Kari Rosenkranz, MD

An all too commonly used cliché, because it all too true: time really does fly. As I write this letter, I reflect upon the activities of our Society over the 3 seasons that have passed since we last gathered in Vermont. During this time, our executive committee has sought to understand the history of NESS, to recognize the value of NESS to our members in the present and to envision the future of the Society structuring it with relevance and inclusivity for all New England surgeons. I am deeply appreciative to all the members who have reached out with suggestions and offered ideas to help guide us in this work. Please keep the great ideas coming.

Our committees have been busy. The GME committee, led by Dr. Jaswin Sawhney (Maine), put together an outstanding Trainee Research Day in May. Students and residents from around New England shared cutting edge research from translational lab data to qualitative assessment of the disparities in our surgical care delivery. We have outgrown our space and look forward to expanding this meeting in the years ahead.

Dr. Francis Podbielski (Massachusetts) has led the work of the Scholars Foundation. He and his committee are busy reviewing grant proposals and overseeing the great educational research of current recipient Dr. Roy Phitayakorn.

Dr. Kevin Shuster (Connecticut) and his program committee are busy putting together a wonderful program for our Annual Meeting scheduled in Portland, ME. We have changed up the format a bit. The meeting will continue to highlight research from across the region while also adding new content of interest to all of us: hot topics in various formats including debate, how I do it videos and presentations of the most impactful surgical abstracts of the year. And of course, there will be social events. Portland is world famous for its cuisine. Join us for a food tasting tour on Saturday afternoon and/or for a festival-of-the-sea themed dinner with music and dancing Saturday night.

Finally, as summer is upon us, I find myself reflecting on what NESS has meant to me over the last year. The relationships that we build through the society can impact our patients (networking with NESS colleagues to facilitate second opinions across state lines in New England), our trainees (reaching out to friends made through NESS to provide recommendation for a graduating resident in search of a job), our families (connecting with NESS surgeons in other states to ensure the best care for a far-away family member). Most importantly, I have enjoyed the friendships, benefited from the mentors and learned from the mentees I have gained through NESS. I am grateful to NESS for providing a venue in which to foster these connections and cultivate these relationships.

I hope the summer is a time of relaxation and reflection for each of you. I look forward to seeing you all in Portland in September. It will be a great weekend.

My best,

Kari Rosenkranz, MD
NESS President

Jacqueline J. Wu, MD

I’m not going to lie, leading up to my vacation, I was feeling pretty burned out. We’re understaffed and overworked. It’s a very common story across the country these days - doing more with less. Many of us are feeling the pressure and the stress these days, and it can make us bitter, resentful, and make us feel like we’re just doing a job when we get to work. Not only was vacation relaxing and a much-needed break, but it was a reminder that our job is one of the greatest privileges.

As my family and I were going through customs in Marrakesh, the customs officer went through his standard list of questions, including my profession. When I answered that I am a surgeon, he was taken by surprise. This is nothing new for me being a female surgeon, but what was refreshing was that his surprise was not due to me being a female surgeon, but that I was a surgeon. Period. A huge smile spread across his face, and he spent the next 5 minutes asking me about what it was like to operate on people. He kept saying to his partner how awesome it must be to be trusted enough to operate on someone. This was exactly what I needed to set me straight again. Sometimes things can get so hectic and busy with rounding and operating and add-on cases and clinic and teaching and research and notes and meetings. It can be easy to see surgery as a job that needs to get done, cases that we need to finish. We can easily forget that operating on a patient is one of the greatest privileges. Patients place their trust and their health in our hands. It is a great honor to be given that trust and not one that we should take lightly or take for granted. The awe from the customs official in Morocco was a refreshing acknowledgement that I didn’t even know I needed.

I bring this up not only to remind myself what a privilege it is to operate on a patient but hopefully to remind others who might also be in my shoes. As we prepare for the NESS Annual Meeting in Portland, ME, this September, reach out to a colleague who might need a reminder of why we do what we do. It’s easy to get lost and overwhelmed by the everyday tasks, especially with today’s societal stressors. Use the annual meeting as a time to reconnect with those you might not have seen for a while, reignite your passion for learning from the outstanding resident research presentations, lectures, and panel discussions, and use the free time to explore Portland’s wonderful sights and restaurants. I know I will.

Sincerely,

Jacqueline J. Wu, MD
NESS Secretary

Alan K. Meinke, MD

Led by immediate Past President Rocco Orlando and supported by Past President Walter Longo, a group of New England Surgical Society members have joined forces with SAGES in forming the Late Career Task Force. The group has charged themselves with identifying reliable and verified metrics designed to assist surgical leaders in the early identification and remediation of fading surgical performance. While collaborating with Governor’s work groups in the American College of Surgeons, they hope to identify reliable metrics designed to assist surgeons in functioning at a high level until retirement. It is hoped that these metrics might also assist surgeons throughout their career in the early identification of reversable deterioration of professional performance caused by stress, substance abuse, or depression.

