Dr. Valerie Rusch

Valerie W. Rusch, MD, FACS, an esteemed thoracic surgeon from New York, NY, was installed as the 2019−2020 President of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) at the Clinical Congress 2019 Convocation, October 27 in San Francisco, CA. The First and Second Vice-Presidents also were installed at this event. Dr. Rusch is vice-chair, clinical research, department of surgery; Miner Family Chair in Intrathoracic Cancers; attending surgeon, thoracic service, department of surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; and professor of surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York. An ACS Fellow since 1986 and the 2018 recipient of the ACS Distinguished Service Award, Dr. Rusch has led several prominent ACS bodies, including serving as Chair of the Board of Governors (2006−2008) and Board of Regents (2015−2016). A Regent from 2008 to 2017, she chaired the Central Judiciary Committee (2009–2013), the Program Committee (2011–2017), the Board of Regents Nominating Committee (2011–2012), and the Committee on Global Engagement (2016−2017). She served on the Board of Regents Honors Committee (2012−2016), Executive Committee (2013−2016), and Finance Committee (2014−2016). In addition, she has been a member of the College’s Advisory Council for Cardiothoracic Surgery (2002−2017), International Relations Committee (2007−2013, Executive Committee, 2009−2012), Commission on Cancer (CoC) Executive Committee (2012−2017), Scholarships Committee (2008−2012), and Research and Optimal Patient Care Committee (2008−2015).