On Monday, members of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Fellows Leadership Society (FLS) gathered at the San Diego Marriott Marquis and Marina hotel for the 29th Annual Donor Recognition Luncheon.Approximately 250 donors and friends of the ACS Foundation attended the luncheon, which celebrated donor contributions that support the charitable and educational work of the College.

At the luncheon, Lamar S.McGinnis, MD, FACS, (at right in photo) Past-President of the ACS, awarded the 2017 DistinguishedPhilanthropist award to Mehmet Ali Haberal, MD, FACS(Hon), FICS(Hon), FASA(Hon), who is the first international fellow to receive the honor. A pioneer in general surgery, transplantation, and burn care inTurkey, Dr. Haberal (at left in photo) has been an ACS Foundation donor since 1990. On Monday, he was also recognized as a new member of the Founders Circle, one of the Foundations’ highest-giving tiers.

New members of the Presidents Circle, Regents Circle, and Governors Circle giving levels also were saluted during Monday’s luncheon.

The luncheon concluded with a speech from Carrie Sims, MD, FACS, 2011 ACS Clowes Memorial Research Career Development Fellowship Recipient. Dr. Sims, associate professor of surgery at theHospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Presbyterian Medical Center of Philadelphia, discussed how the ACS Foundation award helped her career development.