american society of colon and rectal surgeons american society of colon and rectal surgeons the american society of colon and rectal surgeons (ascrs), formerly the american proctologic society, is a professional society for surgeons specializing in colorectal surgery. it is one of the oldest surgical societies, having been established in 1899. history the organization was established as the american proctologic society in 1899, at a meeting held in columbus, ohio: the meeting was called by dr. j. rawson pennington of chicago, illinois. dr. james p. tuttle of new york, new york, was chosen temporary chairman and joseph m. mathews of louisville, kentucky, elected the first president. the object of the society as stated in the constitution is the cultivation and promotion of knowledge in whatever relates to diseases of the rectum and colon. the name of the organization was changed to american society of colon and rectal surgeons in 1973 "to indicate more clearly the scope of its specialty". activities the ascrs has described its activities as follows: since its inception in 1899, the american society of colon and rectal surgeons (ascrs) has been actively providing support for the education of its members specializing in colon and rectal surgery, general surgeons, surgical residents, and medical students. with new developments in surgical education, the ascrs continues to offer educational tools and activities tailored to meet acquisition of medical knowledge and technical skills in an ongoing fashion throughout surgeons' careers, foster high-quality patient care, and promote the integration of the core competencies of communication skills, professionalism, system-based practice and practice-based learning, and improvement in daily practice. these tools and activities are presented in this article. the ascrs offers continuing medical education courses. for this provision, it is accredited by the accreditation council for continuing medical education. the ascrs holds an annual conference "to provide participants with in-depth and up-to-date knowledge relative to surgery for diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus", with an emphasis on patient care, teaching, and research. the ascrs is a participant in the american joint committee on cancer. in 2016, the american college of surgeons reported on its partnership with the ascrs in developing technical skill assessments in the colorectal surgery field. the ascrs was one of the contributors in the formation of the national accreditation program for rectal cancer. past presidents the following list of surgeons have served as president of the ascrs: year name 2022 conor p. delaney 2021 thomas e. read 2020 neil h. hyman 2019 tracy l. hull 2018 david a. margolin 2017 guy r. orangio 2016 patricia l. roberts 2015 charles e. littlejohn 2014 terry c. hicks 2013 michael j. stamos 2012 alan g. thorson 2011 steven d. wexner 2010 david beck 2009 james w. fleshman 2008 anthony senagore 2007 w. douglas wong 2006 lester rosen 2005 ann c. lowry 2004 bruce g. wolff 2003 david j.schoetz, jr. 2002 richard p. billingham 2001 robert d. fry 2000 john m. mackeigan 1999 h. randolph bailey 1998 lee e. smith 1997 ira j. kodner 1996 david a. rothenberger 1995 victor w. fazio 1994 philip h. gordon 1993 samuel b. labow 1992 w. patrick mazier 1991 robert w. beart, jr. 1990 peter a. volpe 1989 j. byron gathright, jr. 1988 herand abcarian 1987 frank j. theuerkauf 1986 h. whitney boggs, jr. 1985 eugene p. salvati 1984 a.w. martin marino, jr. 1983 stanley m. goldberg 1982 eugene s. sullivan 1981 bertram a. portin 1980 malcolm c. veidenheimer 1979 stuart h.q. quan 1978 donald m. gallagher 1977 alejandro f. castro 1976 john r. hill 1975 patrick h. hanley 1974 rupert b. turnball 1973 john h. remington 1972 john e. ray 1971 andrew jack mcadams 1970 walter birnbaum 1969 james a. ferguson 1968 neil w. swinton 1967 raymond j. jackman 1966 maus w. stearns, jr. 1965 norman d. nigro 1964 garnet w. ault 1963 robert a. scarborough 1962 robert j. rowe 1961 merrill o. hines 1960 walter a. fansler 1959 hyrum r. reichman 1958 karl zimmerman 1957 julius e. linn 1956 rufus c. alley 1955 stuart t. ross 1954 a.w. martin marino, sr. 1953 w. wendell green 1952 newton d. smith 1951 robert a. scarborough 1950 hoyt r. allen 1949 louis e. moon 1948 harry e. bacon 1947 george h. thiele 1946 joseph w. ricketts 1944, 1945 william h. daniel 1942, 1943 homer i. silvers 1941 frederick b. campbell 1940 clement j. de bere 1939 martin s. kleckner 1938 dudley smith 1937 harry z. hibshman 1936 marion c. pruitt 1935 frank g. runyeon 1934 louis a. buie 1933 curtis c. mechling 1932 curtice rosser 1931 w. oakley hermance 1930 dudley smith 1929 walter a. fansler 1928 edward g. martin 1927 louis a. buie 1926 william h. kiger 1925 descum c. mckenney 1924 frank c. yeomans 1923 ralph w. jackson 1922 emmett h. terrell 1921 granville s. hanes 1920 alois b. graham 1919 collier f. martin 1917, 1918 jerome m. lynch 1916 alfred j. zobel 1915 t. chittenden hill 1914 louis j. krause 1913 joseph m. mathews 1912 louis j. hirschman 1911 john l. jelks 1910 george j. cook 1909 dwight h. murray 1908 george b. evans 1907 a. bennett cooke 1906 samuel g. gant 1905 lewis h. adler, jr. 1904 j. rawson pennington 1903 william m. beach 1902 samuel t. earle 1901 thomas c. martin 1900 james p. tuttle 1899 joseph m. mathews