. “This unique academy will change the course of surgical education and we will continue to pursue the academy’s ambitious goals with great enthusiasm,” said Ajit K. Sachdeva, MD, FACS, FRCSC, FSACME, Director of the ACS Division of Education and Co-Chair of the Steering Committee. “Groups of Members and Associate Members are already working effectively to address these goals. We also plan to start an annual peer-reviewed publication that will be launched in late 2020.”
“With highest quality patient care through education being the paramount theme of the American College of Surgeons, the growth of the Academy of Master Surgeon Educators continues to be an important emerging chapter for the ACS, the world’s largest organization for surgeons,” explained L.D. Britt, MD, MPH, DSc(Hon), FACS, FCCM, FRCSEng(Hon), FRCSEd(Hon), FWACS(Hon), FRCSI(Hon), FCS(SA)(Hon), FRCS(Glasg)(Hon), past president of the ACS, and co-chair of the Steering Committee of the Academy.
“Emphasizing the tremendous importance of surgical education in a changing health care environment will remain one major focus for the academy’s work. This is really an important time in medicine for this talented and innovative group of surgeon educators and colleagues in other related disciplines to come together to impact surgical education and training,” said ACS Executive Director David B. Hoyt, MD, FACS. “We congratulate and welcome all members to the class of 2019.”
Academy membership is conferred in three categories: Member, Associate Member, and Affiliate Member. For a listing of all surgeon educators honored with selection into the academy visit: https://www.facs.org/for-medical-professionals/education/programs/academy-of-master-surgeon-educators/
About the Duke Department of Surgery
Through sustainable, multidisciplinary teams, the Duke Department of Surgery provides insight regarding the fundamental nature of patient health and disease; empowers all patients, trainees, and colleagues with knowledge; and provides safe and high-quality care based on an advanced understanding of and respect for patient needs, and guided by best practices.
About the American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for surgical patients. The college is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The college has more than 82,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit www.facs.org.