Full course description
2025 Creighton-CHI Health Access in Rural Surgery Symposium:
Building a Sustainable Future for Rural Surgery
FEATURED KEYNOTE SPEAKER
The Role of the American College of Surgeons in Supporting Rural Surgery
Beth H. Sutton, MD, FACS
President of the American College of Surgeons
FEATURED SPEAKERS
The Role of Policy Advocacy in Addresssing Workforce Shortages
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Advancing Rural Surgery: Education, Sustainability, and Innovation
Location
Creighton University Mike & Josie Harper Center
602 N 20th Street, Omaha, NE 68178
*In-Person Only.
Registration
No registration fee required.
Objectives
- Identify and analyze the unique challenges faced by rural surgical practitioners, including workforce shortages, resource limitations, and access to specialized care.
- Explore strategies for recruiting, training, and retaining surgeons in rural communities, emphasizing sustainable workforce development and educational pathways.
- Examine advancements in surgical procedures, technology, and telemedicine applications that enhance rural surgical care and patient outcomes.
- Assess the role of hospital systems, surgical facilities, and community partnerships in strengthening rural surgical services and improving patient care delivery.
- Evaluate healthcare policies and legislative efforts that impact rural surgical practice, and identify advocacy opportunities to improve surgical care accessibility in underserved regions.
Co-Directors
Waddah B. Al-Refaie, MD, FACS
Dr. & Mrs. Arnold W. Lempka Endowed Chair and Professor in Surgery
Chair of the Department of Surgery
Creighton University School of Medicine
Chair of the Department of Surgery for CHI Health Clinic
Scott Shipman, MD, MPH
CyncHealth/ Nebraska Healthcare Collaborative Endowed Professor of Population Health
Executive Director, Institute for Population Health
Creighton University
Program Committee
Emily Brown, MD
Kyle E. Cassling, MD, MEd
Kathleen Guinn
Scott Reetz, MD, MPH
Jennifer Tseng, MD, MPH
Dillon Wade, MD
A Conference Designed For
Surgeons, nurses, residents, policymakers, and faculty, students, and staff interested in rural health and rural health policy
Jointly Provided By
- Creighton University School of Medicine
- Creighton University Institute for Population Health
- CHI Health
- Creighton University Office of Continuing Education
Schedule
Friday, May 30, 2025
3.5 CE Hours
11:30 a.m.
Registration, Lunch, and Networking
12:30 p.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Bo Dunlay, MD
Dean, School of Medicine
Creighton University
Waddah B. Al-Refaie, MD, FACS
Chair of Surgery, School of Medicine
Creighton University & CHI Health
Scott Shipman, MD, MPH
CyncHealth Professor of Population Health
Executive Director, Institute for Population Health
Creighton University
Session 1: Keynote
12:45 p.m.
The Role of the American College of Surgeons in Supporting Rural Surgery
Introduction: Jennifer Tseng, MD, MPH
Beth H. Sutton, MD, FACS
President, American College of Surgeons
Session 2: The Role of Policy and Advocacy in Addressing Workforce Shortages
1:30 p.m.
Fireside Chat with Representative Don Bacon: Rural Healthcare, Policy, & Advocacy in Nebraska
Moderators: Scott Reetz, MD, MPH; Bonnie Simpson Mason, MD, FAAOS
2 p.m.
Panel: Federal vs. Local Advocacy
Moderators: Emily Brown, MD; Jennifer Tseng, MD, MPH
Panelists:
Christian Shalgian
Senior Vice President, Division of Advocacy & Health Policy
American College of Surgeons
Jed Hansen, PhD, APRN, FNP-C
Executive Director
Nebraska Rural Health Association
2:55 p.m.
Framework Presentation
Jillian Timperley
3 p.m.
Break
Session 3: Advancing Rural Surgery
3:15 p.m.
Panel: Education, Sustainability, and Innovation
Moderators: Dillon Wade, MD; Neil Patel, MD
Panelists:
Tyler G. Hughes, MD, FACS
Clinical Professor of Surgery
Dean, University of Kansas School of Medicine Salina
1st VP Elect, American College of Surgeons
Benjamin Jarman, MD
Vice President of Medical Education
Designated Institutional Official
Gundersen Health System
Kyle E. Cassling, MD, MEd
Assistant Professor, General Surgery
Creighton University & CHI Health
4:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks & Adjournment
Waddah B. Al-Refaie, MD, FACS
Scott Shipman, MD, MPH
Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Creighton University Health Sciences Continuing Education and CHI Health. Creighton University Health Sciences Continuing Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
How to Register Yourself
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Select “Enroll Now.” Login or create a Creighton Lifelong Learning account (if you are not able to create a new account with your email, please click “Forgot Password” to reset; this is separate from your Creighton NetID account).
- Checkout by clicking on the Cart and following the prompts to submit payment.
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When done, you will receive a Registration Confirmation email.
*You can also view your confirmed programs in your Creighton Lifelong Learning account under Student Dashboard and Purchases & Enrollments.
How to Register Others
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Select the “Bulk Purchase” button
next to “Enroll Now.” Login or create a Creighton Lifelong Learning account for yourself as the organizer (if you are not able to create a new account with your email, please click “Forgot Password” to reset; this is separate from your Creighton NetID account). - Select the number of seats/registrations you would like to purchase.
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Checkout by clicking on the Cart and following the prompts to submit payment.
- After payment has been confirmed, click "Invite Students to Enroll" and type in the individual emails and click "Send Invite."
- Learners will receive a Registration Invitation and follow directions to complete their registration. When done, they will receive a Registration Completion email.
*You can check registration status, resend invitations, and revoke invitations in your Creighton Lifelong Learning account under Bulk Enrollments by way of Purchases & Enrollments.