We’re highlighting an opportunity for medical students interested in pursuing neurosurgery: the Cincinnati Neurosurgery Gap Year Scholars Program. 🧠 This year-long program provides students from DO and MD programs without a home neurosurgery residency with additional research, clinical exposure, mentorship, and academic neurosurgery experience before applying for residency. Interested in learning more? Visit the link in our Linktree to explore the program and application details! 🩺

Looking to connect with a mentor who can help guide your journey toward a career in surgery? Join ACOS-MSS on September 21 at 8PM EST for our Mentor Match Overview with Dr. Michael A. Burchett, the ACOS Mentorship Committee Chair! 👏 Learn more about the Mentor Match program, how to build meaningful mentorship connections, and how mentors can provide valuable guidance as you navigate medical school, residency, and your future surgical career! Come learn how you can get connected and take the next step in building your surgical network! 🤝

Preparing for residency interviews? Join ACOS-MSS for an interactive session featuring Andrew Vogel, DO, Ishan Perera, DO, and Schafer Paladichuk, DO as they share their experiences and advice for navigating the residency interview process! 👏 Come learn how to prepare for interviews, present yourself confidently, and make a strong impression throughout the residency application season! Whether you’re applying this cycle or just starting to think about residency, this is a great opportunity to hear directly from residents who have recently been through the process! 🩺

Congratulations to August’s Student Doctor of the Month, Braden Young, OMS-II, from ACOM! 🎉 Braden has distinguished himself through outstanding academic performance, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Throughout his medical education, he has demonstrated a deep understanding of pre-clinical concepts while consistently approaching his coursework with preparation, intellectual curiosity, and a desire to continually improve. Beyond the classroom, Braden is a supportive and respected member of his learning community, readily sharing his knowledge and contributing positively to his peers’ educational experiences. His humility, compassion, strong work ethic, and patient-centered mindset exemplify the qualities of an outstanding future physician, making him highly deserving of this recognition. Congratulations, Braden! 👏

Congratulations to Makalie Lackey, OMS-III from OSU-COM, on being recognized as ACOS-MSS August Student Researcher of the Month (SROM)! 🎉 Makalie's passion for innovative research projects and dedication to mentoring and expanding research opportunities for students at OSU-COM truly embody the spirit of osteopathic excellence. We’re excited to celebrate her achievements and look forward to the impact she will continue to make in the field of surgery, as a researcher and mentor! 👏

Surgical training can teach you how to care for your patients, but some of the most important lessons are about caring for yourself. ACOS member Rebecca Douglass, D.O., reflects on the importance of emotional resilience and knowing when to ask for help. What is one thing I wish u knew earlier in your surgical training? "Emotional resilience and knowing when to ask for help is vital for a long and successful career as surgeon that I wish I realized earlier on. As surgeons, we see and do very difficult things on a daily basis. We are taught to be self sufficient and to sometimes ignore our own feelings to get through a hard day. It is vital that we learn early on how to process the emotional toll our jobs take on us and that it is ok to ask for help from your surgical colleagues, family, and friends." Knowing when to lean on others is an important part of building a long and sustainable career in surgery. What’s one lesson you wish you had learned earlier in your training?

Join ACOS-MSS on September 8 at 8PM EST for the next installment of our Subspecialty 101 Series: Orthopedic Surgery! Hear from a panel of orthopedic surgery residents as they share their experiences and perspectives on pursuing a career in orthopedic surgery. 🦴 Our panelists will discuss their career paths, residency training, day-to-day practice, and the evolving landscape of orthopedic surgery, providing valuable insight for students interested in exploring the specialty. Whether orthopedic surgery is already on your radar or you’re simply interested in learning more about the specialty, we hope you’ll join us! 👏

We’re kicking off our Chapters in Action series by highlighting Kansas City University – Joplin, whose commitment to service and community outreach truly sets their chapter apart. From volunteering in their local community to creating opportunities for their members to give back, KCU-Joplin consistently demonstrates the impact ACOS-MSS chapters can make beyond the classroom. Their dedication to service earned them the Volunteering Award at the 2026 ACOS-MSS Spring Conference! 👏 We’re proud to recognize KCU-Joplin and celebrate the incredible work their members are doing in the community. Keep an eye out as we continue highlighting ACOS-MSS chapters in action from across the country! 💙

🎺 ACOS-MSS Fall Conference Early Bird Registration is OPEN! 🎺 Join us October 2–3 in New Orleans, LA for the 2026 ACOS-MSS Fall Conference! This year’s conference will be held alongside the Annual Clinical Assembly (ACA), giving medical students the opportunity to participate in dedicated ACOS-MSS programming while also having the option to attend additional ACA programming and specialty tracks. Early bird registration closes August 24 at 11:59 PM EST! Still have questions about the difference between the ACA and ACOS-MSS Fall Conference or how to attend additional ACA programming? Swipe through our FAQs for more information! Don’t miss your chance to connect with fellow medical students, learn from osteopathic surgeons, and make the most of your conference experience! Register through the link in our bio!

Meet ACOS member Nicole Duskey, DO! 🩺 Dr. Duskey successfully matched into general surgery and shared her top advice for navigating the ERAS application as residency season approaches. Check out her tips below: ✔️ Use a blank document or piece of paper to brainstorm all of the things you’ve done and organize them ✔️ Use bullet points or concise sentences when describing your experiences, no long paragraphs ✔️ Do thorough research into the programs you’re applying to and whether they align with your scores and amount of research so you aren’t spending money on programs you aren’t a strong candidate for ✔️ Use signals strategically Best of luck to everyone preparing their residency applications! What advice would you add for this year's applicants?

