Defining the role and impact of specialty surgeons in ensuring high-quality, accessible abdominal surgery: a report from the 2024 GI Surgery Summit

Background: The 2024 GI Surgery Summit brought together Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT), Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO), and Society of University Surgeons (SUS) members to assess the current state of gastrointestinal (GI) surgery. This report reviews the key discussions and recommendations after the dedicated plenary session that addressed challenges in providing high-quality, accessible GI surgery for all patients.

Methods: The Summit took place from January 14 to 16. During the plenary session "Defining the role and impact of specialty surgeons in ensuring high-quality, accessible abdominal surgery," leaders, rising leaders, and members of SSAT, SSO, and SUS met and discussed challenges in providing high-quality, accessible GI surgery.

Results: Actionable recommendations to address the challenges in providing high-quality, accessible GI surgical care were made, including engaging communities and patients, building alliances across hospitals and surgeons, and establishing standards of GI surgical care.

Conclusion: Surgeons, hospital systems, and surgical societies can improve healthcare access and outcomes for all GI surgical patients.