About South Florida Chapter

Charles Monnin MD, FACS Chapter Historian

The group that was to become the Miami Chapter of the American College of Surgeons was formed in 1950 or 1951. The group consisted of about ten local surgeons who would meet at the Columbus Hotel. These surgeons included George D. Lilly, Richard C. Clay, Don Smith, John Hilsenbeck, James Merritt, Bobby Lee, Morris Blau, Dick Fleming, Marvin Flannery, Fred Farrer, Raymond Grave, Walter Jones, Perry Melvin and Robert Dickey.

Monthly meetings soon followed and were held at the Columbus Hotel in downtown Miami. Discussions included problems in surgery as well as surgical case problems in the area. Young qualified surgeons were encouraged and helped in obtaining hospital privileges.

The original group was organized on October 15, 1953, when Dr. Walter C. Jones, a Governor of the College from Florida, called a meeting of Fellows in the Greater Miami area to discuss the feasibility of organizing a local chapter; the meeting was held at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The following thirty-five fellows were present: Drs. Herman Boughton, Ruben Christman, Richard C. Clay, George D. Lilly, Ed W. Cullipher, Carl W. Davis, Robert Dickey, L.W. Dowlen, Rudolph Drosd, Fred Farrer, Richard Fleming, S.B. Goldman, Raymond Graves, Tracy Haverfield, John Hilsenbeck, Bruch Hogg, Ferdinand Kauders, Donald Smith, John Snyder, Richard Strain, Guy Van Alstyne, Herbert Virgin, Jr., and Walter M. Yost.

The following officers were elected:
President – Dr. George D. Lilly
Vice-President – Dr. L.W. Dowlen
Secretary-Treasurer – Dr. Richard C. Clay
Members of Council – Dr. Walter Jones, Dr. Richard Fleming, Dr. Perry Melvin and Dr. Marvin Flannery.

Early on, the meetings were black tie affairs. The first meeting of the Miami Chapter of the American College of Surgeons was held in the Miami Club, on the mezzanine of the Columbus Hotel, in downtown Miami. For the first meeting, Dr. Lilly had invited Dr. Alton Ochsner and Dr. Alfred Blalock to be the speakers. (By coincidence, it was the week that Dr. Ochsner’s article on the relationship between tobacco and cancer of the lung was published in JAMA). Dr. Lilly had arranged with Dr. Ochsner to do several chest cases at Jackson Memorial Hospital for Dr. Blau, in order to have someone in town doing the chest surgery. When Dr. D. Daughtry came to town, Dr. Blau turned the work in chest surgery over to him.

At that time, there was discussion concerning the founding of the Medical School, as well as helping in the accreditation of surgery in the various local hospitals.

It was 5 o’clock and the last patients had gone, the nurse and secretary were leaving. George Lilly was finishing his notes and dictation, after which he changed to his tuxedo. We then walked across the street to the Columbus Hotel and up to The Miami Club’s smoke filled rooms where most of the members had gathered for the reception: martinis and all. Dinners usually consisted of a fruit cocktail, steak with a baked potato, salad and a sweet dessert along with coffee. Cigars were offered. Considering how few of us are left that were at the founding dinner of the Greater Miami Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, I felt that it was incumbent to write the history before it is forgotten. At the time, I was a candidate member of the College and a resident at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Coral Gables. I was an invited guest.

After many hours of work, (interviews, tape recordings, pages of notes, etc., – a two pound chart), I have been able to get a complete list of officers from the organization in 1952/1953 to 1978. The records from 1978 leave a little to be desired and/or have been lost! I have written each of the ensuing presidents without much help. The home office in Chicago was kind enough to let Mr. Bill Bouck, our Executive Director, have their records.

“We would meet at the Columbus Hotel monthly and have a good dinner,” said Dr. Blau, an original member and one of the founders of the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital. “Discussions included problems in surgery as well as our surgical case problems. Young qualified surgeons were encouraged and helped in obtaining hospital privileges.”

