Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, is a general surgeon with minimally invasive expertise and the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). She began her role on January 1, 2022. Prior to that, she served as Director of the ACS Division of Member Services from 2011 to 2021. Membership grew every year under her leadership, and she pioneered transformative changes that continue to serve the evolving needs of surgeons of all specialties, in all practice settings, and in all career stages, in the US and internationally. Before joining the ACS Executive Leadership Team, Dr. Turner spent 8 years in academic practice on the faculty of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, where she was the surgery residency program director and medical director of the surgical acute care unit. Dr. Turner is currently on the faculty in the department of surgery at the University of Chicago Medicine, IL. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Dr. Turner earned a doctor of medicine degree at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her surgical training as an intern and resident was at Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC, where she spent 2 years at the National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute conducting bench research. Her fellowship training in minimally invasive and laparoscopic surgery was completed at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Weill-Cornell University School of Medicine, and Columbia University School of Medicine in New York City. She earned a master of business administration degree at the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business, graduating with the highest honors. Dr. Turner has published and presented widely on minimally invasive surgical techniques, leadership, innovation, quality improvement, surgical outcomes, and graduate surgical education. She has received numerous awards, honors, and multiple grants for her research as a surgeon investigator throughout her career. Dr. Turner is committed to assuring that there are no artificial barriers to surgeons leading full and productive lives, both personally and professionally.
Selected publications from PubMed
Workload and Perceived Burden From a National Survey of Surgeons.
Sumra S, Margasahayam AS, Li TM, Shroff YV, Knuttila LM, Prosser RMC, Anand S, Gonzales PA, Lee C, Brandt ML, O'Neill PJ, Sutherland MJ, Hu YY, Turner P, Sullins VF, Lebares CC
JAMA Surg. 2026 Sep 2 doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2026.3853.
Developing Specialty-Specific Workplace Standards for Surgeons: A Framework to Support Sustainable Surgical Careers.
Wood DE, Wolinsky PR, Dodgion CM, Farmer DL, Gantt NL, Napolitano LM, Timmons SD, Welsh DJ, Winfield RD, Bura C, Essig R, Turner PL
J Am Coll Surg. 2026 Aug 1;243(2):255-259 doi: 10.1097/XCS.0000000000001880.
Association for Academic Surgery Founder's Lecture - Addressing the Surgical Workforce Crisis: Retention Strategies for a Thriving Future.
SenthilKumar G, Collins RA, Turner P, Clarke CN
J Surg Res. 2026 Jun;322:513-517 doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2026.03.101.
Blue Ribbon Committee I Review: Findings and Impact.
Flynn TC, Brennan MF, Ellison EC, Freischlag JA, Malangoni MA, Pellegrini CA, Sachdeva AK, Turner PL, Warshaw AL, Zinner MJ
Ann Surg. 2025 Jan 1;281(1):3-6 doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000006362.
Contemporary Evaluation of Work-Life Integration and Well-Being in US Surgical Residents: A National Mixed-Methods Study.
Janczewski LM, Buchheit JT, Golisch KB, Amortegui D, Mackiewicz N, Eng JS, Turner PL, Johnson JK, Bilimoria KY, Hu YY
J Am Coll Surg. 2024 Dec 1;239(6):515-526 doi: 10.1097/XCS.0000000000001135.
Since the advent of the first surgical procedures, surgeons have always focused on the health of their patients. Unfortunately, they have not traditionally assessed and proactively worked to maintain the own wellbeing. Thankfully, in recent years surgeons have realized that surgeon wellness helps ensure patient wellness. In this program, the American College of Surgeons, in collaboration with Ariadne Labs, examined in detail a range of wellness topics, including an overall philosophy and approach and specific initiatives to help ensure success. The critical areas of mentorship, program development, peer support, coaching, surgical culture, equity, and resilience are all discussed by renowned experts who will offer implementable solutions for individual surgeons, surgical departments, and institutions.
With Johnson & Johnson MedTech
Published
Jul 2022
This sixth program in our 2021 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Series features global healthcare leaders who will share their extensive experiences and incisive insights on a wide range of successfully implemented DEI programs for medical students. Residents, physicians, surgeons, other caregivers, and patients will be discussed by world-renowned faculty.
