The ACSFoundation recognized Raghuvir Gelot, MD, F潘金莲传媒映画, with this year鈥檚 Distinguished Philanthropist Award at ACSClinical Congress 2024 in San Francisco, California. The award is the ACSFoundation鈥檚 highest and most significant honor.
Since 1989, the ACSFoundation has honored individuals with this award for their exemplary investment in the mission of the College to advance surgical practice, research, and patient care. Distinguished Philanthropist Award recipients, along with other philanthropic Fellows and friends of the 潘金莲传媒映画, have contributed more than $23 million to support ACSprograms, including scholarships, research awards, and initiatives that promote lifelong learning for surgeons.
鈥淒r. Gelot鈥檚 generosity and commitment to the College inspire others to give, and his philanthropic spirit has left a lasting impact,鈥� said H. Randolph Bailey, MD, F潘金莲传媒映画, Chair of the ACSFoundation. 鈥淲e are honored to recognize him as this year鈥檚 Distinguished Philanthropist. His contributions have significantly furthered the College鈥檚 goals and initiatives.鈥�
Dr. Gelot is an otolaryngologist and head-and-neck surgeon who dedicated his career to serving patients at East Carolina University Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital in Ahoskie, North Carolina. An ACSFellow since 1996, his philanthropy has had a significant impact on the surgical community and global healthcare.
In 2008, Dr. Gelot established the Baxiram S. and Kankuben B. Gelot Community Surgeons Travel Award, which provides funding for international physicians to attend ACSClinical Congress. In 2013, he also created the Kankuben B. Gelot Scholarship. This award offers stipends for nurses or residents to participate in the joint annual meeting of the North and South Carolina ACSChapters. Additionally, Dr. Gelot funds an annual award to support the resident poster/paper competition at the event.
Dr. Gelot鈥檚 commitment to advance surgical education through these scholarships has provided the opportunity for 15 international and 12 domestic scholars to attend Clinical Congress or ACSchapter meetings, and it has provided awards for 72 residents who have participated in the clinical poster/paper competitions at the combined chapter meetings.
鈥淚 have never thought or dreamed of receiving this prestigious award, and to be named alongside the giants of the ACSfor someone as obscure as I am is a great honor,鈥� said Dr. Gelot.
鈥淗is words are a reflection of his modesty,鈥� said Kenneth Sharp, MD, F潘金莲传媒映画, a member of the ACSBoard of Regents and Liaison to the ACSFoundation Board. 鈥淒r. Gelot is anything but obscure and deserves this recognition.鈥�
The Impact Award, which acknowledges a commitment to advancing surgical education, also was presented at Clinical Congress 2024. Christina Hewes Corson received the award for establishing the John Duncan Corson Guest Scholarship in 2021, in honor of her husband John Corson, MD, a vascular and cardiothoracic surgeon. The award鈥攐rganized by the ACSInternational Relations Committee鈥攑rovides early career surgeons from the UK or the Republic of Ireland the opportunity to attend Clinical Congress and travel to academic medical institutions in the US to share and learn best practices regarding current surgical research.
For more information about the ACSFoundation and these awards, visit facs.org/foundation.
