Delegation Leaders are selected by the professional association to represent the members and the goals of the association. Delegation leaders provide the initial vision and guidance in the development of the professional program. Delegation Leaders assist in facilitating the professional dialog, greeting hosts, and representing the delegation members while in the field.
Carlos A. Pellegrini, M.D, FACS, is the former Chief Medical Officer for UW Medicine and a Professor and Chair Emeritus in the department of Surgery.
Upon his retirement from UW Medicine, Dr. Pellegrini started a new career as an executive leadership coach. In that capacity, he provides personalized coaching to leaders of healthcare institutions continuing his lifelong passion to improve interpersonal relationships among all human beings. He is also a consultant on matters of professionalism, equity, diversity, inclusion, and patient safety for academic medical centers.
Dr. Pellegrini was born in Argentina and received his M.D. from the University of Rosario Medical School, where he trained in general surgery. He completed his training in surgery at the University of Chicago. He practiced at UCSF initially and then at the University of Washington.
Dr. Pellegrini is the current vice-chair of the Board of The Joint Commission and sits on the Board of Directors of the Joint Commission International.
Dr. Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, is a distinguished general surgeon specializing in minimally invasive procedures. Since January 1, 2022, she has served as the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the American College of Surgeons (ACS).
Before joining the ACS leadership, Dr. Turner held academic positions at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where she served as the surgery residency program director and medical director of the surgical acute care unit. Currently, she is a faculty member in the department of surgery at the University of Chicago Medicine.
Dr. Turner obtained her medical degree from the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, and completed her surgical training at Howard University Hospital, including research at the National Institutes of Health. She pursued fellowship training in minimally invasive surgery at several prestigious institutions in New York City and earned an MBA with honors from the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business.
Throughout her career, Dr. Turner has been a prolific researcher and advocate for improving surgical techniques, leadership, and graduate surgical education. She has received numerous awards and grants for her contributions to the field. Dr. Turner’s primary goal is to remove barriers that hinder surgeons from leading fulfilling personal and professional lives.