American College of Surgeons Celebrates Grand Opening of New Building in Washington, DC

News provided by

Jun 03, 2010, 05:30 ET

Site to serve as College's centerpiece presence on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON, June 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American College of Surgeons (ACS), the largest organization of surgeons in the world, today commemorated the official grand opening of its newly constructed 10-story, 130,000-square-foot Class A office building, at 20 F Street, NW, in Washington, DC. Located on one of the last and best development parcels on Capitol Hill, the new building will serve as the location for the College's Division of Advocacy and Health Policy.

Previously based in Georgetown, the ACS Division of Advocacy and Health Policy staff work to promote public policy initiatives of importance to surgeons and their patients.

"A culmination of more than nine years of planning, this building is a powerful statement that the College is very serious about working with policymakers and other health care leaders to identify solutions to improve and expand access to quality, culturally competent health care," said ACS Executive Director David B. Hoyt, MD, FACS. "We're fortunate to have a new, ideally situated facility in which to continue carrying out that goal."

More than 150 surgeons, health care professionals and representatives of businesses and the local and federal government joined ACS leadership and staff at the grand opening event.

The College's Washington, DC-based staff occupies the 10th floor of the 20 F Street building. The remaining nine floors will house other specialty societies and businesses, including the National Business Group on Health, the Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America, and Adams and Reese, LLP.

ACS headquarters will remain at its current location in Chicago at 633 North Saint Clair Street.

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 to improve the care of the surgical patient. 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 important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 77,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit www.facs.org.

SOURCE American College of Surgeons