Published
Nov 2021
DEI mentorships from students to senior surgeons – Dr. Barbara Bass (USA) Creating advocacy to optimize career advancement– Dr. Mary Hawn (USA) Addressing Implicit Bias in Residency/Fellowship Programs: Strategies for Success – Dr. Erica Taylor (USA) Contribution of younger surgeons to DE&I – Dr. Raphael Sun (USA) Recognizing DE&I in the Royal Colleges – Dr. Neil Mortensen (UK) Achieving diversity in product development – Mr. Ahmet Tezel (USA) Discussion – All faculty moderated by Dr. Steven Wexner (USA) and Dr. Patricia Turner (USA) FACULTY Dr. Barbara Bass (USA) – Dean, George Washington University College of Medicine; Past President of the American College of Surgeons Dr. Mary Hawn (USA) – Stanford Medicine Professor of Surgery and Chair of the Department of Surgery at Stanford University; Director for the American Board of Surgery; Editorial Board of Annals of Surgery, Journal of the American College of Surgeons, Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery and the American Journal of Surgery Dr. Neil Mortensen (UK) – President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England; Former Chair of the British Journal of Surgery; Editor in Chief of Colorectal Disease Dr. Raphael Sun (USA) – Chair of the Executive Committee of the Resident and Associate Society of the American College of Surgeon (RAS-ACS) Dr. Erica Taylor (USA) – Founder & CEO of the Orthopaedic Diversity Leadership Consortium; Assistant Professor and Vice Chair of Diversity, Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery; Duke Health Private Diagnostic Clinic Associate Chief Medical Officer of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mr. Ahmet Tezel (USA) - PhD, Worldwide Vice President Research and Development, Johnson & Johnson Institute, Bridgewater, New Jersey Dr. Patricia Turner (USA) – Director, Division of Membership Services, American College of Surgeons past Chair, AMA Council on Medical Education; past Chair, Surgical Section, National Medical Association; past President, Society of Black Academic Surgeons; and Member, Board of Directors, Council on Medical Specialty Societies Dr. Steven Wexner (USA) – Director, Digestive Disease Institute, Chair, Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Past President American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Past President American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Past President Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Editor-in-Chief Surgery, Vice-Chair, Board of Regents, American College of Surgeons
Published
Jul 2021
PROGRAM Creating a DE&I culture in a health care enterprise – Dr. Conor Delaney (USA)Prioritizing DE&I at the American College of Surgeons – Dr. Timothy Eberlein (USA)Conquering unconscious bias – Dr. Doug Wood (USA)Developing women leaders – Dr. Diana Farmer (USA)Disparities in cancer care – Dr. William Cance (USA)Diversity in Clinical Trials – Ms. Cassandra Smith (USA)Discussion –All faculty moderated by Dr. Steven Wexner (USA) and Dr. Patricia Turner (USA) FACULTY Dr William Cance (USA) – Chief Medical and Scientific Officer of the American Cancer Society Dr Conor Delaney (USA) – CEO of Cleveland Clinic Florida, USA Dr Timothy Eberlein (USA) – Director, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Distinguished Professor; and Bixby Professor and Chairman, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, USA Dr Diana Farmer (USA) – Chair of Surgery at the University of California Davis Health System; American College of Surgeons Board of Regents Ms. Cassandra Smith - Director, Diversity & Inclusion in Clinical Trials at The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson Dr Patricia Turner (USA) – Director, Division of Membership Services, American College of Surgeons past Chair, AMA Council on Medical Education; past Chair, Surgical Section, National Medical Association; past President, Society of Black Academic Surgeons; and Member, Board of Directors, Council on Medical Specialty Societies Dr Steven Wexner (USA) – Director, Digestive Disease Institute, Chair, Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Past President American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Past President American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Past President Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Editor-in-Chief Surgery, Vice-Chair, Board of Regents, American College of Surgeons Dr Doug Wood (USA) – The Henry N. Harkins Professor and Chair, Department of Surgery, University of Washington; American College of Surgeons Board of Regents; Past President of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons; Past Director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery; Past President Cardiothoracic Surgery Network (CTSNet)
Published
Jul 2021
Program Association of women surgeons – Dr Sharon Stein (USA) Society of Black Academic Surgeons – Dr Andrea Hayes-Jordan (USA) Society of Asian Academic Surgeons – Dr Quan-Yang Duh (USA) Ensuring educational opportunities – Dr Carla Pugh (USA) The role of journals in achieving diversity – Dr Melina Kibbe (USA) Health Equity and the Role of the Private Sector – Dr Pierre Theodore (USA) Discussion – All faculty moderated by Dr Steven Wexner (USA), Dr Patricia Turner (USA) and Dr Mariana Berho (USA)
With Johnson & Johnson MedTech
Published
Mar 2021
Challenges and Solutions to Diversity Part 1, divided into: Challenges to women surgeons in Asia – Dr April Roslani (Malaysia), Black surgeons as leaders – Dr. Francis Chinegwundoh (UK), The importance of mentoring – Dr L.D. Britt (USA), Women surgeons as mentors – Dr Tracy Hull (USA), Women surgeons as leaders – Dr Valerie Rusch (USA), Diversity in innovation at J&J – Dr Charles Bridges (USA), Discussion – All faculty moderated by Dr Steven Wexner (USA), Dr Patricia Turner (USA) and Dr Mariana Berho (USA)
With Johnson & Johnson MedTech
Published
Mar 2021
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