🫀 SUBSPECIALTY 101: CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY 🫀 Join us on August 24 at 8PM EST for the next installment of our Subspecialty 101 Series, featuring a panel of cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons! Our panelists will share their experiences navigating residency training, fellowship, and careers in cardiothoracic surgery while discussing their day-to-day practice and the evolving landscape of the specialty. Hear from our panelists as they share their unique perspectives and advice for students interested in pursuing a career in cardiothoracic surgery. Whether you’re already interested in cardiothoracic surgery or simply curious about the specialty, we hope you’ll join us! 👏

🤖 Explore AI in Surgery at ACA 2026! The ACOS - AI General Surgery Committee invites you to join our interactive deep dive into artificial intelligence in clinical practice. We want to move beyond the buzzwords and explore how AI is truly shaping modern surgery, hospital systems, and daily practice workflows. What We'll Cover: • Interactive AI Course & Practical Applications • Integrating AI Into a Clinical Surgical Practice • How Hospitals and Healthcare Systems Use AI 📅 Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026 ⏰ Time: 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM 📍 Location: ACA 2026, New Orleans We want to hear from you! What are you most curious about? Drop your questions, topics of interest, or insights from your own experience in the comments below so we can tailor the discussion. See you in New Orleans!

Ready to take your research to the next level? 📝 Join ACOS-MSS and ORIGINS on August 12 at 8PM EST for “How To: Abstracts”, an interactive webinar designed to help medical students develop the skills needed to write compelling scientific abstracts. Whether you’re preparing your first abstract or looking to refine your research writing, ACOS-MSS Research Committee member Max Spitzer, OMS-III, will share practical tips, strategies, and best practices to help you craft a strong submission for conferences and publications! 👏 Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your research skills and gain valuable insight into the abstract writing process. We look forward to seeing you there!

It is here! The new ACOS website and upgraded member portal are officially live. Log in today at facos.org to explore a cleaner design, simplified navigation, and an improved experience on all your devices. This is just the beginning of what we have planned for you. Welcome to the new ACOS.

Congratulations to Alex Nystrom on being recognized as ACOS-MSS July Student Researcher of the Month (SROM)! 🎉 As an incoming second-year medical student, Alexander has already made an impressive impact in orthopedic and spine research, contributing to numerous research projects, advancing multiple manuscripts toward publication, and presenting work on clinically meaningful questions that have the potential to improve patient care. His dedication to research, collaboration, and innovation exemplifies the future of academic medicine. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition—we look forward to seeing all that you'll continue to accomplish! 👏

Congratulations to this month’s Student Doctor of the Month, Lily House, OMS-III at Marian University Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine (MU-WCOM)! 🎉 Lily has distinguished herself through her exceptional work ethic, dedication to learning, and passion for surgery. During her Agaplesion Diakonie Hospital Internship in Rotenburg an der Wümme, Germany this past summer, she demonstrated outstanding professionalism, compassion, and a strong commitment to developing her surgical knowledge and technical skills. Beyond her clinical experiences, Lily has been an active student leader at MU-WCOM, serving in multiple leadership roles, including Vice President of the MU-WCOM Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) chapter and as a member of the ACOS-MSS Resource Subcommittee. She consistently embraces opportunities to serve her peers while approaching every patient interaction with curiosity and empathy. Lily's dedication to osteopathic principles, pursuit of excellence, and commitment to a career in surgery make her a highly deserving recipient of this recognition. Congratulations, Lily! 👏

Last week's AOA House of Delegates (HOD) was a powerful display of unity and leadership for the osteopathic surgical community. We are proud of the connections made and the advocacy work accomplished. Strong Representation: It was fantastic to see our ACOS members united at the AOAHOD, ensuring a clear, strong voice for surgery. Building Partnerships: ACOS President Nelayda Fonte, D.O., DFACOS, FICS enjoyed productive meetings with ACOOG and Florida Delegate leadership, as well as incoming AOA President Dr. Thacker. Inspiring Future Surgeons: We were especially encouraged by the engagement of our students at HOD, who are already hard at work paving the road for the future of our profession. We appreciate the energy and dedication our members brought to the floor to champion our collective priorities. #AOAHOD

We are partnering with MatchPal for a Personal Statement Workshop! This interactive event will feature a live tear-down of 3-5 personal statements from webinar registrants 👏 Come gain valuable insight from leading medical professionals and learn how to best promote yourself through your personal statement! Once you register using the link in our Linktree, you will receive a confirmation email with the associated webinar link from MatchPal.

What inspires you to keep showing up every day? For ACOS Governor Olutayo Sogunro, D.O., FACOS, the answer is simple: making a difference in patients' lives when they need it most—and helping train the next generation of surgeons to do the same. In this video, Dr. Sogunro reflects on the privilege of caring for patients during some of the most challenging moments of their lives and why surgical education and mentorship are essential to the future of our profession. ▶️ Watch her message and share what inspires you in your career.

KENDALL’S CHALLENGE RECAP 💚 Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, and supported the Kendall Nicole Eich Foundation during this challenge! Your enthusiasm and generosity helps advance the Foundation’s mission of supporting children and families affected by brain cancer. From every mile walked to every smile shared, Kendall’s Challenge was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when our community comes together for a meaningful cause. Congratulations to our winners for their remarkable performance and mileage! Thank you for helping us honor Kendall’s legacy and make a lasting impact! 🩺👏💚