Trade Associations
Here's a look at documents from national and international trade associations
Featured Stories
Statement From Ian P. Moloney, Chief Policy Officer of the American Fintech Council, on JPMorgan Data-Sharing
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- The American Fintech Council, an organization that says it promotes a transparent, inclusive and customer-centric financial system, issued the following news release:
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September 25, 2026
Statement from Ian P. Moloney, Chief Policy Officer of the American Fintech Council (AFC), on JPMorgan Data-Sharing
The American Fintech Council (AFC) and its members are committed to advancing open, secure, and competitive financial options, ensuring consumers retain full ownership and control over their personal financial data.
Once again, JPMorgan is putting artificial barriers ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- The American Fintech Council, an organization that says it promotes a transparent, inclusive and customer-centric financial system, issued the following news release: * * * September 25, 2026 Statement from Ian P. Moloney, Chief Policy Officer of the American Fintech Council (AFC), on JPMorgan Data-Sharing The American Fintech Council (AFC) and its members are committed to advancing open, secure, and competitive financial options, ensuring consumers retain full ownership and control over their personal financial data. Once again, JPMorgan is putting artificial barriersin place for everyday families who just want seamless access to and control over their own financial data.
Whether it's imposing hidden access fees or manufacturing deliberate friction through forced re-confirmations, the underlying strategy hasn't changed: protecting legacy market power at the direct expense of consumer choice.
Let's be clear--consumers, not mega-banks on Wall Street, own their financial data. Disrupting access to modern, trusted fintech tools under the guise of security limits competition and penalizes millions of hard-working Americans who rely on these services every single day to manage their money and build financial health.
AFC will continue to fight for clear, consistent rules of the road and an open banking ecosystem that respects consumer rights.
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Original text here: https://www.fintechcouncil.org/press-releases/statement-from-ian-p-moloney-chief-policy-officer-of-the-american-fintech-council-afc-on-jpmorgan-data-sharing
[Category: Financial Services]
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September 25, 2026
Statement from Ian P. Moloney, Chief Policy Officer of the American Fintech Council (AFC), on JPMorgan Data-Sharing
The American Fintech Council (AFC) and its members are committed to advancing open, secure, and competitive financial options, ensuring consumers retain full ownership and control over their personal financial data.
Once again, JPMorgan is putting artificial barriers ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- The American Fintech Council, an organization that says it promotes a transparent, inclusive and customer-centric financial system, issued the following news release: * * * September 25, 2026 Statement from Ian P. Moloney, Chief Policy Officer of the American Fintech Council (AFC), on JPMorgan Data-Sharing The American Fintech Council (AFC) and its members are committed to advancing open, secure, and competitive financial options, ensuring consumers retain full ownership and control over their personal financial data. Once again, JPMorgan is putting artificial barriersin place for everyday families who just want seamless access to and control over their own financial data.
Whether it's imposing hidden access fees or manufacturing deliberate friction through forced re-confirmations, the underlying strategy hasn't changed: protecting legacy market power at the direct expense of consumer choice.
Let's be clear--consumers, not mega-banks on Wall Street, own their financial data. Disrupting access to modern, trusted fintech tools under the guise of security limits competition and penalizes millions of hard-working Americans who rely on these services every single day to manage their money and build financial health.
AFC will continue to fight for clear, consistent rules of the road and an open banking ecosystem that respects consumer rights.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.fintechcouncil.org/press-releases/statement-from-ian-p-moloney-chief-policy-officer-of-the-american-fintech-council-afc-on-jpmorgan-data-sharing
[Category: Financial Services]
Six Surgeons Honored With 2026 ACS/Pfizer Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 26 -- The American College of Surgeons issued the following news release:
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Six Surgeons Honored with 2026 ACS/Pfizer Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards
American College of Surgeons/Pfizer awards recognize surgeons' efforts to bring quality surgical care to patients worldwide
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CHICAGO (September 25, 2026) -- Six distinguished surgeons with leadership positions in global health across the nation and abroad will be recognized for their relentless efforts to bring surgical care to underserved communities worldwide, receiving the 2026 American College of ... Show Full Article CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 26 -- The American College of Surgeons issued the following news release: * * * Six Surgeons Honored with 2026 ACS/Pfizer Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards American College of Surgeons/Pfizer awards recognize surgeons' efforts to bring quality surgical care to patients worldwide - CHICAGO (September 25, 2026) -- Six distinguished surgeons with leadership positions in global health across the nation and abroad will be recognized for their relentless efforts to bring surgical care to underserved communities worldwide, receiving the 2026 American College ofSurgeons (ACS)/Pfizer Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards.
The honorees will be celebrated at the ACS Clinical Congress 2026 during the annual Board of Governors reception and dinner in Washington, DC. The awards, presented by the ACS Board of Governors Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards Workgroup, are administered through the ACS Health Outreach Program for Equity in Global Surgery (ACS H.O.P.E.(R)).
Juan Carlos Puyana, MD, FACS, professor of surgery and critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and the O'Brien Chair of Global Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Dublin, will receive the ACS/Pfizer Academic Global Surgeon Award for more than three decades of work transforming trauma care and surgical education in resource-limited settings. Through enduring partnerships across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, Dr. Puyana has strengthened trauma systems, expanded blood transfusion services, established trauma registries, and supported the development of national treatment protocols. He has mentored more than 25 international trainees who have gone on to lead hospitals, academic departments, trauma programs, registries, and ministries of health throughout Latin America and Africa.
Steven M. Roser, DMD, MD, FACS, the Delos Hill Chair of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, professor of surgery, and residency program director at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, and chief of oral and maxillofacial surgery at Grady Memorial Hospital, will receive the ACS/Pfizer International Surgical Volunteerism Award for more than 50 years of dedication to restoring lives and expanding access to care for children born with cleft lip and palate deformities worldwide. Beginning with Project HOPE in China and continuing through annual volunteer missions across Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, Dr. Roser has organized and directed recurring outreach programs in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Nicaragua, Thailand, and Rwanda, helping provide reconstructive surgery to more than 3,000 children. He has trained more than 60 US surgical residents and 30 international trainees.
Ingrid M. Lizarraga, MBBS, FACS, medical director of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Breast Health Center and program director of the multidisciplinary breast fellowship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, will receive the ACS/Pfizer Domestic Surgical Volunteerism Award for her work improving access to comprehensive cancer care in rural America. Through extensive volunteer service with the ACS Commission on Cancer (CoC), including her leadership as Iowa State Chair, Dr. Lizarraga has partnered with hospitals across the region to achieve CoC accreditation, implement evidence-based quality standards, establish multidisciplinary cancer programs, and improve access to comprehensive cancer care closer to home. Her leadership also helped shape the CoC's Rural Accreditation pathway, extending innovative approaches to rural cancer care to communities nationwide.
Brian Gavitt, MD, MPH, FACS, a distinguished military surgeon and trauma leader, will receive the ACS/Pfizer Military Surgical Volunteerism Award for his work building trauma systems, strengthening international partnerships, and investing in sustainable medical education. Among his most significant contributions was serving as the inaugural trauma director for the US military's embedded Trauma, Burn, and Rehabilitation Medicine team in the United Arab Emirates, where he worked alongside civilian clinicians at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City in Abu Dhabi to establish a comprehensive trauma program. Working with the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, Dr. Gavitt authored the nation's first trauma center standards, enacted in 2023. Since 2024, he has led the US Air Force's medical engagements across Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
Phillip J. Hsu, MD, PhD, a general surgery resident at the University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor, will be recognized with the ACS/Pfizer Resident Surgical Volunteerism Award for his extraordinary commitment to improving access to surgical care through service, innovation, and education. As co-founder and director of the Bridgeport Free Clinic in Chicago, he led teams providing screening and urgent care services to economically disadvantaged immigrant families. During residency, Dr. Hsu broadened his impact through sustained work in Afghanistan, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and other low-resource settings. Among his most significant contributions is ADEPT Rwanda, a Ministry of Health-supported educational initiative that equips general practitioners to recognize and manage pediatric surgical conditions while building long-term teaching capacity through a train-the-trainer model.
Stephen M. Kelley, MD, FACS, medical director of Memorial Christian Hospital in southeastern Bangladesh, will be honored with the ACS/Pfizer Surgical Humanitarian Award for nearly three decades of providing surgical care for patients who would otherwise have little or no access to lifesaving treatment. Since 1996, Dr. Kelley has made southeastern Bangladesh his home, where he has performed more than 30,000 operations while introducing the region's first laparoscopic, thoracic, vascular, and advanced endoscopic procedures. He has mentored generations of Bangladeshi physicians and healthcare professionals and helped establish training programs for nurses, medics, operating room technicians, and surgical trainees. He also led the planning, fundraising, and construction of a modern 125,000-square-foot replacement hospital.