With the impending retirement of a large cohort of boomers exacerbating the impending shortage of surgeons in the next few decades, the imperative of helping all practicing surgeons continue to function at their highest level is paramount.

With Rocco’s guidance and experience, the New England Surgical Society is spearheading this collaboration that is likely to have a significant impact on the quality of surgical service and professionalism in both the near and distant future. If NESS members have insight, experience, or a command of the relevant literature, please share your perspective with Rocco to accelerate this important initiative.

Sincerely,

Alan Meinke, MD
Connecticut State Representative

Jaswin Sawhney, MD

Over the spring, the bulk of the work of the GME and Candidate Member’s committee was the 31st Annual Residents and Fellow Research Presentation Day on May 16th. The event was again at the Lasell University Science and Technology Center. We scored and reviewed approximately 75 abstracts to select the 25 presentations. We aimed for representation of most states for participation in research day. As a committee, our goal was to allow as many resident presentations as possible in the time allotted to help increase attendance. Members in attendance selected the following papers for cash prizes:

Clinical Science:

First Place:
Fellowship after General Surgery Training: Does It Pay?
Jack Donaghue, MD
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

Second Place:
The Impact of English Proficiency on Provider-Patient Communication and Immediate Breast Reconstruction Following Mastectomy
Khu Aten Maaneb de Macedo, MD
Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA

Basic Science:

First Place:
A Digestive Cartridge Improves Survival and Reduces Intestinal Injury in a Murine Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Sarah Wang, MD
Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA

Second Place:
Overexpressing Thioredoxin1 Enhances Angiogenesis, Vascularization and Survival in a Mouse Ischemic Skin Flap Model
Andrea Watters, MD
University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT

Additionally at our last meeting, the committee discussed ways to increase resident participation in both the Annual Meeting and Society in general. The GME Committee will discuss solidifying an email group of New England surgical program directors. We will charge this group with helping organize educational events, like rotating mock oral exam faculty, selected webinars, as well as work on recruiting new resident members to the society. If you know of any residents in training programs in New England who may benefit from membership in the New England Surgical Society, please initiate their applications in the Members Only Area. We encourage members to especially think of residents who may continue their career in New England.

I look forward to continuing my term as Chair of Committee on GME and Candidate Membership

Sincerely,

Jaswin Sawhney, MD
GME and Candidate Membership Committee Chair

Bishwajit Bhattacharya, MD

In May, we had robust participation from Connecticut at the 31st Annual Surgical Resident and Fellow Research Presentation Day. The New Members Committee looks forward to fostering intellectual curiosity and networking throughout the year by hosting the Intellectual Happy Hour (IHH). Members are encouraged to present their research work with other members in a virtual format. If you have a topic of interest, published work you would like to share, or would like to be involved with the IHH in any way, please email me.

The change in season in New England not only means it’s time for fall but also time for our annual meeting, an opportunity to meet and enjoy the comradery of our organization. The New Members Committee looks forward to meeting our newest members this fall in Maine.

Sincerely,

Bishwajit Bhattacharya, MD
New Members Committee Chair

David McAneny, MD

Summer is such a great season. Between the longest day of the year, beaches, picnics, and Independence Day celebrations, how can you go wrong? But this is New England, so it is nearly time to tune up the snow blower.

The New England Surgical Society returned to Lasell University in Newton for the 31st Annual Resident and Fellow Research Day on May 16, 2025. The baseball field was in prime condition for the season, with clean lines and lush natural turf setting a perfect collegiate atmosphere for the scholar surgeons. Once again, the medical students, residents, and fellows put on a spectacular program that featured 12 presentations by the home (Massachusetts) team. Awardees from the Commonwealth included Dr. Sarah Z. Wang of Boston Children’s Hospital (First Prize – Basic: “A Digestive Cartridge Improves Survival and Reduces Intestinal Injury in a Murine Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis”) and Dr. Khu Aten Maaneb de Macedo of Boston Medical Center (Second Prize – Clinical: “The Impact of English Proficiency on Provider-Patient Communication and Immediate Breast Reconstruction Following Mastectomy”). Congratulations to all the young investigators for their marvelous contributions.

