Bridging Frontiers: Highlights from the 2026 ACS Clinical Congress in Washington, DC

Coming off the floor of the 2026 American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress in Washington, DC, the energy of the surgical community is palpable. This year’s gathering brought together thought leaders, innovators, and clinicians to explore how the House of Surgery is evolving, balancing high-tech breakthroughs with timeless values of equity, resilience, and patient safety.

From groundbreaking discussions on telesurgery and legal insights from the highest court in the land, to celebrating visionary leadership, here are the key events and takeaways that made the 2026 Clinical Congress unforgettable.

One of the most forward-looking panels of the congress, “Telesurgery: The Next Frontier Is Here” (PS324), tackled a paradigm shift that is rapidly redefining geographical boundaries in medicine. Moderated by Jay A. Redan, MD, FACS,alongside co-moderator Christopher M. Schlachta, MD, FACS, the session focused on how robotics and advanced connectivity are turning remote operations into clinical reality.

Dr. Redan highlighted the monumental transcontinental trial from June 2025, which connected Florida and Angola across nearly 7,000 miles, including a successful robot-assisted radical prostatectomy performed on a 67-year-old patient in Luanda by surgeons operating from a console in Florida.

While the trial proved the technical feasibility of transcontinental operating, the core message of the session was rooted in risk management and preparation:

“The question should not be ‘What if?’ but ‘What would I do when the power goes out or equipment fails?’”— Dr. Jay A. Redan

The panel emphasized that as robotic systems increasingly incorporate telementoring capabilities, expanding specialized care to rural, remote, and resource-limited communities (via initiatives like ACS H.O.P.E. and SAGES’ Project 6) is no longer a distant sci-fi dream. It is an impending operational reality requiring rigorous team simulation, credentialing, and infrastructure planning.

Bringing a powerful perspective from outside the operating room, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson joined ACS Executive Director and CEO Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, for the prestigious Olga M. Jonasson Lecture.

Opening with a moving reading from her 2024 memoir, Lovely One, Justice Jackson reflected on her swearing-in ceremony, taking the oath with her hand on the historic Harlan Bible, as the ultimate embodiment of her ancestors’ dreams and a departure from the segregated South of the 1950s and 1960s.

During their Q&A discussion, Justice Jackson shared valuable lessons on navigating profound professional disagreements, drawing parallels between the Supreme Court's meticulous review process (collaborating with young law clerks and debating nuanced precedents) and multidisciplinary surgical teams. Her advice on having disagreements without being disagreeable resonated deeply with the audience of surgeons.

Adding a personal touch to the event, Justice Jackson's husband, Patrick Jackson, MD, FACS, Chief of General Surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, was in attendance to support her. The session closed with encouraging words for the medical community:

“You do work that is very important to so many people, so just keep going.” - Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson

The 2026 Clinical Congress also served as a celebration of unifying leadership under ACS President Anton N. Sidawy, MD, MPH, FACS, DFSVS.

Dr. Sidawy, who serves as Professor of Surgery and the Lewis B. Saltz Chair at George Washington University, has dedicated his 2025–2026 presidential term to the theme: “The House of Surgery: A Home for All Surgeons.”

A prolific author, former editor-in-chief of multiple journals (including the Journal of Vascular Surgery), and a driving force behind the ACS Vascular Verification Program, Dr. Sidawy embodies the passionate servant-leadership championed by the College. Meeting with attendees in Washington, DC, his vision reinforced the ACS's enduring mission to unite surgeons across all disciplines, practice types, and career stages to ensure care that is safe, high-quality, and equitably delivered.

As the curtain closes on another milestone Clinical Congress, it is clear that surgery is getting smarter, more connected,and more collaborative than ever. Whether bridging oceans through telesurgery, drawing inspiration from outside disciplines, or grounding our practice in strong institutional leadership, the future of surgical care remains exceptionally bright.

References & Further Reading

Want to dive deeper into the highlights and sessions from the event? Explore the official coverage below:

• Discover how remote procedures are advancing in Telesurgery Is Moving from Possibility to Practice

• Learn more about leadership and background in Anton N. Sidawy, MD, MPH, FACS, DFSVS — ACS President, 2025–2026

• Check out the full discussion in ACS President Dr. Timothy Eberlein Highlights Innovation, Collaboration

• Explore the keynote highlights in US Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Shares Insights with Surgeons

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