Clinical Congress attendees are invited to hear the honorees speak on their experiences at the Panel Session, "Humanitarian Surgical Outreach at Home and Abroad: Reports of the 2026 Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Award Recipients," on Sunday, September 27.
Learn more about each recipient's activities in the ACS Bulletin.
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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 all 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 all surgical patients. The College has approximately 95,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
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Original text here: https://www.facs.org/media-center/press-releases/2026/six-surgeons-honored-with-2026-acspfizer-surgical-volunteerism-and-humanitarian-awards/
[Category: Medical]
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Six Surgeons Honored with 2026 ACS/Pfizer Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards
American College of Surgeons/Pfizer awards recognize surgeons' efforts to bring quality surgical care to patients worldwide
-
CHICAGO (September 25, 2026) -- Six distinguished surgeons with leadership positions in global health across the nation and abroad will be recognized for their relentless efforts to bring surgical care to underserved communities worldwide, receiving the 2026 American College of ... Show Full Article CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 26 -- The American College of Surgeons issued the following news release: * * * Six Surgeons Honored with 2026 ACS/Pfizer Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards American College of Surgeons/Pfizer awards recognize surgeons' efforts to bring quality surgical care to patients worldwide - CHICAGO (September 25, 2026) -- Six distinguished surgeons with leadership positions in global health across the nation and abroad will be recognized for their relentless efforts to bring surgical care to underserved communities worldwide, receiving the 2026 American College ofSurgeons (ACS)/Pfizer Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards.
The honorees will be celebrated at the ACS Clinical Congress 2026 during the annual Board of Governors reception and dinner in Washington, DC. The awards, presented by the ACS Board of Governors Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards Workgroup, are administered through the ACS Health Outreach Program for Equity in Global Surgery (ACS H.O.P.E.(R)).
Juan Carlos Puyana, MD, FACS, professor of surgery and critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and the O'Brien Chair of Global Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Dublin, will receive the ACS/Pfizer Academic Global Surgeon Award for more than three decades of work transforming trauma care and surgical education in resource-limited settings. Through enduring partnerships across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, Dr. Puyana has strengthened trauma systems, expanded blood transfusion services, established trauma registries, and supported the development of national treatment protocols. He has mentored more than 25 international trainees who have gone on to lead hospitals, academic departments, trauma programs, registries, and ministries of health throughout Latin America and Africa.
Steven M. Roser, DMD, MD, FACS, the Delos Hill Chair of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, professor of surgery, and residency program director at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, and chief of oral and maxillofacial surgery at Grady Memorial Hospital, will receive the ACS/Pfizer International Surgical Volunteerism Award for more than 50 years of dedication to restoring lives and expanding access to care for children born with cleft lip and palate deformities worldwide. Beginning with Project HOPE in China and continuing through annual volunteer missions across Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, Dr. Roser has organized and directed recurring outreach programs in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Nicaragua, Thailand, and Rwanda, helping provide reconstructive surgery to more than 3,000 children. He has trained more than 60 US surgical residents and 30 international trainees.
Ingrid M. Lizarraga, MBBS, FACS, medical director of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Breast Health Center and program director of the multidisciplinary breast fellowship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, will receive the ACS/Pfizer Domestic Surgical Volunteerism Award for her work improving access to comprehensive cancer care in rural America. Through extensive volunteer service with the ACS Commission on Cancer (CoC), including her leadership as Iowa State Chair, Dr. Lizarraga has partnered with hospitals across the region to achieve CoC accreditation, implement evidence-based quality standards, establish multidisciplinary cancer programs, and improve access to comprehensive cancer care closer to home. Her leadership also helped shape the CoC's Rural Accreditation pathway, extending innovative approaches to rural cancer care to communities nationwide.
Brian Gavitt, MD, MPH, FACS, a distinguished military surgeon and trauma leader, will receive the ACS/Pfizer Military Surgical Volunteerism Award for his work building trauma systems, strengthening international partnerships, and investing in sustainable medical education. Among his most significant contributions was serving as the inaugural trauma director for the US military's embedded Trauma, Burn, and Rehabilitation Medicine team in the United Arab Emirates, where he worked alongside civilian clinicians at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City in Abu Dhabi to establish a comprehensive trauma program. Working with the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, Dr. Gavitt authored the nation's first trauma center standards, enacted in 2023. Since 2024, he has led the US Air Force's medical engagements across Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
Phillip J. Hsu, MD, PhD, a general surgery resident at the University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor, will be recognized with the ACS/Pfizer Resident Surgical Volunteerism Award for his extraordinary commitment to improving access to surgical care through service, innovation, and education. As co-founder and director of the Bridgeport Free Clinic in Chicago, he led teams providing screening and urgent care services to economically disadvantaged immigrant families. During residency, Dr. Hsu broadened his impact through sustained work in Afghanistan, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and other low-resource settings. Among his most significant contributions is ADEPT Rwanda, a Ministry of Health-supported educational initiative that equips general practitioners to recognize and manage pediatric surgical conditions while building long-term teaching capacity through a train-the-trainer model.
Stephen M. Kelley, MD, FACS, medical director of Memorial Christian Hospital in southeastern Bangladesh, will be honored with the ACS/Pfizer Surgical Humanitarian Award for nearly three decades of providing surgical care for patients who would otherwise have little or no access to lifesaving treatment. Since 1996, Dr. Kelley has made southeastern Bangladesh his home, where he has performed more than 30,000 operations while introducing the region's first laparoscopic, thoracic, vascular, and advanced endoscopic procedures. He has mentored generations of Bangladeshi physicians and healthcare professionals and helped establish training programs for nurses, medics, operating room technicians, and surgical trainees. He also led the planning, fundraising, and construction of a modern 125,000-square-foot replacement hospital.
Clinical Congress attendees are invited to hear the honorees speak on their experiences at the Panel Session, "Humanitarian Surgical Outreach at Home and Abroad: Reports of the 2026 Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Award Recipients," on Sunday, September 27.
Learn more about each recipient's activities in the ACS Bulletin.
* * *
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 all 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 all surgical patients. The College has approximately 95,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
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Original text here: https://www.facs.org/media-center/press-releases/2026/six-surgeons-honored-with-2026-acspfizer-surgical-volunteerism-and-humanitarian-awards/
[Category: Medical]
IGFA and the National Park Service Work Together to Connect People to Parks Through Recreational Fishing
DANIA BEACH, Florida, Sept. 26 -- The International Game Fish Association issued the following news:
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Let's Go Fishing!
IGFA and the National Park Service Work Together to Connect People to Parks Through Recreational Fishing
The IGFA completed another stellar year of angling education events in National Park Service (NPS) locations across the country, thanks to the continued support from the National Park Foundation.
-
Building on more than seven years of collaboration with the pilot program launching in 2019, our collaboration with National Park Service (NPS) locations across the country, ... Show Full Article DANIA BEACH, Florida, Sept. 26 -- The International Game Fish Association issued the following news: * * * Let's Go Fishing! IGFA and the National Park Service Work Together to Connect People to Parks Through Recreational Fishing The IGFA completed another stellar year of angling education events in National Park Service (NPS) locations across the country, thanks to the continued support from the National Park Foundation. - Building on more than seven years of collaboration with the pilot program launching in 2019, our collaboration with National Park Service (NPS) locations across the country,through continued support from the National Park Foundation, continues to advance the Junior Ranger: Let's Go Fishing! initiative as an effective pathway for connecting youth, families, and park communities with public lands and waters through responsible and ethical angling.
To date, the IGFA has supported 35 NPS sites through the distribution of Passports to Fishing (P2F) toolkits, in-person Learn-to-Fish events, and staff training, reaching more than 27,200 Junior Ranger Anglers nationwide. Lessons learned from this work highlight the importance of pairing tangible resources with comprehensive training, particularly for staff, interns, and volunteers without prior angling experience. Over the past seven years, IGFA has expanded our role to include in-person and virtual training, digital education tools, and sustained partnerships with community organizations, including working with Ebony Anglers again this year at Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina.
This year, we focused on teaching and training people to enjoy national public lands through recreational fishing and ethical angling practices. Key activities included equipping new park sites with P2F toolkits, launching a permanent online training resource, supporting Fish & Feathers intern training in collaboration with Environment for the Americas, and delivering a multi-session virtual training workshop.
To start, the IGFA hosted two live virtual webinars in April covering topics for "Fishing Different Bodies of Water" and "Fishing Fundamentals" for Junior Ranger Angler grantees as a two-part training workshop preparing them for the busy spring and summer seasons of fishing programming and event facilitation. The first introduced participants to the various bodies of water that could be found in public lands across the country and basic gear and rigs to fish them, as well as an introduction to what game fish species could be found in each. The second took a deeper dive into the fundamentals of recreational fishing and ways to teach those concepts. Such topics as tying basic fishing knots, how to teach someone to cast a spincast and a spinning combo, what safety tips to keep in mind while hosting angling education events, and why conservation and stewardship are important to teach the next generation of ethical anglers were covered.
