The American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) proudly welcomes John H.T. Waldhausen, MD, as its new president, succeeding Immediate Past President Joseph P. Vacanti, MD. The official passing of the president’s gavel took place during the association’s virtual 2020 Annual Meeting, which began on May 14 and replaced its originally planned three-day, in-person meeting in Orlando.
Dr. Waldhausen is chief of the Division of General and Thoracic Surgery at Seattle Children’s Hospital and a professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. In practice, Dr. Waldhausen covers general pediatric surgery and focuses on pediatric cancer surgery, minimally invasive surgery and congenital surgical problems, while his primary research is in clinical outcomes.
Dr. Waldhausen is past secretary of the APSA Board of Governors. He was also president of the ASTPD and served on the Pediatric Surgery Board of the American Board of Surgery.
In accepting his new role with APSA, Dr. Waldhausen commented, “It is with great honor that I accept the presidency of APSA, following the exemplary lead of those who have come before me. Over the course of the next year, I will work to reinvigorate our vision to continue to provide high-quality educational opportunities and resources and to ensure that every child in America has access not only to the appropriate resources but also to an appropriately trained surgeon to obtain their care.”
Immediate Past President Dr. Vacanti said, “Having been elected president of APSA has been one of the greatest professional honors of my career. A great joy has been the ability to work with so many dedicated, talented and passionate individuals. Dr. Waldhausen is extraordinarily capable and equipped to lead APSA into the future.”
In addition to Dr. Waldhausen, incoming APSA board members include President-Elect Edward M. Barksdale, Jr., MD, UH Case Medical Center; Treasurer Marjorie J. Arca, MD, University of Rochester Medical Center; Governor Andrea A. Hayes-Jordan, MD, University of North Carolina; and Governor Ellen M. Reynolds, MD, St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital. They join current board members Secretary Max R. Langham, Jr., MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center; Governor Peter W. Dillon, MD, Penn State Hershey Medical Center; Strategic Officer David M. Powell, MD, Stanford University Medical Center; and Immediate Past President Joseph P. Vacanti, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital.
