Choosing surgery means navigating a series of decisions, from identifying a specialty and building a competitive residency application to developing the skills needed to thrive as a resident.
Beginning today, the Medical Student Program at Clinical Congress 2026 will give students from all years of medical school 3 days of practical guidance, career exploration, research presentations, and opportunities to connect directly with surgeons, residents, and residency program directors.
“The Medical Student Program is an outstanding opportunity for highly motivated medical students from around the world to interact with esteemed surgical educators and learn the many ways the ACS can support them on their path to becoming surgeons,” said Jeremy Lipman, MD, MHPE, FACS, Chair of ACS Committee on Medical Student Education.
The in-person program, which continues through Monday, is designed specifically for students considering a career in surgery. Registration has reached capacity, reflecting strong interest in the program.
Today’s program, from 11:15 am to 6:00 pm, will introduce students to the many paths available within surgery. Sessions will examine the different faces of surgery, diverse professional paths, and strategies for excelling in an increasingly pass/fail academic environment.
Kenji Inaba, MD, FACS, from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, will deliver the keynote address. Students also will have an opportunity to meet surgeons from a variety of specialties and practice settings, selecting tables based on their individual interests and career goals.
Research also takes center stage today. During the Medical Student Program Quick-Shot Presentation Session, from 2:35 to 4:05 pm, 48 medical students will present research in three categories: Clinical Research; Basic Science Research; and Outcomes, Innovation, or Education Research. Awards recognizing the top presentations will be announced Monday.
Sunday’s programming, from 1:15 to 5:00 pm, will shift the focus toward residency and professional development, with content tailored to students at different stages of medical school.
Junior medical students will receive guidance on away rotations and the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities program, followed by roundtable discussions addressing how to stand out as an applicant, write an effective personal statement, and navigate the residency application process. Fourth-year students and others approaching residency will hear directly from residents about key decisions along the path to residency and beyond, as well as participate in an interactive session offering teaching strategies for rising residents.
An additional session for international and osteopathic medical students will be held Sunday from 11:30 am to 12:45 pm, addressing challenges these students may encounter and providing resources to help them successfully pursue surgical residency.
Monday’s final day, from 12:45 to 6:00 pm, will bring students closer to the transition from medical school to residency. Kyla P. Terhune, MD, MBA, FACS, ACS Senior Vice President, Education, will address participants, followed by the presentation of the Quick-Shot awards and “Lessons from Leadership: A Conversation with the ACS President and Chair of the Board of Regents.”
Students also will tackle one of the most important steps in the residency process: the interview. A session on mastering the surgical residency interview will be followed by mock interviews that allow students to put those lessons into practice.
The program will conclude with networking tailored to students’ next steps. Fourth-year students can connect directly with residency program directors, while first- through third-year students can meet surgery residents and gain firsthand perspectives on training.
Across the 3 days, students will gain exposure to the breadth of the surgical profession and opportunities to connect with those already navigating the careers they are considering, experiences not easily replicated in medical school alone.