We eagerly anticipate the 106th Annual Meeting of the Society on September 19-21, 2025. Our hosts in Portland promise a gorgeous weekend on the Maine coast. The program contains fascinating and timely scientific sessions, including 18 podium presentations and 7 Posters of Distinction from the Commonwealth, along with fun panels and social events. Of course, we are excited to hear from Dr. Kari Rosenkranz upon the conclusion of her splendid year as President.

In keeping with recent practices, we will conduct the annual Massachusetts Caucus via Zoom in advance of the annual meeting so as not to waste a moment in glorious Portland. As you know, the caucus provides an opportunity to propose and endorse new members and so I encourage you to attend, especially if you are sponsoring a candidate. You will receive details during the coming month.

Finally, I encourage you to read the previous Memorial Statements that our members composed about cherished colleagues who are no longer with us.

I appreciate the honor of serving Massachusetts on the Executive Committee, and I encourage you to engage in this great organization and support the NESS Scholars Foundation. Thank you.

Sincerely,

David McAneny, MD
Massachusetts State Representative

Beth Ryder, MD

Greetings from The Ocean State! I’d like to introduce myself as your new State Representative, replacing Dr. Afshin Ehsan who has moved to Texas – we wish him well in his new practice.

Summers in Rhode Island are great times to get outside and enjoy our beautiful coastline, which is disproportionally long (just over 400 miles) given the tiny square mileage of our state. There are sandy ocean beaches for swimming and surfing as well as our beautiful Narragansett Bay, with multiple public access points for boating, fishing, swimming, or just lounging by the water with a good book. Come visit to taste a Del’s frozen lemonade and snack on some clam cakes and clear Rhode Island chowder!

I hope many of you will attend the 106th Annual Meeting on September 19-21 in Portland, Maine. The program is always diverse and informative, offering the opportunity to see what others in New England can teach us. One of our own, Dr. Tom Miner, will be elected President during the meeting and we certainly look forward to his leadership. Please join us for the Rhode Island Caucus meeting to discuss membership and other state issues.

Sincerely,

Beth Ryder, MD
Rhode Island Representative

John Kelly, MD

Hello to our New England Surgical Community.

This year marks my 27th and most challenging year serving as an Attending Surgeon at my medical center. While I find the clinical management of patients at this point in my career easier with each passing year, I can't say the same about my administrative duties and my view of the healthcare industry in Massachusetts, where unfortunately the challenges continue to mount. Staying connected and getting involved in professional local societies, such as NESS, lets me enjoy a mix of clinical and political connectivity that can help me decompress with colleagues who understand the landscape we face and are working to improve it and advocate for surgeons. Being active in your society and going to meetings can help in these increasingly isolating times.

As your NESS representative to the ACS Advisory Council for General Surgery, I am tasked with several small roles. The first is to help create content for the yearly ACS conference. The advisory council will sponsor suggestions brought forth by members as to any content/ sessions/ topics that a member feels needs voice at the conference. The more surgical disciplines that sponsor a topic, the better chance of getting on the program. Requests for content come out each spring for the ACS meeting that will follow in 18 months. As the NESS representative, I will send an announcement to you at that period of time to suggest content and help fill out a proposal. A second role is to nominate ACS leadership names to replace vacated leadership roles (Regents) or needed session moderators, or to head certain committees/task forces. Third is to occasionally review submitted cases, submitted anonymously, that may question a surgeon's professionalism with regards to a clinical scenario.

I hope you all have a great summer and look forward to seeing you all in Portland.

John J. Kelly, MD
NESS Representative to the ACS Advisory Council for General Surgery

Peter S. Yoo, MD

As your representative to the ABS Council, I’m pleased to share this summer’s updates. These developments reflect the ABS’s ongoing commitment to reducing administrative burden, advancing competency-based training, and maintaining the highest standards in surgical certification.

For those less familiar, the ABS oversees board certification in surgery across five specialty areas: general surgery, vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, surgical critical care, and complex general surgical oncology. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and supported by the ABS Council, which includes representatives from national and regional surgical organizations—including the New England Surgical Society. Council members participate in policy development, exam oversight, and strategic initiatives on behalf of the surgical community.

I continue to be grateful for the collegiality, leadership, and engagement of the New England Surgical Society. Our region plays an important role in shaping national conversations in surgical education and certification. I look forward to connecting with many of you at the upcoming NESS Annual Meeting and sharing more about these evolving initiatives.