In May, the IGFA set out for Rocky Mountain National Park again in Colorado. There, we worked with Environment for the Americas to train the 2026 Fish & Feathers interns on learning to spin fish and how to teach others to spin fish. IGFA Education Manager, Nick DeGennaro, taught 24 interns this year about the fundamentals of recreational spinning gear and walked them through presentations on how to fish different bodies of water and how to identify certain game fish they could find at their park sites.
Along with the interns learning how to fish themselves, many learning for the first time, they also led a public fishing event where they turned into the instructors who were teaching others to fish, and again, many were learning how to fish for the first time. Their newly acquired skills were put to the test to relay the concepts and activities of the Passports to Fishing stations to all participants, where the average age of those who attended was 5 or 6 years old. IGFA Education Director, Lisa Morse took the interns through the stations before the event, and every year, the interns knock it out of the park! They do such a great job and make the evening quite enjoyable for all who attend.
After this week-long training workshop in May, the interns are then dispersed to various parks nationwide where they conduct their own fishing and birding programs for members and visitors. Covering a variety of fishing techniques and game fish species can prove difficult as the United States has a plethora of waters and angling opportunities. However, the interns remain engaged and interested in learning all they can and continue to maintain communication with the IGFA throughout their 12-week summer internship. Some also request to obtain Passports to Fishing toolkits for their site to help their fishing programming, in which four kits have been distributed to Obed Wild & Scenic River in Tennessee, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Kentucky, Fort Washington Park in Maryland, and Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens in Washington, DC. Another request was just received from Christiansted National Historic Site in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, which is already in transit!
Kat A., who was the F&F intern at Rocky Mountain National Park this year, had this to say about programs where she took part over the summer: "During the program, I taught young anglers about trout stewardship and what it means to fish responsibly. One of the most important lessons we discussed was that being a good angler is about much more than catching the biggest fish. It means respecting wildlife, handling fish carefully, practicing ethical catch-and-release techniques, and helping protect aquatic ecosystems so future generations can enjoy them as well. Experiences like this made me realize how much I enjoy connecting people with my favorite hobby and being able to educate them on it."
The IGFA also enjoys connecting people with national public lands through recreational fishing. In fact, wherever our travels took us over the last few years, we brought a camera to record strategic educational tutorials to build online training resources. On September 1, 2026, we launched the Fishing National Public Lands online course to teach anyone how to fish safely and responsibly in public lands, not just in National Parks. This course is available at no cost and is also for anyone who would like to host an angling education event, with safety, conservation, and ethical angling practices as key components of their events, and how they can utilize the IGFA as a resource, especially with the use of the Passports to Fishing program in their efforts.
National public lands encompass about 640 million acres of land collectively owned by all citizens of the United States, and within this land, a plethora of game fish inhabit a variety of waterways that it is our duty to conserve and protect as ethical anglers. Another intern who attended the training workshop in Rocky Mountain National Park interned at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in New York. This is what Grace had to say about the program at her public land site: "To cap off my week, Saturday, June 6th, we hosted a family fishing day. I was very excited for this day because I was able to get the Passports to Fishing Kit from the IGFA for our refuge. The stations for the passports helped out a lot, as not everyone knew the basics of fishing. Participants were especially interested in learning how to tie the knots. I was happy I was able to get this wonderful resource for our refuge. Thank you, IGFA!" The IGFA Passports to Fishing program is just one avenue working to educate new generations about game fish conservation and ethical angling practices, and it is not only distributed to recipients in the United States but around the world as tangible tools with the core mission of teaching the fundamentals of our sport and the need for responsible, ethical angling and the sustainable use of our natural resources.
Thank You for Your Continued Support!
If you are interested in the Passports to Fishing program or to donate to this work that must continue, please contact IGFA Education Director, Lisa Morse, at lmorse@igfa.org.
The Passports to Fishing program and Junior Ranger Angler initiative started around the same time in 2019, and it is exciting to see these two programs still going strong, reaching thousands of youth every year across the United States and beyond. To all our supporters, we cannot thank you enough, especially to the National Park Foundation for this specific project. It has been a pleasure working with National Park Service staff, volunteers, and interns throughout the years and having the privilege to visit some of our national treasures.
To our grant funders, donors, and Corporate Partners who support the IGFA Education Initiatives, we thank you as well for gifting youth and families these opportunities to experience the joys of fishing and to build a passion for venturing outside, where they create memories and lifelong bonds to the sport and to our beloved game fish. We would like to give a shoutout to our partners at Bass Pro Shops for outfitting our staff with the proper gear to withstand various weather conditions and waterways we fished in these national treasures.
Don't forget to sign up and explore Fishing National Public Lands! It's free! Also, National Public Lands Day and National Hunting and Fishing Day both fall on September 26, 2026, this year. So, after you learn, head outside to explore, learn, protect, and to do some fishing. We'll see you out there!
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Original text here: https://igfa.org/2026/09/24/igfa-and-the-national-park-service-connecting-people-to-parks-through-recreational-fishing/
[Category: Environment]
* * *
Let's Go Fishing!
IGFA and the National Park Service Work Together to Connect People to Parks Through Recreational Fishing
The IGFA completed another stellar year of angling education events in National Park Service (NPS) locations across the country, thanks to the continued support from the National Park Foundation.
-
Building on more than seven years of collaboration with the pilot program launching in 2019, our collaboration with National Park Service (NPS) locations across the country, ... Show Full Article DANIA BEACH, Florida, Sept. 26 -- The International Game Fish Association issued the following news: * * * Let's Go Fishing! IGFA and the National Park Service Work Together to Connect People to Parks Through Recreational Fishing The IGFA completed another stellar year of angling education events in National Park Service (NPS) locations across the country, thanks to the continued support from the National Park Foundation. - Building on more than seven years of collaboration with the pilot program launching in 2019, our collaboration with National Park Service (NPS) locations across the country,through continued support from the National Park Foundation, continues to advance the Junior Ranger: Let's Go Fishing! initiative as an effective pathway for connecting youth, families, and park communities with public lands and waters through responsible and ethical angling.
To date, the IGFA has supported 35 NPS sites through the distribution of Passports to Fishing (P2F) toolkits, in-person Learn-to-Fish events, and staff training, reaching more than 27,200 Junior Ranger Anglers nationwide. Lessons learned from this work highlight the importance of pairing tangible resources with comprehensive training, particularly for staff, interns, and volunteers without prior angling experience. Over the past seven years, IGFA has expanded our role to include in-person and virtual training, digital education tools, and sustained partnerships with community organizations, including working with Ebony Anglers again this year at Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina.
This year, we focused on teaching and training people to enjoy national public lands through recreational fishing and ethical angling practices. Key activities included equipping new park sites with P2F toolkits, launching a permanent online training resource, supporting Fish & Feathers intern training in collaboration with Environment for the Americas, and delivering a multi-session virtual training workshop.
To start, the IGFA hosted two live virtual webinars in April covering topics for "Fishing Different Bodies of Water" and "Fishing Fundamentals" for Junior Ranger Angler grantees as a two-part training workshop preparing them for the busy spring and summer seasons of fishing programming and event facilitation. The first introduced participants to the various bodies of water that could be found in public lands across the country and basic gear and rigs to fish them, as well as an introduction to what game fish species could be found in each. The second took a deeper dive into the fundamentals of recreational fishing and ways to teach those concepts. Such topics as tying basic fishing knots, how to teach someone to cast a spincast and a spinning combo, what safety tips to keep in mind while hosting angling education events, and why conservation and stewardship are important to teach the next generation of ethical anglers were covered.
In May, the IGFA set out for Rocky Mountain National Park again in Colorado. There, we worked with Environment for the Americas to train the 2026 Fish & Feathers interns on learning to spin fish and how to teach others to spin fish. IGFA Education Manager, Nick DeGennaro, taught 24 interns this year about the fundamentals of recreational spinning gear and walked them through presentations on how to fish different bodies of water and how to identify certain game fish they could find at their park sites.
Along with the interns learning how to fish themselves, many learning for the first time, they also led a public fishing event where they turned into the instructors who were teaching others to fish, and again, many were learning how to fish for the first time. Their newly acquired skills were put to the test to relay the concepts and activities of the Passports to Fishing stations to all participants, where the average age of those who attended was 5 or 6 years old. IGFA Education Director, Lisa Morse took the interns through the stations before the event, and every year, the interns knock it out of the park! They do such a great job and make the evening quite enjoyable for all who attend.
After this week-long training workshop in May, the interns are then dispersed to various parks nationwide where they conduct their own fishing and birding programs for members and visitors. Covering a variety of fishing techniques and game fish species can prove difficult as the United States has a plethora of waters and angling opportunities. However, the interns remain engaged and interested in learning all they can and continue to maintain communication with the IGFA throughout their 12-week summer internship. Some also request to obtain Passports to Fishing toolkits for their site to help their fishing programming, in which four kits have been distributed to Obed Wild & Scenic River in Tennessee, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Kentucky, Fort Washington Park in Maryland, and Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens in Washington, DC. Another request was just received from Christiansted National Historic Site in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, which is already in transit!
