The Council of the ABS seeks nominees to serve a six-year term. The Council serves as a resource of knowledge, skill, wisdom, and expertise for the organization, and is where issues that cross specialties are discussed. The Council consists of a diverse group of surgeons across a spectrum of practice and experience, and includes approximately 30 members from across the specialties recognized by the ABS.
Council members each serve on one of the five ABS specialty boards or an ABS advisory council (General Surgery Board, Vascular Surgery Board, Pediatric Surgery Board, Complex General Surgical Oncology Board, Trauma, Burns, and Surgical Critical Care Board, or Transplantation Advisory Council) and on one of the five Council Committees (Assessment Committee, Diplomates and Surgeons in Practice Committee, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Education and Training Committee, and/or Research Committee). In addition to commitment, availability, loyalty, and ability to keep confidence, the ABS seeks individuals with expertise in one or more of the following characteristics:
- Implementation science
- Programmatic evaluation
- Expertise in impaired physician programs
- Expertise in hospital credentialing and privileging
And with the following experience:
- Community practice
- Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
- Surgical critical care
Please refer to the Nominator and Nominee forms for further details regarding the required competencies.
The ABS will place emphasis on varied experience across all dimensions, including practice type, practice focus, geographic location, professional experience, and time in practice, among others.
The time commitment including exams is approximately eight in-person days and an additional eight to twelve virtual meetings per year for six years.
The ABS will accept nominees from societies, peers, or self-nomination. All nominations will require completion of the Nominate/Support Form from an organization or from an ABMS-certified physician and completion of the Candidate/Nominee Form by the nominee. Both the Nominator and Nominee forms must be completed/submitted for the process to be considered complete. Both forms are below and are also available on our website.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2026, at 4:30 PM ET.
Please direct all questions or queries to Tania Rosha.
ABS Council Candidate/Nominee Form (All candidates must complete, whether self-nominated or nominated by either a society/organization or a colleague)
ABS Council Nominate/Support Form (Nominating society, organization, or colleague must complete)