The value of membership as remembered by Dr. Dewitt Daughtry: “When I came to town and saw General Hillman at Jackson, I was told that no matter how well qualified I was, I would have to be a tax-paying citizen of Dade County for a year before I could have privileges at Jackson. Thanks to Dr. Lilly, Dr. Blau and Dr. Raymond Graves, who made calls on my behalf, I was able to admit patients without waiting a year. Believe me, it was difficult in those days to get privileges.”

A special thanks goes to Dr. Richard Clay for his expertise, (it is interesting to note that Dr. Clay is not mentioned in the Chicago files as president of the local chapter in 1956); Kathleen Gordon, a Professor of English at the University of Miami; and to Mr. Bill Bouck, Executive Director of the South Florida Chapter of the American College of Surgeons.

BYLAWS

of the

SOUTH FLORIDA CHAPTER

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS

ARTICLE I

Name and Purposes

Section 1:  Name.  The corporation shall be known as the GREATER MIAMI CHAPTER, AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.

Section 2: Purposes.  As expressed in the Articles of Incorporation:

1. To serve as a means of communication between the members of the Chapter and the AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS
2. To stimulate interest in the Candidate Group among surgical residents and young surgeons
3. To provide a means through which the Fellows may communicate with other professional and civic groups concerned with the improved delivery of health care.

ARTICLE II

Members

Section 1.  Classes of Members.  The Chapter shall have three (3) classes of members: Active, Affiliate and Retired.  The qualification for membership in the respective classes is as follows:

1. Active Members:  Active members shall be Fellows of the AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS residing or practicing in the Dade county, Broward County, Palm Beach County, and Monroe County areas, who apply for membership in the Chapter and agree to comply with its Bylaws.
2. Affiliate Members:  Affiliate members shall be members of the Candidate Group and Associate Group of the AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS, residing or practicing in Dade County, Broward County, Palm Beach County, and Monroe County areas, who apply for membership in the Chapter and agree to comply with its Bylaws.
3. Retired Members:  No longer actively practicing surgery.
4. Application for Membership:  Application for membership shall be in a form furnished by the Secretary and shall be reviewed by the Officers and/or Council for completeness, eligibility, and accuracy.  If in satisfactory form, the applicant shall automatically become a member upon payment of dues and meeting eligibility requirements as above stated.

Section 2.  Termination of Membership.  Membership in the Chapter shall terminate automatically for the following reasons:

1. Ineligibility: No longer a Fellow of the AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS in good standing, or a member of the Candidate Group or Associate Group in good standing.
2. Failure to comply with the disciplinary requirements for the maintenance of Fellowship in the AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.
3. Failure to pay dues in a timely manner.
4. Relocation of a permanent nature, away from membership territory as stated in Section 1 (a) and (b).

Section 3.  Procedure for Termination.  Upon any of the foregoing mentioned in Section 2 being brought to the attention of the Secretary, he shall cause said facts to be placed before the Councillors.  Upon majority vote of the said Councillors, the said membership shall be terminated.  Thirty (30) days written notice shall be given to the member advising him of the Councillors’ decision to terminate his membership. During said thirty (30) days, the member shall have the right to appear at a hearing before the Council with or without counsel and present any evidence that he desires in refutation of the charges.  The Council shall thereupon decide by majority vote whether termination shall remain effective.

Section 4.  Reinstatement.  A former member may be eligible for reinstatement of the following happenings:

1. Payment in full of dues in arrears.  Reapplication is subject to approval.
2. Reinstatement as a Fellow of the AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.

Section 5.  Any former member desiring reinstatement shall apply to the Secretary on a form to be designated by the Secretary giving full particulars of the criteria he contends entitles him to reinstatement.  Reinstatement shall be accomplished by majority vote of the Councillors.

