ABS Welcomes Six New Councilors

The American Board of Surgery (ABS), the national certifying body for general surgeons and related specialists, is pleased to welcome six new councilors to the ABS Council. Each councilor will serve a six-year term beginning on July 1, 2024. All ABS Councilors are currently certified by the ABS and are meeting the requirements of the ABS Continuous Certification Program.

Adnan Alseidi, M.D., Ed.M.

Dr. Adnan Alseidi is the vice chair of education and a professor of surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He specializes in hepato-pancreato-biliary, surgical oncology, and endocrine surgery.
After receiving his medical degree from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Dr. Alseidi went on to complete residency training at the University of Illinois Chicago, followed by a clinical fellowship in hepato-pancreato-biliary and advanced GI surgery at Washington University in Saint Louis.
In addition to his role as councilor of the ABS, Dr. Alseidi is also a board member and past president of the Association of Surgical Education, a board member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and Co-chair of their sustainability taskforce, and a board member of the Americas-Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.
When asked about his election to the ABS Council, Dr. Alseidi said, “Surgery is fortunate to have many societies, associations, committees, task forces, and the like. Nothing brings patients, surgeons, learners, and leaders together under one clear mission like the American Board of Surgery does. I am honored to serve and contribute.”
Dr. Alseidi’s clinical interests include education, locally advanced resections, minimally invasive surgery, and artificial intelligence/computer vision. Outside of the hospital, he spends his time diving, cooking, and mountaineering.

Wade Douglas, M.D.

Dr. Wade Douglas is chief of the Division of Surgery and a professor of surgery at Florida State University College of Medicine in Tallahassee, Fla., where he is also the founding program director of their general surgery residency program. His current practice focuses on hepatobiliary, GI, and the head and neck.
Dr. Douglas received his medical degree from the University of Florida School of Medicine and then went on to complete residency training at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. He continued his training with clinical fellowships in surgical oncology and head and neck surgery at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y.
When asked about the importance of serving on the ABS Council, Dr. Douglas shared, “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities,” emphasizing his excitement in joining and bringing his own voice to the ABS Council.
In addition to his new role as a councilor, Dr. Douglas also serves on the board of directors of the Association of Program Directors in Surgery (APDS). His research and clinical interests have primarily centered on surgical education and surgical oncology.
In his free time, Dr. Douglas enjoys fishing and golfing.

Abbey L. Fingeret, M.D., M.H.P.T.T.

Dr. Abbey L. Fingeret is chief of the Endocrine Surgery Section and an associate professor of surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Her current practice focuses on surgical diseases of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal glands, and neuroendocrine tumors.
She received her medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine and completed her general surgery residency training at Columbia University Medical Center. After residency, she completed an endocrine surgery fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Dr. Fingeret’s research interests include clinical outcomes for patients with endocrine surgical diseases and competency-based medical education.
“As a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, I believe strongly in the mission of serving the public and the specialty of surgery through rigorous evaluation and assessment. I am honored to be able to contribute to this mission by developing items for the General Surgery Qualifying Examination,” shared Dr. Fingeret. “Through this process I have gained a unique insight into the dedicated work performed by all ABS councilors and consultants to maintain the highest quality standards for general and specialty board certification.”
In addition to her work for the ABS, Dr. Fingeret also serves as president-elect of the Nebraska chapter of the American College of Surgeons and as chair of the Assessment, Curriculum and Evaluations Committee for the Association for Surgical Education. Previously, she has served on the Program, Publications, and Academic Advancement Committees of the Association for Academic Surgery, as well as the Publications and Program Committees of the American Thyroid Association.
Dr. Fingeret’s hobbies include running, yoga, baking, and spending quality time with her family.

Jacob A. Greenberg, M.D., Ed.M.

