Specialized Sessions Meet Rural Surgeons Where They Are

The ACS has long championed the interests of rural surgeons, who provide care for nearly 50 million Americans living in rural and small communities, and Clinical Congress 2026 reflects that commitment more fully than ever.

 “This year's Congress has a special emphasis on rural surgery, with at least 35 sessions that are pertinent to rural surgeons and the unique challenges they face,” said Robert P. Sticca, MD, FACS, ACS Second Vice-President and a general surgeon involved in rural surgery initiatives.

The breadth of the program recognizes that rural surgeons often must practice across a wider range of conditions and circumstances than their counterparts in larger centers. 

Clinical Congress 2026 will offer practical education on managing complex general surgery cases, determining when and how to refer patients to tertiary centers, addressing massive hemorrhage in rural settings, navigating the transition into practice, and building referral relationships with regional centers.

Education focused on emergency general surgery, trauma and resuscitation, surgical decision-making, and perioperative care can help rural surgeons prepare for difficult cases and situations when transfer to a higher-level center may not be immediately possible.

The program also considers the broader challenges of sustaining surgical care in rural communities. Sessions on surgical leadership, workforce development, and the transition into practice examine strategies for recruiting and retaining surgeons, while discussions of collaboration and referral relationships can help strengthen connections with regional medical centers and maintain access to care close to home.

Beyond the educational sessions, Clinical Congress provides an opportunity to connect with colleagues facing similar challenges, exchange practical solutions, and learn from surgeons working in different practice environments.

The rural surgery sessions available through the Clinical Congress App include:

Sunday

• 12:45 pm: PS104. Should They Stay or Should They Go? Managing Complex Cases in Rural to Urban Transfers
• 2:30 pm: PS114. Innovations and Advances in Telehealth for Surgeons
• 4:15 pm: PS124. Establishing Remote Mentorship for the Early Career Rural Surgeon
• 4:15 pm: PS125. Navigating High-Stakes Decisions in the Unstable Rural Trauma Patient

Tuesday

• 8:00 am: PS323. Locum Tenens as a Growing Practice Niche: Solution or Signal?
• 9:45 am: PS324. Telesurgery: The Next Frontier Is Here

The full Rural Surgery track features additional sessions for rural or small community surgeons.