Newswise — WASHINGTON, DC—Last night, Carlos A. Pellegrini, MD, FACS, FRCSI (Hon.), a general surgeon from Seattle, Wash., was installed as the 94th President of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) during the Convocation ceremony that preceded the opening of the 2013 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons in Washington, DC. Dr. Pellegrini is the Henry N. Harkins Professor and Chair, Department of Surgery, at the University of Washington (UW).
Dr. Pellegrini is an esteemed world leader in the field of minimally invasive gastro-intestinal surgery. He led the way in the use of videoendoscopy for the surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease and developed the initial techniques for the minimally invasive treatment of esophageal motility disorders.
He received his medical degree in 1971 from the University of Rosario Medical School in Argentina and completed his internship and general surgery residency at Granadero Baigorria, Rosario University Hospital in Argentina. He went on to complete a fellowship in esophageal physiology and surgery and a second general surgery residency at the University of Chicago.
In 1979, he was appointed to the surgical faculty of the University of California-San Francisco (UCSF) where he developed and directed a center for gastrointestinal motility. During his tenure at UCSF, the surgical residents and medical students presented him with multiple awards for his abilities as an educator.
He left UCSF in 1993 to become the chairman of the department of surgery at the University of Washington, and in 1996, he became UW’s first Henry N. Harkins Professor and Chair in recognition of his role in strengthening the department of surgery’s clinical, teaching, and research programs. He is credited with the development of UW’s Center for Videoendoscopic Surgery, the Center for Esophageal and Gastric Surgery, and the Institute for Simulation and Interprofessional Studies. He is a longtime member of the UW Medicine’s highest decision-making bodies and chairs many committees that oversee a range of topics, including continuous professional improvement, diversity, executive search committees, and oversight of multidisciplinary practices.
A Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) since 1982, Dr. Pellegrini began serving on the ACS Board of Regents in 2001. He served as Vice-Chair of the Board from 2009-2010, and as Chair from 2010-2011. Dr. Pellegrini has also served on a number of ACS commit-tees, often assuming a leadership role. He was Chair of the Committee for the Accreditation Review of Education Institutes (2009-2013); Chair of the Board of Regents Finance Committee (2010-2011); Central Judiciary Committee (2003-2009); Medical Motion Pictures Committee (1993-1994); and International Guest Scholarship Subcommittee of the International Relations Committee (1988-1989). In addition, Dr. Pellegrini was Co-Chair of the 2012 Surgeons as Leaders Course and served as President of the ACS Northern California Chapter (1990-1991).
In addition to the ACS Presidency, his current ACS involvement includes serving on the Steering Committee on Simulation-Based Surgical Education, the Task Force on the Resident 80-Hour Work Week, and the Health Policy and Advocacy Group.
Dr. Pellegrini’s leadership contributions to the surgical profession expand well beyond his work with ACS. He served as a member of the board of directors of the American Board of Surgery (2003-2009), and as the president of several surgical societies: the World Organization for Specialized Studies on Diseases of the Esophagus (2010-2012); the Society of Surgical Chairs (2007-2008); the American Surgical Association (2005-2006); and the International Society of Digestive Surgery (2000-2002).
Dr. Pellegrini has devoted a large part of his academic career to teaching and training the next generation of surgeons. His teaching interests lie in determining what tools work best, how to use simulation to advance patient safety, and how to introduce new techniques safely into surgical practice.
Dr. Pellegrini explains his teaching and learning philosophy, saying, “I believe in training residents to become ‘total’ physicians, not just technicians. In fact, I view learning as a lifelong process for all surgeons, and I myself endeavor to maintain the highest degree of professional competence as a surgeon.”
Dr. Pellegrini publishes regularly in the field of minimally invasive surgery for upper gastrointestinal diseases, esophageal cancer, and related areas, as well as in the field of training and new technologies for preparing surgeons in this discipline. His prolific bibliography lists more than 300 articles, chapters, editorials, and books, as well as 11 surgical videos and movies. He also serves on the editorial boards of several journals, including the Journal of Laparoendoscopic Surgery and Advanced Surgical Techniques, Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Surgery, and Annals of Surgery.
He speaks four languages: English, French, Italian, and Spanish.
Dr. Pellegrini and his wife, Kelly Yamaichi, enjoy spending time with their two sons, Michael and John, their wives, Kristine and Julie, and twin grandchildren who all live in San Francisco. Their two Golden Retriever siblings, Pancho and Melba, bring additional joy to their lives.
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About the American College of Surgeons The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for surgical patients. The College has more than 79,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit: www.facs.org (.)
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