The UNC Department of Surgery hosted the 25th Annual Meeting of the Society of Black Academic Surgeons (SBAS) from April 9-12. Scientific sessions and panels were held both at the Carolina Inn and the Sonja Haynes Stone Center on campus.
The Stone Center sessions focused on local speakers, including lectures by Dr. Myron Cohen on Global Health and by Nobel Laureate Dr. Oliver Smithies on the origin of ideas. The State of the Art lecture at the Friday event at the Carolina Inn was given by UNC Department of Surgery Chair Dr. Anthony A. Meyer, on the subject of “Making A Difference.” Saturday’s session featured the Asa Yancey Lecture delivered by Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, The Honorable Jonathan Woodson, MD, followed by a lecture by SBAS President Lynt B. Johnson, MD, MBA, FACS. Saturday evening’s Black Tie Dinner featured a talk from actor and activist Omari Hardwick.
The UNC Department of Surgery welcomed the SBAS members with a Friday night reception on the floor of the Dean Dome, which included talks from UNC basketball legends Phil Ford and Charles Scott. The vocal performance of UNC acapella group Harmonyx was received by the crowd with raucous applause, a standing ovation, and chants of “more, more!” After dinner, SBAS members enjoyed shooting freethrows on the Smith Center court and posing for dunk photos.
The Society of Black Academic Surgeons is a national organization dedicated to promoting more active participation in academic surgery among African-Americans. It was formed in 1989.
