During the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Leadership & Advocacy Summit 2017 in Washington, DC, May 6–9, the ACS Professional Association political action committee (ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC) raised more than $61,000 from more than 175 members, staff, and other attendees. In addition to raising funds to elect and reelect congressional candidates who support a pro-surgeon, pro-surgical patient agenda, the Advocacy Summit provided an opportunity to recognize 2017 SurgeonsPAC contributors. SurgeonsPAC notably recognized Gary Timmerman, MD, FACS, as its newest Willens Society member. To become a member of the Willens Society—SurgeonsPAC’s highest giving level named in memory of Past-PAC Vice-Chair Mitchell Willens, MD, FACS—members must pledge a sum total of $25,000 over 10 years.
SurgeonsPAC events showcased ACSPA members’ broad-based commitment to the PAC, particularly at the SurgeonsPAC-sponsored reception at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery, which more than 175 program participants attended. Guests enjoyed VIP access to special exhibitions and views of downtown Washington, DC.
Other SurgeonsPAC-sponsored events included a political luncheon featuring special guest speaker Mara Liasson, national political correspondent for National Public Radio, and presentation of the 2016 PAC awards. For the second consecutive year, South Dakota achieved the highest percent of PAC participation. California was recognized for most dollars raised, and Michael Coburn, MD, FACS, professor and chairman, Scott Department of Urology, and the Russell and Mary Hugh Scott Chair in Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, received the Warshaw-PAC MVP Award (named in honor of Andrew L. Warshaw, MD, FACS, founder of the PAC) for his leadership raising funds within the ACS Committee on Trauma.
To learn more about SurgeonsPAC fundraising or disbursements, visit www.surgeonspac.org (log in: ACS username and password) or contact ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC staff at 202-672-1520 or surgeonspac@facs.org. For more information about the College’s legislative priorities, go to www.surgeonsvoice.org. ♦
Note
Contributions to ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Contributions are voluntary, and all members of ACSPA have the right to refuse to contribute without reprisal. Federal law prohibits ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC from accepting contributions from foreign nations. By law, if your contributions are made using a personal check or credit card, ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC may only use your contribution to support candidates in federal elections. All corporate contributions to ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC will be used for educational and administrative fees of ACSPA and other activities permissible under federal law. Federal law requires ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC to use its best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and the name of the employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year. ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC is a program of the ACSPA, which is exempt from federal income tax under section 501c (6) of the Internal Revenue Code.