The 102nd Meeting of the New England Surgical Society took place September 24-26, 2021. The meeting attracted 127 members (including 6 Candidate members), 17 guest physicians, and 50 non-member residents, and was enhanced by the presence of 26 accompanying guests of the Society.

The academic program was thoughtfully prepared by the Program Committee under the direction of Dr. Peter S. Yoo. One hundred eight abstracts had been submitted; 25 were presented in the traditional format. Thirteen additional papers were presented as three-minute presentations with directed discussion, and the Paper of the Year was presented. There were also outstanding panels on “Surgical Innovation, Education, and Industry: Making Collaboration Work” and “Surgical Practice in New England: The Diversification of Our Workforce”; an informative session on “Applying for Your First Job”; and a “Posters of Distinction” session during which the presenters vied for the Best Poster Award. Thirty-one posters were reviewed.

The Meeting’s Samuel Jason Mixter Lecture by Dr. Thomas F. Tracy, Jr., was titled, “In the Footsteps of Mixter: Leadership and Management at the Point of Surgical Care”, and Dr. Anne C. Larkin gave her Presidential Address, titled “A Collective Journey of Grit and Resilience.” The Nathan Smith Distinguished Service Award was conferred to Dr. David E. Clark.

The Society’s Executive Committee continues to meet three times a year, in the Fall during the Annual Meeting, and in January and May via videoconference. The Committee carries out the business of the Society, coordinating the acceptance of new members, overseeing the finances, and working with the Program Committee. As of this writing, there are 400 Active, 363 Senior, 90 Associate, 1 Affiliate, 74 Candidate, and 1 Honorary Members, which includes 35 Active and 1 Affiliate members newly elected this year and 7 Candidate members elected since the 2021 Annual Meeting.

The NESS continues its support of the Annual Research Presentation Day in the spring, where residents from all the teaching programs in New England present their work. This year’s Research Day was conducted virtually.

This year’s Annual Meeting of the Society is as follows:

103rd Annual Meeting, September 16-18, 2022
Revere Hotel Boston Common, Boston, Massachusetts

And next year’s Annual Meeting of the Society will be:

104th Annual Meeting, September 29 - October 1, 2023
Gurney’s Newport, Newport, Rhode Island

The Executive Committee is most grateful to Dr. James Whiting for his enthusiastic leadership as President this past year, and looks forward to working with his successor, Dr. Giles F. Whalen.

Respectfully submitted,

Thomas J. Miner, MD
Secretary