ARTICLE III

Meeting of the Members

Section 1.  Meetings.  A meeting of the members of the Chapter shall be held each year.  This meeting will be held in the month of November. Officers and Councillors shall be elected and for the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting.  If the annual meeting is not held during such month, the Council shall cause it to be held as soon thereafter as may be convenient.

Section 2.  Special Meetings.  Special meetings of the members may be called at any time either by the President, by the Council, or by twenty-five percent (25%) of the entire active membership.

Section 3.  Notice of Meeting.  Written or printed notice stating the place, day, and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered to each member, either personally, or by mail, by or at the direction of the President or the Secretary or the officer or persons calling the meeting.  If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the member at his address as it appears on the record of the Chapter.

All meetings will be closed except for invited guests and non-members of the AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS who have requested permission to attend a particular meeting and have been granted prior written approval to attend by the Council.

Section 4.  Voting Lists.  The officer having charge of the membership book of the Chapter shall make, before each meeting of members, a complete list of members entitled to vote at such meetings, arranged in alphabetical order.

Section 5.  Quorum.  Thirty (30) voting members of the Chapter shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the members, provided that if less than a quorum is present at said meeting, a majority of those voting members present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice.  A quorum will be presumed until called for.

Section 6.  Manner of Acting.  The act of a majority of the voting members present in person at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the members, unless the act of a great number is required by statute, the Articles of Incorporation, or these Bylaws.

Section 7.  Informal Action by Membership.  Any action required by statute, the Articles of Incorporation, or these Bylaws to be taken at a meeting of members of the Chapter may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by a majority of members entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.

Section 8.  General Voting Rights.  At any regular or special meeting of the members of the Chapter, each member in good standing shall be entitled to one vote on any question or issue voted on by the membership, except that in the election of directors each such member shall have as many votes as there are directorships to be filled at the election and may apportion such votes among the candidates in any manner that he sees fit, under the principles of cumulative voting.

Except otherwise provided by law, or the Articles of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, all matters voted on by the members at any meeting shall be decided by vote of the majority of the members present, provided however that in any election of Councillors, the number of Councillorships to be filled by those candidates who receive the highest number of votes cast, without regard to the presence or absence of an absolute majority in any case.

At any meeting, the members may attend, participate, and vote only in person or may attend, participate and vote by proxy, provided that not more than three (3) proxies may be held and voted on by any single member at any meeting.

ARTICLE IV

Council

Section 1.  General Powers.  The property and affairs of the Chapter shall be managed by its Council.

Section 2.  Composition.  The Council shall consist of the officers of the Chapter, Councillors elected by the members of the Chapter, the Immediate Past President, and, as ex-officio members, the Governors representing the Chapter.

Section 3.  Special Meetings.  Special meetings of the Council may be called by or at the request of the President or any four (4) Council members. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Council may fix the place for holding such special meetings.

Section 4.  Notice.  Written or printed noticed of any special meeting of the Council shall state the place, day, or hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.  Such notice shall be given to each member of the Council at least four (4) days before the date of the meeting, either delivered personally or mailed to each member of the Council at his or her address as shown in the records of the Chapter.  If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail in a sealed envelope so addressed, with postage prepaid.

Special meetings of the Council may be held by means of telephone conference or equipment of similar communications by means of which all Councillors participating in the meeting can hear each other.  Participating in a meeting by telephone or similar communication equipment shall presence in person at the special meeting; except where a Councillor participates in a meeting for the sole purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the special meeting is not lawfully convened or called.

Section 5.  Quorum.  Fifty percent (50%) of the voting members of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Council, provided that if less than fifty percent (50%) of the members are present at any meeting, a majority of the members of the Council present may adjourn the meeting to another time without further notice.

Section 6.  Manner of Acting.  The act of a majority of the voting members of the Council present at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Council, unless the act of a great number is required by statute, the Articles of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws.

Section 7.  Informal Action of the Council.  Any action which is required by law or the Articles of Incorporation, or these Bylaws to be taken at a meeting of the Council, or any other action which may be taken at a meeting of the Council, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action taken, shall be signed by all of the members of the Council entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.  Any such consent signed by all of the members of the Council shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote at a duly called and constituted meeting of the Council.

