Kentucky Surgeon J. David Richardson, MD, FACS Installed as 96th President of the American College of Surgeons

Newswise — CHICAGO (October 5, 12:01 am CT): J. David Richardson, MD, FACS, a general, thoracic, and trauma surgeon, was installed as the 96th President of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) last night during the Convocation ceremony that preceded the opening of the annual ACS Clinical Congress, one of the largest international meetings of surgeons in the world. Dr. Richardson is a professor of surgery and vice-chairman of the Hiram C. Polk, Jr., MD Department of Surgery at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Ky.
Dr. Richardson has served in his current positions as professor of surgery and vice-chair of the department since 1983 and 1985, respectively. He has served as chief of surgery service and director of emergency surgical services at the University of Louisville Hospital since 2005. Since becoming a Fellow in 1980, Dr. Richardson has served the ACS in various leadership capacities, most recently as Chair of the Board of Regents (2011-2012). In that role, he also chaired the Regents’ Finance and Executive Committees.
A prolific author, Dr. Richardson has published more than 345 articles in peer-reviewed publications, 50 book chapters, and has 10 publications in press. He is currently the editor of The American Surgeon journal, published by the Southeastern Surgical Congress, of which he is a past president. He also serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, is an editorial consultant for The Journal of Trauma Injury, Infection & Critical Care, and is on the editorial board of the International Scholarly Research Network.
Dr. Richardson received his medical degree from the University of Kentucky School of Medicine, Lexington, in 1970. He completed a surgical internship and worked as a junior assistant resident at the University of Kentucky before moving to the School of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, to complete a general surgery and a thoracic surgery residency. In 1976, Dr. Richardson completed his surgical training and returned to Kentucky to teach and practice at the University of Louisville’s Department of Surgery. Dr. Richardson started as an assistant professor of surgery there, and became an associate professor in 1979.
Dr. Richardson was a member of the ACS Board of Regents from 2003 to 2010 and held leadership roles on several other ACS committees. He was the ACS Governor from Kentucky (1989-1995) and served on the Governors Committee on Surgical Infections (1992-1995). He was Chair of the Research and Optimal Patient Care Committee (2004-2011) and Vice-Chair of the Health Policy and Advocacy Group (2010-2011). Dr. Richardson has been an active member of the ACS Committee on Trauma (COT), having served as Chair of the Emergency Services-Prehospital Subcommittee (1992-1999) and as a member of the COT’s Executive Committee (1992), Membership Committee (1993), and Verification/Consultation Committee (1993).
At the state level, Dr. Richardson has served ACS as Chair (1985-1987) and Vice-Chair (1981-1985) of the Kentucky Committee on Trauma; Secretary-Treasurer (1983-1986) and President (1987) of the Kentucky Chapter; and as a member of the Kentucky Committee on Applicants (1997-2002) as well.
In addition, Dr. Richardson has served on the ACS Advisory Council for General Surgery (1997-2002), the Advisory Council for Vascular Surgery as a Regent (2003-2006), and the Advisory Council for Rural Surgery as an Ex Officio member (2011-2012). He was also a member of the ACS Committee on Video-Based Education (1991-1997). Dr. Richardson is currently the Chair of the ACS Transition to Practice Program in General Surgery Steering Committee.
Besides his leadership roles at ACS, Dr. Richardson has served at the highest levels in the following organizations: former director (1987) and chairman (1998–1999), American Board of Surgery; director (1994), American Board of Emergency Medicine; president (1999), American Association for Surgery of Trauma; president (1999), Southeastern Surgical Congress; president (2003), Southern Surgical Association; and secretary (1995–2000) and president (2000–2001), Western Surgical Association.
Last night, Dr. Richardson’s presidential address, “Challenges for the Second Century,” was heard by surgeons from around the world who took the ACS Fellowship pledge and were conferred Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons (FACS). His address focused on the changes surgeons may face in the future.
In addition, during last night’s Convocation, Ronald V. Maier, MD, FACS, Seattle, Wash., was installed as ACS First Vice-President; Walter J. Pories, MD, FACS, Greenville, NC, was installed as ACS Second Vice-President, and 1,679 surgeons from around the world were admitted into Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons (FACS), with 814 of them in attendance for the honor.
# # #
About the American College of SurgeonsThe 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 more than 80,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit www.facs.org.