Kat A., who was the F&F intern at Rocky Mountain National Park this year, had this to say about programs where she took part over the summer: "During the program, I taught young anglers about trout stewardship and what it means to fish responsibly. One of the most important lessons we discussed was that being a good angler is about much more than catching the biggest fish. It means respecting wildlife, handling fish carefully, practicing ethical catch-and-release techniques, and helping protect aquatic ecosystems so future generations can enjoy them as well. Experiences like this made me realize how much I enjoy connecting people with my favorite hobby and being able to educate them on it."
The IGFA also enjoys connecting people with national public lands through recreational fishing. In fact, wherever our travels took us over the last few years, we brought a camera to record strategic educational tutorials to build online training resources. On September 1, 2026, we launched the Fishing National Public Lands online course to teach anyone how to fish safely and responsibly in public lands, not just in National Parks. This course is available at no cost and is also for anyone who would like to host an angling education event, with safety, conservation, and ethical angling practices as key components of their events, and how they can utilize the IGFA as a resource, especially with the use of the Passports to Fishing program in their efforts.
National public lands encompass about 640 million acres of land collectively owned by all citizens of the United States, and within this land, a plethora of game fish inhabit a variety of waterways that it is our duty to conserve and protect as ethical anglers. Another intern who attended the training workshop in Rocky Mountain National Park interned at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in New York. This is what Grace had to say about the program at her public land site: "To cap off my week, Saturday, June 6th, we hosted a family fishing day. I was very excited for this day because I was able to get the Passports to Fishing Kit from the IGFA for our refuge. The stations for the passports helped out a lot, as not everyone knew the basics of fishing. Participants were especially interested in learning how to tie the knots. I was happy I was able to get this wonderful resource for our refuge. Thank you, IGFA!" The IGFA Passports to Fishing program is just one avenue working to educate new generations about game fish conservation and ethical angling practices, and it is not only distributed to recipients in the United States but around the world as tangible tools with the core mission of teaching the fundamentals of our sport and the need for responsible, ethical angling and the sustainable use of our natural resources.
Thank You for Your Continued Support!
If you are interested in the Passports to Fishing program or to donate to this work that must continue, please contact IGFA Education Director, Lisa Morse, at lmorse@igfa.org.
The Passports to Fishing program and Junior Ranger Angler initiative started around the same time in 2019, and it is exciting to see these two programs still going strong, reaching thousands of youth every year across the United States and beyond. To all our supporters, we cannot thank you enough, especially to the National Park Foundation for this specific project. It has been a pleasure working with National Park Service staff, volunteers, and interns throughout the years and having the privilege to visit some of our national treasures.
To our grant funders, donors, and Corporate Partners who support the IGFA Education Initiatives, we thank you as well for gifting youth and families these opportunities to experience the joys of fishing and to build a passion for venturing outside, where they create memories and lifelong bonds to the sport and to our beloved game fish. We would like to give a shoutout to our partners at Bass Pro Shops for outfitting our staff with the proper gear to withstand various weather conditions and waterways we fished in these national treasures.
Don't forget to sign up and explore Fishing National Public Lands! It's free! Also, National Public Lands Day and National Hunting and Fishing Day both fall on September 26, 2026, this year. So, after you learn, head outside to explore, learn, protect, and to do some fishing. We'll see you out there!
* * *
Original text here: https://igfa.org/2026/09/24/igfa-and-the-national-park-service-connecting-people-to-parks-through-recreational-fishing/
[Category: Environment]
American College of Surgeons: Prostate Cancer Surgery and Radiation Have Different Long-Term Effects on Urinary, Sexual, and Survival Outcomes
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 26 (TNSxrep) -- The American College of Surgeons issued the following news release:
* * *
Prostate Cancer Surgery and Radiation Have Different Long-Term Effects on Urinary, Sexual, and Survival Outcomes
Surgery was linked to more urinary and sexual side effects, while radiation was associated with certain urinary complications and higher all-cause mortality, national study finds
September 25, 2026
Key Takeaways
* A national study of more than 20,000 men with prostate cancer compared long-term outcomes after radiation therapy or surgical removal of the prostate, with ... Show Full Article CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 26 (TNSxrep) -- The American College of Surgeons issued the following news release: * * * Prostate Cancer Surgery and Radiation Have Different Long-Term Effects on Urinary, Sexual, and Survival Outcomes Surgery was linked to more urinary and sexual side effects, while radiation was associated with certain urinary complications and higher all-cause mortality, national study finds September 25, 2026 Key Takeaways * A national study of more than 20,000 men with prostate cancer compared long-term outcomes after radiation therapy or surgical removal of the prostate, withfollow-up of up to 20 years.
* Men who underwent surgery had higher rates of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. In contrast, men treated with radiation had higher rates of certain urinary complications and higher all-cause mortality, corresponding to a 45% higher rate of death from any cause during follow-up. Researchers could not determine whether treatment contributed to the difference in deaths.
* Neither treatment was free of long-term consequences, and the authors emphasize that risks, benefits, and side effects of the options should be discussed carefully with patients.
* The findings will be presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, Sept. 26-29.
-
WASHINGTON -- Men with prostate cancer face different long-term risks depending on whether they choose surgery or radiation therapy, with surgery linked to higher rates of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction and radiation linked to higher all-cause mortality, according to a national analysis of more than 20,000 men followed for up to 20 years.
The research will be presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, Sept. 26-29, where thousands of surgeons will convene to advance surgical quality, patient safety, and access to care.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men after skin cancer, with more than 300,000 men expected to be diagnosed this year. For men whose cancer has not spread beyond the prostate, radiation therapy and surgical removal of the prostate, known as radical prostatectomy, are two common treatment options. Choosing between them can involve weighing potential effects on urinary and sexual function and other long-term health outcomes.
"Treatment for prostate cancer can be life changing for many men, whichever option they choose," said Jeffrey P. Weiss, MD, PhD, FACS, professor and chair of urology at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, and senior author of the abstract. "Both of these treatments can affect urinary and sexual function, though those risks are balanced against the potential for a cure."
Researchers analyzed medical records from more than 20,000 men in the TriNetX Research Network who underwent either radiation therapy or radical prostatectomy (including both open and laparoscopic/robotic surgical approaches). Patients were followed for up to 20 years, with a median follow-up of five years.
Each treatment group included more than 10,000 men and about 17% of patients were Black, making the study population more reflective of the demographics of men diagnosed with prostate cancer today than many earlier studies, noted Juliana Viola, first author of the study and a medical student at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Researchers also closely matched patients based on demographic and health characteristics to make the two treatment groups as comparable as possible.
Study Findings
Urinary and sexual side effects: Men who underwent surgery had higher rates of urinary incontinence (28.5% vs. 6.1%) and erectile dysfunction (35% vs. 13.9%). Urinary tract infections (7.4% vs. 4.7%) and obstructive urinary complications (3.6% vs. 2.6%) were also more common after surgery.
All-cause mortality: Men treated with radiation had higher all-cause mortality during follow-up than men who underwent surgery (7.8% vs. 6.5%). In a time-to-event analysis, radiation was associated with a 45% higher rate of death from any cause at any given point during follow-up. Because the study measured deaths from any cause, researchers could not determine whether treatment contributed to the difference.
Other urinary complications: Men treated with radiation had higher rates of urinary retention (4.4% vs. 4.1%), bladder inflammation (4.3% vs. 3.5%), blood in the urine (11% vs. 10.1%), and inflammation and pain of the prostate gland (0.49% vs. 0.17%).
While researchers closely matched the two treatment groups, other differences between patients may have influenced the results. As an observational study, the research cannot show that the treatments caused the outcomes.
"The treatment choice matters in prostate cancer. Patients should understand how the main options differ before they decide," Dr. Weiss said. "Clinicians need to recognize that these treatments differ in significant ways. The specific risks, benefits, and side effects should be discussed carefully with each patient."
The authors noted that future research could examine prostate cancer-specific survival, recurrence, and other long-term outcomes.
"In prostate cancer, clinicians and patients tend to be driven by avoiding side effects, but we need to better understand the long-term outcomes of each of these treatment options," Dr. Weiss said.
Co-authors are Myles Goliger, BS; Robert Adler, BA; Michael Kozlov, BA; Nikolaos Karanikolas, MD, FACS; and Andrew G. Winer, MD, FACS.
Disclosures: Authors have no disclosures to report.
Citation: Viola J, et al. Radiation Therapy versus Radical Prostatectomy: A Propensity-Matched Analysis of Mortality and Long-Term Urologic Sequelae. Scientific Forum, American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026.
