The American College of Surgeons in Australia and New Zealand

Calling all RACS Fellows and Trainees: the Australia New Zealand (ANZ) Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) invites you to apply to become a member and enjoy the benefits.

The ACS ANZ Chapter promotes the objectives of ACS, including elevating the standards of surgery, establishing a standard of competency and character for practitioners of surgery and educating the public and profession regarding training in surgery.

The Chapter facilitates communication among its members and works towards building new and stronger links between the ACS and RACS, to enable a united effort in improving the care of surgical patients.

Founded 36 years ago, the ANZ Chapter welcomes all RACS Fellows and Trainees. Those holding FRACS for more than three years can immediately apply to become members. Those holding FRACS for less than three years can apply to become associate members and Trainees can apply to be guests.

Professor Andrew Hill, a general surgeon based in Auckland, is the current President of the ANZ Chapter Council. “The benefits of being a member of the Chapter include meeting and networking with other members of the ACS across Australia and New Zealand,” he said.

“However, the main benefits come from being FACS, which requires an interview process and involves having your surgical education and training, qualifications, competence and ethical conduct rigorously evaluated and being found consistent with the high standards established and demanded by the College.

“FACS also gives you heavily discounted registration, including an online option, to the annual ACS clinical congress, the largest surgery conference in the world, attracting members and presenters from all over the world,” he continued. “It also gives you access to a wealth of educational resources to support lifelong learning.”

The ANZ Chapter meets once a year at the Annual Scientific Congress (ASC) and it funds and runs a number of scholarship programs. These include the Hugh Johnston ANZ Chapter ACS Travelling Fellowship and the John Buckingham Travelling Scholarship, which provide for a young Fellow and Trainee to travel to the United States and attend the Annual Clinical Congress of the ACS.

RACS has provided administrative support to the ANZ Chapter of the ACS for many years. This support is currently provided by the Fellowship Services Department and the Finance Department.

For more information visit: surgeons. org/en/Resources/interest-groupssections/anz-chapter-of-the-americancollege-of-surgeons.