As of June 4, 2019, Ethicon is shipping manual circular staplers, Intraluminal Stapler (ILS), through their distribution channels. Hospitals in the U.S. can expect to start receiving product within the next week. Ethicon’s top priority has been to return supply of this critical product as quickly as possible.

On April 11, 2019, Ethicon notified all U.S. customers they were initiating a voluntary recall of specific lots of Ethicon manual circular staplers, Intraluminal Stapler (ILS). This decision was based on an increase in the rare occurrence of the device having insufficient firing stroke to break the washer and completely form staples. This recall does not impact any of Ethicon’s other surgical staplers or other products.

The safety of our patients is a priority for both ASCRS and Ethicon. We will continue to inform you of updates on this issue.

The ASCRS 2016 Annual Meeting app is now available to download in the iTunes Store and Google Play.

The app allows meeting attendees to easily access annual meeting information directly from their smartphones or tablets. Attendees can create their own schedules in advance and download it into their calendars so they don't miss any important meetings or sessions, which they can search by CME and self-assessment (MOC) credits.

The app also allows them to connect through social media, so they can tweet about the sessions they attend with the hashtag #ASCRS16.

The ASCRS winner of the Beart Impact Paper of the Year for 2014 been chosen! The Beart Award Paper was published in the May 2014 issue of the Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, and it was a podium presentation at the ASCRS 2013 Annual Meeting. The paper is entitled, A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Study of Non-cross-linked Porcine Acellular Dermal Matrix Fascial Sublay for Parastomal Reinforcement in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Permanent Abdominal Wall Ostomies.

The authors of the winning paper are Fleshman, James W. M.D. 1; Beck, David E. M.D. 2; Hyman, Neil M.D. 3; Wexner, Steven D. M.D. 4; Bauer, Joel M.D. 5; George, Virgilio M.D. 6; the PRISM Study Group. A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Study of Non-cross-linked Porcine Acellular Dermal Matrix Fascial Sublay for Parastomal Reinforcement in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Permanent Abdominal Wall Ostomies.

Join us in congratulating these authors of this exceptional paper.

Dr. Fabio Potenti has been awarded the 2015 scholarship to attend the Executive Leadership Program in Health Policy and Management offered at Brandeis University’s Heller School of Management, May 31-June 6.

It was made possible by the combined scholarship support of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS). He will also travel to Washington, DC, for the Leadership Conference and Advocacy Summit meeting April 9-12,

The $8,000 award is available to surgeons who are members of both ASCRS and ACS who are between the ages of 30 and 60.

The intensive course is designed to provide physicians with the tools necessary to develop innovative solutions to improve the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and overall quality of care. Topics to be covered include: leadership, financial literacy, healthcare economics, and conflict negotiation/resolution. The course also includes a comprehensive review of the current status of healthcare delivery and reform in the United States.

Dr. Jose Guillem has been awarded the 2016 scholarship to attend the Executive Leadership Program in Health Policy and Management offered at Brandeis University’s Heller School of Management, June 12-18.

The scholarship was made possible by the combined support of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS). The $8,000 award is available to surgeons who are members of both ASCRS and ACS who are between the ages of 30 and 60.

The intensive course is designed to provide physicians with the tools necessary to develop innovative solutions to improve the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and overall quality of care. Topics to be covered include: leadership, financial literacy, healthcare economics, and conflict negotiation/resolution. The course also includes a comprehensive review of the current status of health care delivery and reform in the United States.