Note: Research abstracts presented at the ACS Clinical Congress Scientific Forum are reviewed and selected by a program committee but are not yet peer reviewed.
* * *
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 all 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 all surgical patients. The College has approximately 95,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.facs.org/media-center/press-releases/2026/prostate-cancer-surgery-and-radiation-have-different-long-term-effects-on-urinary-sexual-and-survival-outcomes/
[Category: Medical]
* * *
Prostate Cancer Surgery and Radiation Have Different Long-Term Effects on Urinary, Sexual, and Survival Outcomes
Surgery was linked to more urinary and sexual side effects, while radiation was associated with certain urinary complications and higher all-cause mortality, national study finds
September 25, 2026
Key Takeaways
* A national study of more than 20,000 men with prostate cancer compared long-term outcomes after radiation therapy or surgical removal of the prostate, with ... Show Full Article CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 26 (TNSxrep) -- The American College of Surgeons issued the following news release: * * * Prostate Cancer Surgery and Radiation Have Different Long-Term Effects on Urinary, Sexual, and Survival Outcomes Surgery was linked to more urinary and sexual side effects, while radiation was associated with certain urinary complications and higher all-cause mortality, national study finds September 25, 2026 Key Takeaways * A national study of more than 20,000 men with prostate cancer compared long-term outcomes after radiation therapy or surgical removal of the prostate, withfollow-up of up to 20 years.
* Men who underwent surgery had higher rates of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. In contrast, men treated with radiation had higher rates of certain urinary complications and higher all-cause mortality, corresponding to a 45% higher rate of death from any cause during follow-up. Researchers could not determine whether treatment contributed to the difference in deaths.
* Neither treatment was free of long-term consequences, and the authors emphasize that risks, benefits, and side effects of the options should be discussed carefully with patients.
* The findings will be presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, Sept. 26-29.
-
WASHINGTON -- Men with prostate cancer face different long-term risks depending on whether they choose surgery or radiation therapy, with surgery linked to higher rates of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction and radiation linked to higher all-cause mortality, according to a national analysis of more than 20,000 men followed for up to 20 years.
The research will be presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, Sept. 26-29, where thousands of surgeons will convene to advance surgical quality, patient safety, and access to care.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men after skin cancer, with more than 300,000 men expected to be diagnosed this year. For men whose cancer has not spread beyond the prostate, radiation therapy and surgical removal of the prostate, known as radical prostatectomy, are two common treatment options. Choosing between them can involve weighing potential effects on urinary and sexual function and other long-term health outcomes.
"Treatment for prostate cancer can be life changing for many men, whichever option they choose," said Jeffrey P. Weiss, MD, PhD, FACS, professor and chair of urology at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, and senior author of the abstract. "Both of these treatments can affect urinary and sexual function, though those risks are balanced against the potential for a cure."
Researchers analyzed medical records from more than 20,000 men in the TriNetX Research Network who underwent either radiation therapy or radical prostatectomy (including both open and laparoscopic/robotic surgical approaches). Patients were followed for up to 20 years, with a median follow-up of five years.
Each treatment group included more than 10,000 men and about 17% of patients were Black, making the study population more reflective of the demographics of men diagnosed with prostate cancer today than many earlier studies, noted Juliana Viola, first author of the study and a medical student at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Researchers also closely matched patients based on demographic and health characteristics to make the two treatment groups as comparable as possible.
Study Findings
Urinary and sexual side effects: Men who underwent surgery had higher rates of urinary incontinence (28.5% vs. 6.1%) and erectile dysfunction (35% vs. 13.9%). Urinary tract infections (7.4% vs. 4.7%) and obstructive urinary complications (3.6% vs. 2.6%) were also more common after surgery.
All-cause mortality: Men treated with radiation had higher all-cause mortality during follow-up than men who underwent surgery (7.8% vs. 6.5%). In a time-to-event analysis, radiation was associated with a 45% higher rate of death from any cause at any given point during follow-up. Because the study measured deaths from any cause, researchers could not determine whether treatment contributed to the difference.
Other urinary complications: Men treated with radiation had higher rates of urinary retention (4.4% vs. 4.1%), bladder inflammation (4.3% vs. 3.5%), blood in the urine (11% vs. 10.1%), and inflammation and pain of the prostate gland (0.49% vs. 0.17%).
While researchers closely matched the two treatment groups, other differences between patients may have influenced the results. As an observational study, the research cannot show that the treatments caused the outcomes.
"The treatment choice matters in prostate cancer. Patients should understand how the main options differ before they decide," Dr. Weiss said. "Clinicians need to recognize that these treatments differ in significant ways. The specific risks, benefits, and side effects should be discussed carefully with each patient."
The authors noted that future research could examine prostate cancer-specific survival, recurrence, and other long-term outcomes.
"In prostate cancer, clinicians and patients tend to be driven by avoiding side effects, but we need to better understand the long-term outcomes of each of these treatment options," Dr. Weiss said.
Co-authors are Myles Goliger, BS; Robert Adler, BA; Michael Kozlov, BA; Nikolaos Karanikolas, MD, FACS; and Andrew G. Winer, MD, FACS.
Disclosures: Authors have no disclosures to report.
Citation: Viola J, et al. Radiation Therapy versus Radical Prostatectomy: A Propensity-Matched Analysis of Mortality and Long-Term Urologic Sequelae. Scientific Forum, American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026.
Note: Research abstracts presented at the ACS Clinical Congress Scientific Forum are reviewed and selected by a program committee but are not yet peer reviewed.
* * *
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 all 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 all surgical patients. The College has approximately 95,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.facs.org/media-center/press-releases/2026/prostate-cancer-surgery-and-radiation-have-different-long-term-effects-on-urinary-sexual-and-survival-outcomes/
[Category: Medical]
American College of Surgeons: Metastatic Colorectal Cancer is More Advanced in Younger Patients Than Older Ones, But They Survive Longer With the Disease, Study Finds
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 26 (TNSxrep) -- The American College of Surgeons issued the following news release:
* * *
Metastatic Colorectal Cancer is More Advanced in Younger Patients than Older Ones, but They Survive Longer with the Disease, Study Finds
Researchers urge a lower threshold for colonoscopy in patients aged 45 years and younger who have persistent gastrointestinal symptoms
September 25, 2026
Key Takeaways
* Patients aged 45 years and younger -- a group in which metastatic colorectal cancer continues to increase -- had advanced disease and received chemoradiation more often than ... Show Full Article CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 26 (TNSxrep) -- The American College of Surgeons issued the following news release: * * * Metastatic Colorectal Cancer is More Advanced in Younger Patients than Older Ones, but They Survive Longer with the Disease, Study Finds Researchers urge a lower threshold for colonoscopy in patients aged 45 years and younger who have persistent gastrointestinal symptoms September 25, 2026 Key Takeaways * Patients aged 45 years and younger -- a group in which metastatic colorectal cancer continues to increase -- had advanced disease and received chemoradiation more often thanolder patients, though the study was not designed to formally compare the two age groups.
* Ten-year survival in younger patients significantly exceeds that of older patients (17.8% vs. 11.4%) but "remains quite grim."
* Clinicians may need to lower their threshold for colonoscopy when younger patients have persistent gastrointestinal symptoms.
* The findings will be presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, Sept. 26-29.
-
WASHINGTON -- Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) continues to increase in patients aged 45 years or younger, and their longer survival and different disease patterns compared with older patients may warrant more aggressive scrutiny of gastrointestinal symptoms, according to new study findings.
The research will be presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, Sept. 26-29, where thousands of surgeons will convene to advance surgical quality, patient safety, and access to care.
"Unfortunately, our study shows that 10-year survival remains quite grim for younger patients, which was the most important thing we learned," said study co-author Winifred M. Lo, MD, FACS, assistant professor of general surgery at Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University in Norfolk.
The retrospective cohort study used the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program database from 2004 to 2024. It included 50,802 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), 4,256 (8.4%) of whom were aged 45 years and younger. Younger patients had longer median disease-specific survival (32 months vs. 22 months) and a higher rate of 10-year survival (17.8% vs. 11.4%) than those 45 years and older.
"That's valuable data to share with patients who are building families, planning for college, and getting married - all of these important life events," Dr. Lo said. "It's important to know what the average patient might face, even if the answer is terrible."
The study focused on mCRC in younger patients because few studies have done so, according to co-author Mary Green, DO, a resident physician at Virginia Health Sciences. "We wanted to know whether the patterns we see in older patients still hold in younger ones, and to look at other prognostic factors for anything new we could learn, given the increase in colorectal cancer," she said.
She noted the younger patients were more often female, of Black or Asian descent, and more likely to live in metropolitan areas. The nature of their cancer also differed notably from their older counterparts, Dr. Green said. They more frequently had tumors in the left-sided colon (47.8% vs. 39.8%) and rectum (28.4% vs. 18.7%).
