It is mid-winter in Oregon, and the misty rain is only punctuated by brief periods of snow and/or sunshine. Through the long winter across the US, from Boston to Houston to Chicago and Portland, we are working to make the SSAT program in San Diego a great success. Our keynote lectures, the Cameron and Moody Lecturers have been chosen. Drs. Blumenthal and Wolfe will show us, in completely different ways, how decisions in Washington can affect the practice of surgery, and how surgeons can help influence these decisions for the benefit of our patients. More...

53rd Annual Meeting at Digestive Disease Week 2012

Don’t miss the SSAT 53rd Annual Meeting, to be held in San Diego, California, from May 18-22, 2012, in conjunction with DDW – the most prestigious event in the field of digestive diseases.

Registration & Housing: SSAT member registration and housing for the 2012 Annual Meeting is now open at the DDW Website. The Early Bird deadline of April 11, 2012 has passed and full registration fees will apply.

Program Update: The Preliminary Program with abstracts - including complete Poster Sessions with abstracts - is now online. Download the abridged Program Book of the 53rd Annual Meeting ( 1.3 MB), or log into the Members Only Area to download the complete Program Book, including Foundation donor listings. Download the Abstract Supplement ( 2.6 MB).

Maintenance of Certification Course
Saturday, May 19, 2012, San Diego, California

The 2012 SSAT Maintenance of Certification Course, "Evidence Based Treatment of Hepatopancreatobiliary Diseases," will be held during the 53rd Annual Meeting and in conjunction with Digestive Disease Week. This is the second in a three-year cycle of courses that will help fulfill Part II Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirements for surgeons. The course will be divided into five sessions: Malignant Diseases of the Liver; Benign, Non-Calculous Disease of the Bile Ducts and Liver; Gallstone and Gallbladder Disease; Benign Diseases of the Pancreas; and Malignant Disease and IPMN. Each participant will be required to complete both a pre- and post-course test prior to claiming CME Credits and Certificates of Attendance. Supplement your Annual Meeting registration by signing up for the 2012 MOC Course, for which SSAT members receive preferred rates. Or you can register for just the MOC Course without having to register for the Annual Meeting / DDW. Register for the MOC Course at the DDW Website.

SSAT Foundation The Board of Trustees of the SSAT Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of the Layton F. Rikkers, MD, Master Clinician Fund. This tribute fund acknowledges Dr. Rikkers' exceptional record of service and leadership for the SSAT and his longstanding commitment to excellence in clinical surgery. The purpose of the unrestricted Rikkers Fund is twofold: To help the SSAT achieve its ongoing mission of research and education by advancing the science and practice of surgery in the treatment of digestive disease; and To honor an outstanding surgical clinician at the SSAT meeting at Digestive Disease Week via presentation of an annual Layton F. Rikkers Master Clinician Award. Please consider a generous donation to the Layton F. Rikkers Master Clinician Fund at this time. The Foundation welcomes secure online donations via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express), as well as gifts of checks and securities. The endowment of this fund will truly be a fitting tribute to Dr. Rikkers. SSAT Members may donate via the Members Only Area; non-members may donate via the public donation page.