During the annual Convocation, 6:00−8:00 pm Sunday in the San Diego Convention Center, Hall F, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) will confer Fellowship upon 1,827 Initiates who have successfully met ACS requirements to provide optimal care to the surgical patient. The ceremony will include recognition of the Honorary Fellows (see page 6 for more information), presentation of the Distinguished Service Award, installation of the ACS Officers, and the Presidential Address.

The first Convocation Ceremony took place November 13, 1913, at the Congress Hotel in Chicago, IL. The inaugural class of 1,059 surgeons hailed from the U.S. and Canada and included six female surgeons.

All Initiates must register for Clinical Congress if planning to participate in the Convocation. All Initiates will be granted Fellowship in the College during the ceremony regardless of their attendance at the event and may begin using the FACS designation upon the conclusion of the ceremony. Family members of Initiates are not required to register for the Clinical Congress program to attend the Convocation Ceremony.

The Opening Ceremony for Clinical Congress 2017 will take place 8:00−9:00 am Monday at the San Diego Convention Center, Hall F. The Colors and Canadian and American national anthems will be presented, along with a short video highlighting the 2017−2018 ACS President’s theme.

ACS President Barbara Lee Bass, MD, FACS, FRCS(Hon), will preside over the Opening Ceremony and introduce the Honorary Fellows, the recipient of the Distinguished Philanthropist Award, Past-Presidents, College Officers and Regents, Special Invited Guests from national and international health care organizations, the Resident Research Scholars, and the International Guest Scholars. ACS Executive Director David B. Hoyt, MD, FACS, will present an annual overview of College activities. The Martin Memorial Lecture, sponsored by the American Urological Association, will follow immediately.