Dr. Jacob A. Greenberg is the chief of the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery and an associate professor of surgery for the Department of Surgery at Duke University in North Carolina. His current practice focuses on hernias, abdominal wall reconstruction, benign foregut surgery, and acute care surgery. He also has extensive experience in bariatric surgery.
When asked about his goals as a newly elected councilor, Dr. Greenberg said, “It is an incredible honor to have the opportunity to serve on the American Board of Surgery. During my time as Councilor, I hope to help incorporate entrustable professional activities throughout all surgical specialties as I believe they will improve the quality of training that our residents and fellows receive during their development into practicing surgeons.”
Dr. Greenberg received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completed residency training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He also completed a clinical fellowship in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center.
In addition to the ABS Council, Dr. Greenberg also serves on the SAGES Board of Governors, the Fellowship Council Board of Directors, and the American Hernia Society Board of Governors.
When he is able, Dr. Greenberg enjoys his hobbies of golfing, cooking, and playing music on the piano or bass.

Erika Adams Newman, M.D.

Dr. Erika Adams Newman is the chief of the Section of Pediatric Surgery, a tenured associate professor of surgery, and the Michael Mulholland Distinguished Collegiate Professor at C.S Mott Children’s Hospital, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Her clinical expertise and research interests include neuroblastoma and pediatric solid tumors.
“My purpose is to serve and advance teams that innovate compassionate health care and to foster a creative learning environment in which all are valued and excel,” said Dr. Newman. “The privilege to lead knowledge acceleration, skill acquisition, and ensure professional success of early learners, trainees, and surgeons is the cornerstone of my passion.”
Dr. Newman attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., for both college and medical school. She completed general surgery residency training at the University of Michigan, followed by a clinical fellowship in pediatric surgery at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital. Her current practice focuses on pediatric surgical oncology and general pediatric surgery.
In addition to her new role as an ABS councilor, Dr. Newman recently served as the associate chief clinical officer for health equity and is the associate director for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice at the Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan. In her spare time, Dr. Newman enjoys traveling with her family, knitting, reading, and cooking large holiday meals.

Elsie Ross, M.D., M.S., RPVI, FAHA

Dr. Elsie Ross is an associate professor of surgery and the information services medical director of surgical informatics at the University of California, San Diego.
Dr. Ross received her undergraduate and medical degrees from Stanford University. She then completed an integrated vascular surgery training program at Stanford Health Care. Her current practice scope includes peripheral artery disease, carotid disease, aortic aneurysms, dialysis access, venous disease, and advanced endovascular interventions.
When asked about beginning her role as an ABS councilor, Dr. Ross stated, “I am excited to work alongside a dedicated group of surgeon educators to drive ongoing improvements in the way we train and evaluate the surgical workforce of today and tomorrow.”
Dr. Ross’ research and clinical interests focus on machine learning/artificial intelligence, surgical informatics, implementation science, and clinical trials. When she is able, she enjoys spending time reading, tinkering with computers, learning pickleball, and picking up whatever new hobby her kids are interested in.

In Thanks

The ABS gratefully acknowledges the dedication and commitment of the following outgoing councilors, whose term on the ABS Council will end this June:

• Douglas C. Barnhart, M.D. – Director, Pediatric Surgery Board; Member, Assessment Committee
• Herbert Chen, M.D. – Director, Complex General Surgical Oncology Board; Member, Research Committee
• Daniel L. Dent, M.D. – Chair, General Surgery Board; Member, Research Committee; Member, Nominating Committee
• Anne C. Larkin, M.D. – Chair, Complex General Surgical Oncology Board; Member, Diplomates and Surgeons in Practice Committee; Member, Nominating Committee
• Joshua M.V. Mammen, M.D. – Director, Complex General Surgical Oncology Board; Chair, Education and Training Committee; Member, Nominating Committee

About the ABS

The American Board of Surgery is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1937 for the purpose of certifying individuals who have met a defined standard of education, training and knowledge in the field of surgery. Surgeons certified by the ABS have completed at least five years of surgical training following medical school and successfully completed a written and oral examination process administered by the ABS. They must then maintain their board certification through ongoing learning and practice improvement activities.

The ABS offers board certification in general surgery, vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, surgical critical care, complex general surgical oncology, and surgery of the hand. It is one of the 24 member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties.

MARCH 27, 2024 | Media Contact: Alyson Maloney