• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Become a Member

Contact Us

  • Twitter
Society of University Surgeons (SUS)

Society of University Surgeons (SUS)

Supporting and advancing leaders in academic surgery.

  • About
    • Blog
    • Constitution and Bylaws
    • Committees
    • Executive Council & Representatives
    • Guidelines for Use of SUS Content
    • History
    • Lifetime Achievement Award
    • Trailblazer Award
    • Past Executive Council Members
    • Public Member Directory
    • Surgery Journal
    • SUS Joel J. Roslyn Lecture
    • Contact Us
  • Join SUS
    • Member Application Criteria
    • Online Membership Application
    • New Member Recommendations
  • Scholarship/Grants
    • Early Stage Investigator Award
    • George P. Yang, MD, PhD Underrepresented in Surgery Early Stage Investigator Award
    • Mid Career Award
    • Resident Research Scholar Award
    • KARL STORZ Resident Research Scholar Award
    • SUS Global Surgery Scholar Award
    • ASA Surgical Leaders Fellowship Grant
    • Spotlight on Award Winners
    • History of Awardees
  • Professional Development
    • AAS/ SUS JUMPSTART Program
    • Promising Leaders Program
    • Leadership Agility Program
  • Meetings
    • Academic Surgical Congress
    • Mid-Career Course
    • Surgical Investigators’ Course
    • Awards at ASC
    • Presidential Addresses
    • Past Meetings
  • Foundation
    • Donor Honor Roll
    • 2023-2024 SUSF Stepstone Fellowship Award
  • Members Menu
    • Member Panel
    • Change Contact Information
    • Change Password
    • Pay Dues
    • Private Member Directory
    • Member Certificates
  • Log In
DONATE

ASC 2024 Recap: Presidential Address by Dr. Timothy Donahue

July 2, 2024

Dr. Timothy Donahue, 2023-2024 SUS President, reflected on his term and outlined the theme of his talk, “Empowering Leaders Better Together,” which embodies the society’s new vision.  He emphasized the critical challenge facing academic surgeons: balancing the academic mission—encompassing research, education, and service—with the corporatization of healthcare.  This shift centralizes care, prioritizes efficiency, and pressures physicians, potentially threatening academic values and increasing care disparities.

Dr. Donahue acknowledged the contributions of past SUS Presidents on issues such as burnout, equity, and wellness, linking these to the impact of healthcare corporatization.  He advocated for mentorship, teamwork, and broadening the definition of success in academic surgery.

Addressing financial challenges, Dr. Donahue highlighted the increasing competition for healthcare funds, the rise in the number of healthcare administrators, and the stagnation of NIH funding for surgery departments.  He discussed the detrimental effects of corporatization on academic surgery, including increased clinical demands and reduced time for research and education.

Proposing solutions, Dr. Donahue stressed the importance of defining success beyond publication counts, supporting diverse research, forming transdisciplinary teams, leveraging surgeon-scientist roles, partnering with health systems, engaging with funding sources, and embracing innovations such as artificial intelligence.  Dr. Donahue emphasized the importance of proactive leadership in preserving the academic mission amidst healthcare corporatization, concluding with a call for unity and innovation in upholding academic surgery values.

SUS President-Elect Dr. Thomas Varghese introduces SUS President Dr. Timothy Donahue
Dr. Timothy Donahue, 2023-2024 SUS President, reflected on his term and outlined the theme of his talk, “Empowering Leaders Better Together”

Category iconNews