TTUHSC’s Santos Inducted into the American College of Surgeons Academy of Master Surgeon Educators®

• By Suzanna Cisneros
• November 6, 2024
• Education

Ariel Santos, M.D., a trauma and critical care surgeon and interim chair for the Department of Surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), was inducted into membership in the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators® Sept. 27 in Chicago. 

The ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators works to advance the science and practice of education across all surgical specialties. This is the seventh cohort of members which includes 76 surgeon educators. Santos was inducted as associate member of this academy. 

Santos also serves as the director of the TTUHSC School of Medicine telemedicine, the chief of acute care surgery and a course director and instructor. He contributed to the creation of Association of American Medical Colleges Telehealth Competencies, the Guidelines for the Society of Critical Care Medicine and authored several papers on surgical education. He is the founding advisor of the Critical Care Medicine Interest Group and Telemedicine Student Interest Group. 

“Dr. Santos has an easy grasp of complex problems and is very driven and relentless in his scientific pursuits,” TTUHSC Executive Vice President of Clinical Affairs and School of Medicine Dean John C. DeToledo, M.D., said. “He is a natural mentor and is gifted in visually abstracting information and concepts.”

“This year, we celebrate another cohort of distinguished surgeon educators who are pushing the frontiers of surgical education and making outstanding contributions to our field,” Ajit K. Sachdeva, M.D., director of the ACS Division of Education and co-chair of the academy, said. “We are excited to continue fostering innovation, collaboration and excellence in surgical education. Together, we will define the future of surgical education and inspire the next generation of educators to advance patient care and professional practice through impactful education.”