Marilee McBoyle, M.D., FACS, clinical professor, KU School of Medicine-Wichita Department of Surgery, is among a group of 27 esteemed surgical educators inducted into membership in the American College of Surgeons Academy of Master Surgeon Educators^® on Oct. 6 during a program event in Chicago. This is the sixth cohort of members inducted into this distinguished academy.

McBoyle had been an associate member of the Master Surgeon Educators for five years at the time she pursued an application for the full member level, which is national/international.

McBoyle is a dedicated surgeon educator whose experience in the field includes more than 20 years teaching medical students as they progress through the surgical clerkship to prepare them for the oral examination and to critique their case presentations. Medical Student Education in Wound Care was also a priority as medical director of the Ascension Via Christi Wound Center. For almost two decades, she taught surgical residents while supervising the Trauma and Unassigned Surgery Clinics. McBoyle led the way for the University of Kansas Surgery Residency Program to become an Accredited Education Institute by the American College of Surgeons.

McBoyle’s teaching awards as a surgical educator include Jayhawker, M.D., for dedicated teaching of medical students, Teacher of the Year Award from the graduating surgical residents, four-time recipient of the Student Choice Award for the Outstanding Faculty in the Department of Surgery, Student Choice for Graduation Marshal, Wichita Business Journal Health Care Hero in the physician category and Ascension Via Christi Outpatient/Ambulatory Physician Leadership Award (chosen by peers).

McBoyle was grateful to Julie Galliart, Ed.D., associate dean, KU School of Medicine-Wichita Faculty Affairs & Development, and Nancy Davis, Ph.D., professor emerita, as it was from their Teaching for Excellence course taught in 2020 that she developed a wound curriculum that she highlighted in her application.

“The curriculum was highlighted in a New Orleans Wound Meeting in May 2021 as well as at the KU Lawrence Education Forum in August 2021,” said McBoyle.

Alex Ammar, M.D., professor and KU School of Medicine-Wichita Department of Surgery chair, wrote a reference letter for McBoyle and when learning of her acceptance as a member responded with, “Dr. McBoyle has been one of the most accomplished surgical educators in our program for decades and is more than deserving of full membership in ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators. She is the first female to graduate from our general surgery residency in 1982 and to my knowledge is the first surgeon in the entire KU Surgery system to achieve full member status.”

“I am so appreciative of the many who played a role in my advancement from associate member to member,” said McBoyle. “Additionally, I am very excited as this award will allow the opportunity to have access to committees, contacts and associations with nationally and internationally known educators with ideas and endeavors that I can bring to KU Wichita.”

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 cohort includes 27 member inductees, 35 associate member inductees and one affiliate member inductee. The first inaugural cohort was inducted in 2018 and the academy has since grown to include 358 three-category members who represent 10 surgical specialties other than general surgery. Inductees are from 18 states and the District of Columbia. They come from nine countries in addition to those from the United States.

“This academy of preeminent surgical educators has been making landmark contributions to surgical education and is introducing many transformational changes in surgical education that will endure into the future,” said Ajit K. Sachdeva, M.D., FACS, FRCSC, FSACME, MAMSE, director of the ACS Division of Education and co-chair of the steering committee of the academy. “We look forward to leveraging the expertise of the members as we explore innovations that will continue to advance the field of surgical education and positively impact the careers of surgical educators.”

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 health care; 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; and offer mentorship to surgeon educators throughout their professional careers.

“The Academy of Master Surgeon Educators, a vital and ‘living body’ of the American College of Surgeons, continues its legacy of advancing the science and practice of surgical education. The academy is pleased to induct the 2023 cohort of distinguished and highly accomplished educators. This recognition is a true testament to the unwavering commitment of the college to develop and promote ‘best practices’ in surgical education, with the overarching goal to always improve patient care.”
— L.D. Britt, M.D., MPH, D.Sc.(Hon), FACS, FCCM, FRCSEng(Hon), FRCSEd(Hon), FWACS(Hon), FRCSI(Hon), FCS(SA)(Hon), FRCS(Glasg)(Hon), MAMSE, past president of the ACS, and co-chair of the steering committee of the academy.

About the American College of Surgeons

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The college is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an influential advocate for all surgical patients. The college has more than 88,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.