Dr. Pramod S. Puligandla admitted into Academy of Master Surgeon Educators

Dr. Pramod S. Puligandla, a pediatric surgeon from the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH), is among a group of 76esteemed surgeon educators inducted into membership in the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators^® on September 27, 2024, during a program event in Chicago. This is the seventh cohort of members inducted into this distinguished Academy. 

Dr. Puligandla is the current Director of the MCH Pediatric Surgery Division and Professor of Pediatric Surgery at McGill University. He is a dedicated surgeon educator whose experience in the field includes being the Director of the Pediatric Surgery Training Program at McGill from 2008 to 2023 and a member of the Pediatric Surgery Board of the American Board of Surgery from 2018 to 2024, the first Canadian to hold such a position in over 40 years.

His other honours as a surgeon educator include being named to the McGill Honour List for Educational Excellence (2015), and being awarded the inaugural McGill PGME Program Director Lifetime Achievement Award (2020) as well as the Program Director of the Year Award from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (2022).

“Dr. Puligandla is an inspiring leader in education. This momentous achievement is a testimony to his dedication to meaningful educational advances in surgery. Dr. Puligandla has left his mark at McGill, the MCH and beyond,” said Dr. Sam Daniel, Chair of the Department of Pediatric Surgery at McGill University and Surgeon-in-Chief at the Montreal Children’s Hospital.

The ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators works to advance the science and practice of education across all surgical specialties. Individuals are selected as Members, Associate Members or Affiliate Members following a stringent peer review process. This year’s class includes Members (38 Inductees) and Associate Members (38 Inductees). The first inaugural class was inducted in 2018 and the Academy has since grown to include 401Members, Associate Members and Affiliate Members who represent thirteen surgical specialties other than general surgery.

Once inducted, Academy members actively engage in advancing the Academy’s programs and goals, which are to:

• advance the science and practice of innovative lifelong surgical education, training, and scholarship in the changing milieu of healthcare;
• foster the exchange of creative ideas and collaboration;
• support the development and recognition of faculty;
• underscore the importance of lifelong surgical education and training;
• positively impact quality and patient safety through lifelong surgical education and training;
• disseminate advances in education and training to all surgeons;
• offer mentorship to surgeon educators throughout their professional careers.

“This year, we celebrate another cohort of distinguished surgeon educators who are pushing the frontiers of surgical education and making outstanding contributions to our field,” said Dr. Ajit K. Sachdeva, Director of the ACS Division of Education and Co-Chair of the Academy. “As we welcome these new members, we are excited to continue fostering innovation, collaboration, and excellence in surgical education. Together, we will define the future of surgical education and inspire the next generation of educators to advance patient care and professional practice through impactful education.”

Academy members collaborate on and publish significant works of scholarship and participate in fireside chats, Grand Rounds Series and the Academy Symposium, an annual conference that brings together Academy members to exchange best practices and discuss critical topics in surgical education. The Academy continues to focus on outreach and mentorship to surgeon educators from across the globe, with a special emphasis on engaging surgeon educators from low-middle income countries. With this year’s induction ceremony, the Academy will include 54 international members, representing 24 countries outside of the U.S.