ARTICLE V

Officers

Section 1.  Officers.  The officers of the Chapter shall consist of a President, Immediate Past President, and a Secretary/Treasurer, and Councillors.  Only Active members may be officers of the Chapter.

Section 2.  Election and Term of Office of President, Treasurer and Secretary.  

1. The President, Immediate Past President, Secretary/Treasurer of the Chapter shall be elected every two (2) years by the members at the last meeting of the members in the year or as soon thereafter as may be convenient.  Said officers shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

Section 3.  Election and Term of Office of the Councillors.  One (1) Councillor shall be elected for a three (3) year term and re-elected for no more than a three (3) year consecutive term to replace each retiring Councillor.

Section 4.  Vacancies.  A vacancy in any office, including the office of Councillor, may be filled by action of the members of the Council at any meeting of the Council.  The individual so appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the unexpired term of his predecessor in office.  Such a person would be eligible to be re-elected for two (2) full terms subsequently as stated in Section 3.

Section 5.  Total Number of Council Members.  The number of active Council members shall not exceed ten (10) for any given period of time.  This number is to include the immediate Past President, who automatically becomes a Council member for a two (2) year term immediately following the expiration date of his term in office as President.

ARTICLE VI

Duties of Officers

Section 1.  President.  The President shall be the principal executive officer of the Chapter and shall, in general, supervise and direct all of the business and affairs of the Chapter, subject to the direction and control of the Council.  The President shall preside at all meetings of the members and of the Council.  The President shall appoint the members of all special and standing committees of the Chapter.

Section 2.  Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall be the principal accounting and financial officer of the Chapter and shall have charge of and be responsible for the maintenance of adequate books of account for the Chapter, shall have charge and custody of all funds and securities of the Council and be responsible therefore, and for the receipt and disbursement thereof, shall deposit all funds and securities of the chapter in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as shall be selected by the Council, and shall in general perform all of the duties customarily incident to the office of the Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or the Council. The Treasurer may seek assistance from the Executive Director in any other above-mentioned duties of the Treasurer.

The books and records of the Corporation shall be open to inspection by any member during regular business hours after reasonable written request.

Section 3.  Secretary.  The Secretary shall have charge of the membership book of the Chapter, shall prepare before each meeting, and alphabetical list of all voting members, shall keep minutes of the meetings of the members of the Council in one or more books maintained for the purpose, shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with statutes, the Articles of Incorporation, and these Bylaws, shall be custodian of the Chapter’s records and seal, shall keep a record of the mailing address of each member of the chapter, shall maintain a current roster of all Fellows of the Chapter within the Chapter’s geographic area, including all members of the Candidate Group residing within the Chapter’s geographic area, and in general shall perform all duties customarily incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or Council.  The Secretary may seek assistance from the Executive Director in any of the aforementioned duties of the secretary.

Section 4.  At the discretion of the Council, the offices of the Secretary and Treasurer may be combined to form the office of the Secretary/Treasurer. Duties of this office are the combined duties as stated in Sections 2 and 3.

Section 5.  Executive Director.  At the discretion of the Council, the Chapter may contract with an individual to act as Executive Director.  The duties and salary of said position shall be specified in contract form and re-negotiated annually by the Council.

ARTICLE VII

Committees

Section 1.  Establishment and Composition.  Committees may be established by resolution of the Council adopted at a duly called and constituted meeting.  The size, purposes and powers of any such committee shall be provided in such resolution. Except as otherwise provided in such resolution, the President of the Chapter shall appoint the members of each committee.  Any member of any committee may be removed by the President whenever, in his judgment, the best interested of the Chapter shall be served by such removal.

Section 2.  Term of Office.  Each member of a committee shall continue as such until the next annual meeting of the Council and until his successor is appointed or until such member’s death, resignation, or removal, or until the committee shall be terminated.