The study also demonstrated a pattern toward a higher incidence of N2 disease (disease that has spread to four or more lymph nodes) in younger patients, although the study was not powered to compare the two cohorts. "It was interesting that both chemoradiation and advanced disease were more common in the younger population," Dr. Green said.
Based on her clinical experience, Dr. Lo said it seems younger patients with mCRC tend to have more advanced disease when they are first diagnosed compared with older patients. Younger patients who otherwise feel healthy may downplay their common, nonspecific symptoms of colorectal cancer and clinicians need to be attuned to that, she noted.
"My big recommendation is for primary care doctors and gastroenterologists. When a patient has nonspecific bloating, rectal pain, bleeding, or other unusual GI symptoms you wouldn't expect from everyday living, that person should have a very low threshold for colonoscopy," Dr. Lo added.
Disclosures: Authors have no disclosures to report.
Citation: Green M, Lo WM, et al. Young Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Experience Longer Disease-Specific Survival than the Typical Population Despite Advanced Disease: A SEER Database Analysis. Scientific Forum, American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026.
Note: Research abstracts presented at the ACS Clinical Congress Scientific Forum are reviewed and selected by a program committee but are not yet peer reviewed.
* * *
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 all 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 all surgical patients. The College has approximately 95,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.facs.org/media-center/press-releases/2026/metastatic-colorectal-cancer-is-more-advanced-in-younger-patients-than-older-ones-but-they-survive-longer-with-the-disease-study-finds/
[Category: Medical]
* * *
Metastatic Colorectal Cancer is More Advanced in Younger Patients than Older Ones, but They Survive Longer with the Disease, Study Finds
Researchers urge a lower threshold for colonoscopy in patients aged 45 years and younger who have persistent gastrointestinal symptoms
September 25, 2026
Key Takeaways
* Patients aged 45 years and younger -- a group in which metastatic colorectal cancer continues to increase -- had advanced disease and received chemoradiation more often than ... Show Full Article CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 26 (TNSxrep) -- The American College of Surgeons issued the following news release: * * * Metastatic Colorectal Cancer is More Advanced in Younger Patients than Older Ones, but They Survive Longer with the Disease, Study Finds Researchers urge a lower threshold for colonoscopy in patients aged 45 years and younger who have persistent gastrointestinal symptoms September 25, 2026 Key Takeaways * Patients aged 45 years and younger -- a group in which metastatic colorectal cancer continues to increase -- had advanced disease and received chemoradiation more often thanolder patients, though the study was not designed to formally compare the two age groups.
* Ten-year survival in younger patients significantly exceeds that of older patients (17.8% vs. 11.4%) but "remains quite grim."
* Clinicians may need to lower their threshold for colonoscopy when younger patients have persistent gastrointestinal symptoms.
* The findings will be presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, Sept. 26-29.
-
WASHINGTON -- Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) continues to increase in patients aged 45 years or younger, and their longer survival and different disease patterns compared with older patients may warrant more aggressive scrutiny of gastrointestinal symptoms, according to new study findings.
The research will be presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, Sept. 26-29, where thousands of surgeons will convene to advance surgical quality, patient safety, and access to care.
"Unfortunately, our study shows that 10-year survival remains quite grim for younger patients, which was the most important thing we learned," said study co-author Winifred M. Lo, MD, FACS, assistant professor of general surgery at Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University in Norfolk.
The retrospective cohort study used the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program database from 2004 to 2024. It included 50,802 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), 4,256 (8.4%) of whom were aged 45 years and younger. Younger patients had longer median disease-specific survival (32 months vs. 22 months) and a higher rate of 10-year survival (17.8% vs. 11.4%) than those 45 years and older.
"That's valuable data to share with patients who are building families, planning for college, and getting married - all of these important life events," Dr. Lo said. "It's important to know what the average patient might face, even if the answer is terrible."
The study focused on mCRC in younger patients because few studies have done so, according to co-author Mary Green, DO, a resident physician at Virginia Health Sciences. "We wanted to know whether the patterns we see in older patients still hold in younger ones, and to look at other prognostic factors for anything new we could learn, given the increase in colorectal cancer," she said.
She noted the younger patients were more often female, of Black or Asian descent, and more likely to live in metropolitan areas. The nature of their cancer also differed notably from their older counterparts, Dr. Green said. They more frequently had tumors in the left-sided colon (47.8% vs. 39.8%) and rectum (28.4% vs. 18.7%).
The study also demonstrated a pattern toward a higher incidence of N2 disease (disease that has spread to four or more lymph nodes) in younger patients, although the study was not powered to compare the two cohorts. "It was interesting that both chemoradiation and advanced disease were more common in the younger population," Dr. Green said.
Based on her clinical experience, Dr. Lo said it seems younger patients with mCRC tend to have more advanced disease when they are first diagnosed compared with older patients. Younger patients who otherwise feel healthy may downplay their common, nonspecific symptoms of colorectal cancer and clinicians need to be attuned to that, she noted.
"My big recommendation is for primary care doctors and gastroenterologists. When a patient has nonspecific bloating, rectal pain, bleeding, or other unusual GI symptoms you wouldn't expect from everyday living, that person should have a very low threshold for colonoscopy," Dr. Lo added.
Disclosures: Authors have no disclosures to report.
Citation: Green M, Lo WM, et al. Young Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Experience Longer Disease-Specific Survival than the Typical Population Despite Advanced Disease: A SEER Database Analysis. Scientific Forum, American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026.
Note: Research abstracts presented at the ACS Clinical Congress Scientific Forum are reviewed and selected by a program committee but are not yet peer reviewed.
* * *
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 all 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 all surgical patients. The College has approximately 95,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.facs.org/media-center/press-releases/2026/metastatic-colorectal-cancer-is-more-advanced-in-younger-patients-than-older-ones-but-they-survive-longer-with-the-disease-study-finds/
[Category: Medical]
American College of Surgeons: Deaths Linked to Treatable Emergency Surgical Conditions Are Rising in the U.S.
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 26 (TNSxrep) -- The American College of Surgeons issued the following news release:
* * *
Deaths Linked to Treatable Emergency Surgical Conditions Are Rising in the US
National death rate was about 50% higher in 2020 than in 1999 and 86% higher in rural communities
September 25, 2026
Key Takeaways
* Death rates associated with three common emergency general surgery conditions, which are rarely fatal when treated promptly, rose about 50% over two decades among U.S. adults ages 18 to 64, according to a national analysis of nearly 20,000 deaths.
* The difference was ... Show Full Article CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 26 (TNSxrep) -- The American College of Surgeons issued the following news release: * * * Deaths Linked to Treatable Emergency Surgical Conditions Are Rising in the US National death rate was about 50% higher in 2020 than in 1999 and 86% higher in rural communities September 25, 2026 Key Takeaways * Death rates associated with three common emergency general surgery conditions, which are rarely fatal when treated promptly, rose about 50% over two decades among U.S. adults ages 18 to 64, according to a national analysis of nearly 20,000 deaths. * The difference wasgreater in rural communities, where the death rate was 86% higher in 2020 than in 1999, compared with 49% higher in urban communities.
* Researchers examined deaths involving appendicitis, acute cholecystitis, and abdominal wall hernia with obstruction or gangrene, which are common emergency conditions that typically have low death rates when treated promptly.
* The findings will be presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, Sept. 26-29.
-
WASHINGTON -- Death rates associated with three common, treatable emergency general surgery conditions rose about 50% among U.S. adults ages 18 to 64 between 1999 and 2020 -- and rose nearly twice as fast in rural communities as in urban ones, according to a national analysis of nearly 20,000 deaths.
The research will be presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, Sept. 26-29, where thousands of surgeons will convene to advance surgical quality, patient safety, and access to care.
"These are conditions surgeons treat every day, and patients usually do well when they reach the operating room in time," said Vishnu Mani, MBBS, FACS, first author of the abstract, emergency general surgery medical director, and vice chair of surgery for OSF HealthCare in Peoria, Illinois. "What we found is that more working-age adults are dying with these conditions than two decades ago, which raises important questions about whether patients are getting to surgical care in time, especially in rural communities, and whether workforce shortages or other pressures are contributing."
Study Details
Led by a team at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, researchers analyzed data from the CDC WONDER Multiple Cause of Death database. The analysis included adults ages 18 to 64 whose deaths were associated with appendicitis, acute cholecystitis, or an abdominal wall hernia with obstruction or gangrene. These common emergency general surgery conditions generally have low mortality when treated promptly.
The conditions were documented on death certificates as contributing to the death but were not necessarily the primary cause. As a result, the analysis could not establish that the emergency surgical condition itself caused the death.
Among 19,601 deaths associated with the three emergency surgical conditions included in the analysis:
* The national death rate was about 50% higher in 2020 than in 1999, increasing from 0.4 to 0.6 deaths per 100,000 people. In rural communities, the rate was 86% higher in 2020 than in 1999, compared with 49% higher in urban communities.
