Patricia Turner, M.D., MBA, FACS, Executive Director and CEO of the American College of Surgeons Grand Rounds: “The Power of Quality”

The Department of Surgery’s invited lecture series brings national experts in surgery to MUSC throughout the academic year to educate residents and faculty, provide an opportunity to exchange ideas, and present at Grand Rounds.

Patricia Turner, M.D., MBA, FACS, Executive Director and CEO of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), was the distinguished invited speaker during February’s Grand Rounds.The ACS is dedicated to improving the care of surgical patients and safeguarding standards of care in an optimal and ethical practice environment. It is the largest organization of surgeons in the world, representing more than 90,000 surgeons in 144 countries.

Dr. Turner gave an insightful talk, “The Power of Quality.” During her talk, Turner discussed the history of the ACS, the significance of its quality programs, and the latest ACS quality initiative, the “Power of Quality Campaign,” a national campaign launched in 2022 to further improve patient care and safety in hospitals nationwide.

Quality has been a cornerstone of the ACS since its founding 110 years ago. Turner highlighted how the ACS Quality Programs equip surgeons and hospitals to deliver excellent patient care in various specialties, including cancer, trauma, bariatric, vascular, and emergency surgery. For instance, the ACS Committee on Trauma sets standards to ensure that hospitals are well prepared to care for injured patients, especially during those critical early moments that can mean the difference between survival and death. These quality programs also help hospitals deliver better care to specific populations, such as children and older adults. “Quality improvement has to be part of what we do at every encounter for every patient,” she said. “And the American College of Surgeons is here to partner with you in all ways, both big and small.”  

The invited lecture series is also an excellent opportunity for our resident scholars to present their research to nationally recognized leaders in academic surgery. During Turner’s visit, Lilian Hsu, M.D., PGY- Research, presented research conducted in the DeMore Lab “A Humanized Monoclonal Antibody to SFRP-2 Inhibits Triple Negative Breast Cancer Lung Metastasis,” Ryan Gedney, M.D., PGY-3, I-6 vascular surgery, talked about his research in Dr. Jean Marie Ruddy’s lab “Automated Segmentation for Use in Risk Stratification of Carotid Artery Plaques.”

Lilian Hsu, M.D. PGY-Research, presenting to Dr. Turner and session moderator, David Mahvi, M.D., FACS

Ryan Gedney, M.D. vascular I-6 PGY-3, presenting to Dr. Turner and session moderator, David Mahvi, M.D., FACS

Additionally, Kristen Quinn, M.D., PGY-4, and CEO of Heartbeat Tech, discussed the Human Centered Design Program and her role in developing Heartbeat Tech, one of the first start-ups created through the HCD Program, Saranya Sundaram, M.D., PGY-Research, discussed the SVS VQI “Fellowship in Training” Project, and Macelyn Batten, DO, PGY-Research and a Ralph H. Johnson VAMC VAQS Research Fellow, presented her research, “Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration Utilization Within the VA: A Needs Assessment Survey.”

About Dr. Turner

Dr. Turner is a minimally invasive surgeon who, prior to joining the ACS Executive Leadership Team, was on the faculty of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, where she was the surgery residency program director and medical director of the surgical acute care unit. Dr. Turner is currently on the faculty in the surgery department at the University of Chicago Medicine, IL.

A University of Pennsylvania graduate, Turner earned a doctor of medicine degree at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her surgical training as an intern and resident was at Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC, where she spent two years at the National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute conducting bench research.

She completed a minimally invasive and laparoscopic surgery fellowship at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Weill-Cornell University School of Medicine, and Columbia University School of Medicine in New York City. She earned a Master of Business Administration degree at the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business, graduating with the highest honors.

Dr. Turner has published and presented widely on minimally invasive surgical techniques, leadership, innovation, quality improvement, surgical outcomes, and graduate surgical education. She has received numerous awards, honors, and multiple grants for her research as a surgeon investigator. Dr. Turner is committed to assuring that there are no artificial barriers to surgeons leading full and productive lives, both personally and professionally.