Section 3.  Chairman.  One member of each committee shall be appointed as chairman of the committee by the President of the Chapter.

Section 4.  Vacancies.  Vacancies in the membership of any committee shall be filled by appointments made by the President.

Section 5.  Quorum and Manner of Acting.  Unless otherwise provided in the resolution of the Council establishing a committee, a majority of the whole committee shall constitute a quorum and the act of a majority of the members present at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee.

ARTICLE VIII

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Chapter shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of December of each calendar year.

ARTICLE IX

Dues

Annual dues shall be set by the Council at its annual meeting.  Additional assessments may be made by Council at any annual or special meeting.

ARTICLE X

Rules of Procedure

All questions of procedure regarding the affairs of this Chapter, including the conduct of meetings of the members, the Council and committees, shall be governed by the then current edition of Sturgis Standard Code and Parliamentary Procedure, except as otherwise provided by statute, the Articles of Incorporation, or these Bylaws.

ARTICLE XI

College of Surgeons

Neither the Chapter nor any of its officers, or members, is authorized to represent or in any way bind the AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS, nor will any of them in any way hold themselves out as being so authorized.

ARTICLE XII

These Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted by a two-thirds vote, of the voting members present at the annual meeting of the Chapter, provided that written notice of the proposed change or changes shall have been given to each voting member in accordance with the requirements set forth in Article III.  All Bylaw amendments shall be submitted to the Board of Regents of the AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS for its approval.  Disapproval by the Board of Regents shall render such amendment null and void.

Revised 11/25/1996

George D. Lilly, MD, FACS 1953-54
Marvin Flannery, MD, FACS 1955
Richard C. Clay, MD, FACS 1956
Joseph Jana, MD, FACS 1957
J. Raymon Graves, MD, FACS 1958
Richard Flemming, MD, FACS 1959
Leonidas W. Dowlen, MD, FACS 1960
Francis W. Cooke, MD, FACS 1961
Ralph Jack, MD, FACS 1962
Francis W. Cooke, MD, FACS 1963
Clifford C. Snyder, MD, FACS 1964
Robert F. Dickey, MD, FACS 1965
Edward W. Cullipher, MD, FACS 1966
Robert L. Swink, MD, FACS 1967
John Hilsenbeck, MD, FACS 1968
Morris H. Blau, MD, FACS 1969
Richard C. Deaver, MD, FACS 1970
John T. Kilpatrick, MD, FACS 1971
Arthur Woods, MD, FACS 1972
Norman Keynon, MD, FACS 1973
Henry Bryant, MD, FACS 1974
Dan Dooley, MD, FACS 1975
Walter C. Jones III, MD, FACS 1976
Donald J. Hagan, MD, FACS 1977
George L. Irvin III, MD, FACS, 1978
Ian Nisonson, MD, FACS 1979-80
Karl Smiley, MD, FACS 1981-82
Glenn Morrison, MD, FACS 1983-84
Jack B. Yaffa, MD, FACS 1985-86
Roger L. Moebus, MD, FACS 1987-88
Henry Trattler, MD, FACS 1989-90
Abilio Coello, MD, FACS 1991-92
Dale G. Davis 1993-94
Carlos A. Suarez, MD, FACS 1995-96
Robert P. Derhagopian, MD, FACS 1997-98
Carlos A. Suarez, MD, FACS 1999
Steven D. Wexner, MD, FACS 2000-03
William M. Cohen, MD, FACS 2004-05
Laurence R. Sands, MD, FACS 2006-07
Juan J. Nogueras, MD, FACS 2008-09
Jerold Young, MD, FACS 2010-11
Stephan Baker, MD, FACS 2012-14
Juan C. Paramo, MD, FACS 2015-16
Raul J. Rosenthal, MD, FACS 2017-18
Natan Zundel, MD, FACS 2019-2020
Mark McKenney, MD, FACS 2020-22