ABS Update – Summer 2025

The American Board of Surgery continues to advance its mission with several meaningful initiatives:

• Streamlining Continuous Certification: Case logs are no longer required, and CME credits must now be submitted through the ACCME® PARS system. A new Code of Ethics and Professionalism eliminates the need for reference letters—diplomates now attest to the code and list two potential references.
• Growth of EPAs: General surgery Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) went into effect in 2023, with over 390,000 assessments submitted to date. Starting in 2028, all general surgery candidates must include an EPA profile as part of their Qualifying Exam application. EPAs for vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, complex general surgical oncology, and surgical critical care will begin rolling out in the 2025–2026 academic year.
• Focused Practice Designations: The inaugural exam for Adult Complex Thyroid/Parathyroid Surgery (ACTPS) was held in April 2025. This joins the existing designation in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (MBS), with nearly 250 surgeons now certified. For MBS, both ABS and AOBS diplomates are eligible and held to identical standards for this designation.
• Artificial Intelligence: The ABS has held two retreats to explore AI’s impact on certification and is actively developing policy guidance for its use by examinees, volunteers, and staff.

Sincerely,

Peter S. Yoo, MD
Liaison to the ABS Council

Join the NESS at the Holiday Inn Portland – By the Bay in Portland, Maine, for its 106th Annual Meeting, September 19-21, 2025. An exciting program has been assembled, including stimulating scientific sessions, poster presentations, panel discussions, networking events, and award presentations.

Reserve your room at the Holiday Inn Portland – By the Bay before the Housing Cut-Off Date of Sunday, August 17, 2025. The Group Rate for NESS meeting attendees ranges from $299 to $309, subject to any applicable taxes, service fees, and/or hotel-specific fees in effect at the time of the meeting.

Register by the Early Bird Deadline of Monday, August 18, 2025, and save $50 on your registration.

The 31st Annual Resident and Fellow Research Day took place on May 16, 2025. You can visit the NESS Research Day webpage to review the program and award winners, also listed below.

Clinical Science:

First Place:
Fellowship after General Surgery Training: Does It Pay?
Jack Donaghue, MD
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

Second Place:
The Impact of English Proficiency on Provider-Patient Communication and Immediate Breast Reconstruction Following Mastectomy
Khu Aten Maaneb de Macedo, MD
Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA

Basic Science:

First Place:
A Digestive Cartridge Improves Survival and Reduces Intestinal Injury in a Murine Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Sarah Wang, MD
Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA

Second Place:
Overexpressing Thioredoxin1 Enhances Angiogenesis, Vascularization and Survival in a Mouse Ischemic Skin Flap Model
Andrea Watters, MD
University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT

View 2024-2025 Committees and Representatives.

The New Members Committee is seeking authors interested in presenting their published articles for discussion with NESS members in a virtual format.

The IHH is a quarterly virtual journal club via Zoom to build on the NESS' strong tradition of supporting scholarly activity, research, and professional development. This initiative has continued to foster academic collaboration across the region.

The IHH alternates quarterly between expert-led journal discussions and research presentations. Topics have ranged from established standards to innovative, paradigm-shifting surgical practices. Open to both trainees and members, these sessions have been archived online.

If you have a topic of interest, published work you would like to share, or would like to be involved with the IHH in any way, please email the NESS New Members Committee.

Make sure you remain a part of this vibrant Society; if you have not already done so, renew your dues online today by logging into the Members Only Area There you also have the option to print a copy of your invoice and mail or fax it in with payment.

The NESS Executive Committee also strongly encourages Senior members to continue to pay their voluntary dues—especially those still in active practice.

This is a reminder that the 2025 NESS membership application cycle remains open. The NESS is asking all current members to identify colleagues for NESS membership and to initiate their applications. Please help us continue the recruitment of new members to the NESS.

Please log into the NESS Members Only Area, where you may sponsor an applicant for membership. Applicants should submit their online membership applications as soon as possible. Sponsors should upload their letters of support by September 19, 2024.

To do this, simply

1. Log into the NESS Members Only Area
2. Click on the option to "Sponsor a New Member" and follow the on-screen prompts.

If you have any questions, please contact the NESS administrative offices or call 978-927-8330.

The NESS reminds you to check out its Job Board, where you will find all of the best surgery jobs in New England and beyond, in one place. If you are either seeking a job in surgery or need to hire surgeons, visit the NESS Job Board to:

• Search for and quickly apply to great, relevant jobs
• Set up Job Alerts so you are immediately notified any time a job is posted that matches your skills or interests
• Create an anonymous job seeker profile or upload your anonymous resume so employers can find you; and
• Access job searching tools and tips.

Job seeking is always free.

If you need to hire surgeons, visit the NESS Job Board to:

• Place your job in front of NESS members
• Search our resume database of qualified candidates
• Manage jobs and applicant activity right on our site
• Limit applicants only to those who are qualified; and
• Fill your jobs more quickly with great talent

Our hope is that this resource will make a significant difference for NESS members as they navigate their career paths.