* More recent data showed that the number of deaths remained elevated, increasing from 938 in 2021 to 973 in 2024, a 3.7% increase. Deaths increased 6.1% in rural communities compared with 3.2% in metropolitan communities. These figures reflect total deaths rather than population-based death rates.
* Death rates were consistently higher among males than females and increased with age, peaking among adults ages 55 to 64.
The study was not designed to determine what caused the increase or whether timely access to emergency surgical care contributed to the findings. Additionally, the analysis used unadjusted death rates, meaning the findings may not account for changes in the age or other characteristics of the population over time. The COVID-19 pandemic may also have influenced mortality during some years included in the analysis, but the study did not separately evaluate its impact.
Further research is needed to understand what may be driving the increase, including whether timely access to emergency surgical care, workforce availability, underlying health conditions, or other factors may have contributed to the findings.
"We saw increases across sex, age, region, and geography, which tells us this is not one group of patients or one corner of the country," said Faran Bokhari, MD, MBA, FACS, FCCP, chair of surgery at OSF HealthCare, trauma medical director, and senior author of the abstract. "The next question is why. We need to understand whether gaps in timely access to surgical care, workforce capacity, underlying health, or other factors are driving what we are seeing. That is exactly the kind of question the surgical community should be taking on together."
Co-authors are Samreen Rizwan Shaikh, MD; Arshpreet Kaur, MBBS, MS; Shugofta Aziz, MBBS; and Anoosh Farooqui, MBBS, MPH.
Disclosures: Authors have no relevant disclosures to report.
Citation: Mani V, et al. Failure of Timely Surgical Access? Rising Mortality from Treatable Emergency Conditions in U.S. Working-Age Adults -- a CDC WONDER Analysis 1999-2020; 2018-2024. Scientific Forum, American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026.
Note: Research abstracts presented at the ACS Clinical Congress Scientific Forum are reviewed and selected by a program committee but are not yet peer reviewed.
* * *
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 all 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 all surgical patients. The College has approximately 95,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.facs.org/media-center/press-releases/2026/deaths-linked-to-treatable-emergency-surgical-conditions-are-rising-in-the-us/
[Category: Medical]
* * *
Deaths Linked to Treatable Emergency Surgical Conditions Are Rising in the US
National death rate was about 50% higher in 2020 than in 1999 and 86% higher in rural communities
September 25, 2026
Key Takeaways
* Death rates associated with three common emergency general surgery conditions, which are rarely fatal when treated promptly, rose about 50% over two decades among U.S. adults ages 18 to 64, according to a national analysis of nearly 20,000 deaths.
* The difference was ... Show Full Article CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 26 (TNSxrep) -- The American College of Surgeons issued the following news release: * * * Deaths Linked to Treatable Emergency Surgical Conditions Are Rising in the US National death rate was about 50% higher in 2020 than in 1999 and 86% higher in rural communities September 25, 2026 Key Takeaways * Death rates associated with three common emergency general surgery conditions, which are rarely fatal when treated promptly, rose about 50% over two decades among U.S. adults ages 18 to 64, according to a national analysis of nearly 20,000 deaths. * The difference wasgreater in rural communities, where the death rate was 86% higher in 2020 than in 1999, compared with 49% higher in urban communities.
* Researchers examined deaths involving appendicitis, acute cholecystitis, and abdominal wall hernia with obstruction or gangrene, which are common emergency conditions that typically have low death rates when treated promptly.
* The findings will be presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, Sept. 26-29.
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WASHINGTON -- Death rates associated with three common, treatable emergency general surgery conditions rose about 50% among U.S. adults ages 18 to 64 between 1999 and 2020 -- and rose nearly twice as fast in rural communities as in urban ones, according to a national analysis of nearly 20,000 deaths.
The research will be presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, Sept. 26-29, where thousands of surgeons will convene to advance surgical quality, patient safety, and access to care.
"These are conditions surgeons treat every day, and patients usually do well when they reach the operating room in time," said Vishnu Mani, MBBS, FACS, first author of the abstract, emergency general surgery medical director, and vice chair of surgery for OSF HealthCare in Peoria, Illinois. "What we found is that more working-age adults are dying with these conditions than two decades ago, which raises important questions about whether patients are getting to surgical care in time, especially in rural communities, and whether workforce shortages or other pressures are contributing."
Study Details
Led by a team at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, researchers analyzed data from the CDC WONDER Multiple Cause of Death database. The analysis included adults ages 18 to 64 whose deaths were associated with appendicitis, acute cholecystitis, or an abdominal wall hernia with obstruction or gangrene. These common emergency general surgery conditions generally have low mortality when treated promptly.
The conditions were documented on death certificates as contributing to the death but were not necessarily the primary cause. As a result, the analysis could not establish that the emergency surgical condition itself caused the death.
Among 19,601 deaths associated with the three emergency surgical conditions included in the analysis:
* The national death rate was about 50% higher in 2020 than in 1999, increasing from 0.4 to 0.6 deaths per 100,000 people. In rural communities, the rate was 86% higher in 2020 than in 1999, compared with 49% higher in urban communities.
* More recent data showed that the number of deaths remained elevated, increasing from 938 in 2021 to 973 in 2024, a 3.7% increase. Deaths increased 6.1% in rural communities compared with 3.2% in metropolitan communities. These figures reflect total deaths rather than population-based death rates.
* Death rates were consistently higher among males than females and increased with age, peaking among adults ages 55 to 64.
The study was not designed to determine what caused the increase or whether timely access to emergency surgical care contributed to the findings. Additionally, the analysis used unadjusted death rates, meaning the findings may not account for changes in the age or other characteristics of the population over time. The COVID-19 pandemic may also have influenced mortality during some years included in the analysis, but the study did not separately evaluate its impact.
Further research is needed to understand what may be driving the increase, including whether timely access to emergency surgical care, workforce availability, underlying health conditions, or other factors may have contributed to the findings.
"We saw increases across sex, age, region, and geography, which tells us this is not one group of patients or one corner of the country," said Faran Bokhari, MD, MBA, FACS, FCCP, chair of surgery at OSF HealthCare, trauma medical director, and senior author of the abstract. "The next question is why. We need to understand whether gaps in timely access to surgical care, workforce capacity, underlying health, or other factors are driving what we are seeing. That is exactly the kind of question the surgical community should be taking on together."
Co-authors are Samreen Rizwan Shaikh, MD; Arshpreet Kaur, MBBS, MS; Shugofta Aziz, MBBS; and Anoosh Farooqui, MBBS, MPH.
Disclosures: Authors have no relevant disclosures to report.
Citation: Mani V, et al. Failure of Timely Surgical Access? Rising Mortality from Treatable Emergency Conditions in U.S. Working-Age Adults -- a CDC WONDER Analysis 1999-2020; 2018-2024. Scientific Forum, American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026.
Note: Research abstracts presented at the ACS Clinical Congress Scientific Forum are reviewed and selected by a program committee but are not yet peer reviewed.
* * *
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 all 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 all surgical patients. The College has approximately 95,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.facs.org/media-center/press-releases/2026/deaths-linked-to-treatable-emergency-surgical-conditions-are-rising-in-the-us/
[Category: Medical]
American College of Surgeons: Artificial Intelligence Model Predicts Pancreatic Cancer Risk Three Years Before Diagnosis
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 26 (TNSxrep) -- The American College of Surgeons issued the following news release:
* * *
Artificial Intelligence Model Predicts Pancreatic Cancer Risk 3 Years Before Diagnosis
Mayo Clinic researchers found the model reliably separated at-risk from low-risk individuals using routine health records, in findings to be presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2026
September 24, 2026
Key Takeaways
* Pancreatic cancer is relatively rare on a population level but highly fatal because it is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage.
* An artificial ... Show Full Article CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 26 (TNSxrep) -- The American College of Surgeons issued the following news release: * * * Artificial Intelligence Model Predicts Pancreatic Cancer Risk 3 Years Before Diagnosis Mayo Clinic researchers found the model reliably separated at-risk from low-risk individuals using routine health records, in findings to be presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2026 September 24, 2026 Key Takeaways * Pancreatic cancer is relatively rare on a population level but highly fatal because it is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. * An artificialintelligence model that drew on comprehensive health data from nearly 40,000 patients aimed at identifying subtle clues of pancreatic cancer early.
* The model showed a high accuracy to distinguish between people at risk for pancreatic cancer and those with low risk up to three years before diagnosis.
* These findings will be presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, Sept. 26-29.
-
WASHINGTON -- Researchers at Mayo Clinic have designed an artificial intelligence model that can potentially predict an individual's risk of developing pancreatic cancer years before diagnosis.
The research will be presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, Sept. 26-29, where thousands of surgeons will convene to advance surgical quality, patient safety, and access to care.
