Edward M. Copeland, M.D., distinguished professor of surgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine and an international authority on breast cancer, has been named president-elect of the American College of Surgeons.

Copeland's term as president begins in October. He will be the first surgeon from Florida ever to be named president of the organization, which was founded in 1913 to improve surgical care and education. The group has 64,000 fellows and 5,000 associate fellows and sponsors continuing medical education programs, monitors legislative issues related to surgery, and works to improve the quality of care given to patients.

"I'm very excited," Copeland said of the honor. "We have multiple goals to benefit patients and physicians."

As president, Copeland said he hopes to advance the college's National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, which measures surgical outcomes to improve the quality of patient care. He plans to ensure the college continues to battle cuts in Medicare reimbursements to physicians and plays a role in legislative initiatives that link quality healthcare to physician compensation. He also wants to lead the college in its fight for tort reform to change medical malpractice settlement laws.

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