Pancreatic cancer is relatively rare but highly deadly, with about 67,000 new diagnoses and 52,000 deaths in 2026, according to the American Cancer Society. Its share of cancer deaths is outsized: pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of all new cancers but 8% of all cancer deaths.
"Pancreatic cancer can be curable, but only when we catch it early -- and fewer than one in five patients is diagnosed in time," said study co-author Cornelius Thiels, DO, MBA, FACS, a surgical oncologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. "As a result, survival for many patients is still measured in months, not years."
Unfortunately, universal screening for pancreatic cancer isn't feasible, Dr. Thiels said, so his team set out to develop an AI model that can identify patients at greatest risk of developing cancer of the pancreas.
"We know that pancreatic cancer forms over five to seven years, but the things that a clinician or patient sees don't happen until it's too late," he said.
The model Dr. Thiels, lead study author Chris Varghese, MBChB, and their team developed used individual patients' longitudinal health history -- essentially the detailed, comprehensive patient information in a patient's electronic health record to get a full picture of a patient's health over time -- from the Mayo Clinic system. The model combined that data with results of routine laboratory tests obtained over an average of a decade or more.
The study dataset included 6,066 individuals with pancreatic cancer and 33,396 controls with 7.5 to 19 years of clinical histories. The goal was to identify subtle clues that could point to a risk of pancreatic cancer early on, Dr. Thiels said.
To test the model's effectiveness at predicting pancreatic cancer three years prior to diagnosis, the researchers calculated area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve to distinguish between people at risk for pancreatic cancer and those with low risk. The AUROC was 0.853, on a scale where 1.0 would represent perfect discrimination and 0.5 would be no better than chance. The model also showed a strong ability to identify patients truly at risk while limiting false positives, with an area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC) of 0.712.
The study also showed the model was well calibrated on the calibration curve, a measure of how closely a model's predicted risk matches what actually happens, with a calibration plot slope of 1.08. "Our model showed that a greater than 50% risk of pancreas cancer predicted by our model indicated an 88% likelihood of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in one year," said Dr. Varghese, a surgical data scientist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
"We built this to be as generalizable, scalable, and easy to put into practice as possible," Dr. Varghese added. The data inputs the model relies on are captured almost universally in hospital systems worldwide, Dr. Varghese said. "If it's shown to work, it could be used in almost any setting," he added.
The researchers are deploying the model on a research basis, Dr. Thiels said. "We're proving that we can move this from a retrospective research tool into our clinical environment and run it prospectively for validation," he said.
They are also working to further validate the model within Mayo prospectively and, this year, at a non-Mayo system, Dr. Thiels said. "We are also working on developing more advanced machine learning architectures, which appear to improve the performance even more," he added.
Study co-authors with Dr. Thiels and Dr. Varghese are Leo Yan Li-Han, PhD; Tanios S. Bekaii-Saab, MD; Richa Bisht, MD; Ajit H. Goenka, MD; John D. Halamka, MD, MS; Ellen L. Larson, MD; Frank G. Lee, MD; Michael L. Kendrick, MD, FACS; Shounak Majumder, MD; Hojjat Salehinejad, PhD; and Mark J. Truty, MD, MS.
Disclosures: Authors have no disclosures to report.
Citation: Varghese C, et al. Enabling Digital Screening for Pancreatic Cancer using Artificial Intelligence Analysis of Disease Trajectories. Scientific Forum, American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026.
Note: Research abstracts presented at the ACS Clinical Congress Scientific Forum are reviewed and selected by a program committee but are not yet peer reviewed.
* * *
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 all 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 all surgical patients. The College has approximately 95,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.facs.org/media-center/press-releases/2026/artificial-intelligence-model-predicts-pancreatic-cancer-risk-3-years-before-diagnosis/
[Category: Medical]
* * *
Artificial Intelligence Model Predicts Pancreatic Cancer Risk 3 Years Before Diagnosis
Mayo Clinic researchers found the model reliably separated at-risk from low-risk individuals using routine health records, in findings to be presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2026
September 24, 2026
Key Takeaways
* Pancreatic cancer is relatively rare on a population level but highly fatal because it is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage.
* An artificial ... Show Full Article CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 26 (TNSxrep) -- The American College of Surgeons issued the following news release: * * * Artificial Intelligence Model Predicts Pancreatic Cancer Risk 3 Years Before Diagnosis Mayo Clinic researchers found the model reliably separated at-risk from low-risk individuals using routine health records, in findings to be presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2026 September 24, 2026 Key Takeaways * Pancreatic cancer is relatively rare on a population level but highly fatal because it is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. * An artificialintelligence model that drew on comprehensive health data from nearly 40,000 patients aimed at identifying subtle clues of pancreatic cancer early.
* The model showed a high accuracy to distinguish between people at risk for pancreatic cancer and those with low risk up to three years before diagnosis.
* These findings will be presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, Sept. 26-29.
-
WASHINGTON -- Researchers at Mayo Clinic have designed an artificial intelligence model that can potentially predict an individual's risk of developing pancreatic cancer years before diagnosis.
The research will be presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, Sept. 26-29, where thousands of surgeons will convene to advance surgical quality, patient safety, and access to care.
Pancreatic cancer is relatively rare but highly deadly, with about 67,000 new diagnoses and 52,000 deaths in 2026, according to the American Cancer Society. Its share of cancer deaths is outsized: pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of all new cancers but 8% of all cancer deaths.
"Pancreatic cancer can be curable, but only when we catch it early -- and fewer than one in five patients is diagnosed in time," said study co-author Cornelius Thiels, DO, MBA, FACS, a surgical oncologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. "As a result, survival for many patients is still measured in months, not years."
Unfortunately, universal screening for pancreatic cancer isn't feasible, Dr. Thiels said, so his team set out to develop an AI model that can identify patients at greatest risk of developing cancer of the pancreas.
"We know that pancreatic cancer forms over five to seven years, but the things that a clinician or patient sees don't happen until it's too late," he said.
The model Dr. Thiels, lead study author Chris Varghese, MBChB, and their team developed used individual patients' longitudinal health history -- essentially the detailed, comprehensive patient information in a patient's electronic health record to get a full picture of a patient's health over time -- from the Mayo Clinic system. The model combined that data with results of routine laboratory tests obtained over an average of a decade or more.
The study dataset included 6,066 individuals with pancreatic cancer and 33,396 controls with 7.5 to 19 years of clinical histories. The goal was to identify subtle clues that could point to a risk of pancreatic cancer early on, Dr. Thiels said.
To test the model's effectiveness at predicting pancreatic cancer three years prior to diagnosis, the researchers calculated area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve to distinguish between people at risk for pancreatic cancer and those with low risk. The AUROC was 0.853, on a scale where 1.0 would represent perfect discrimination and 0.5 would be no better than chance. The model also showed a strong ability to identify patients truly at risk while limiting false positives, with an area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC) of 0.712.
The study also showed the model was well calibrated on the calibration curve, a measure of how closely a model's predicted risk matches what actually happens, with a calibration plot slope of 1.08. "Our model showed that a greater than 50% risk of pancreas cancer predicted by our model indicated an 88% likelihood of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in one year," said Dr. Varghese, a surgical data scientist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
"We built this to be as generalizable, scalable, and easy to put into practice as possible," Dr. Varghese added. The data inputs the model relies on are captured almost universally in hospital systems worldwide, Dr. Varghese said. "If it's shown to work, it could be used in almost any setting," he added.
The researchers are deploying the model on a research basis, Dr. Thiels said. "We're proving that we can move this from a retrospective research tool into our clinical environment and run it prospectively for validation," he said.
They are also working to further validate the model within Mayo prospectively and, this year, at a non-Mayo system, Dr. Thiels said. "We are also working on developing more advanced machine learning architectures, which appear to improve the performance even more," he added.
Study co-authors with Dr. Thiels and Dr. Varghese are Leo Yan Li-Han, PhD; Tanios S. Bekaii-Saab, MD; Richa Bisht, MD; Ajit H. Goenka, MD; John D. Halamka, MD, MS; Ellen L. Larson, MD; Frank G. Lee, MD; Michael L. Kendrick, MD, FACS; Shounak Majumder, MD; Hojjat Salehinejad, PhD; and Mark J. Truty, MD, MS.
Disclosures: Authors have no disclosures to report.
Citation: Varghese C, et al. Enabling Digital Screening for Pancreatic Cancer using Artificial Intelligence Analysis of Disease Trajectories. Scientific Forum, American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026.
Note: Research abstracts presented at the ACS Clinical Congress Scientific Forum are reviewed and selected by a program committee but are not yet peer reviewed.
* * *
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 all 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 all surgical patients. The College has approximately 95,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.facs.org/media-center/press-releases/2026/artificial-intelligence-model-predicts-pancreatic-cancer-risk-3-years-before-diagnosis/
[Category: Medical]