ACOS

Six days remain.

Fellowship applications close Monday, November 16 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The application is reviewed as one complete package — points, letters, committee service, and the completed form together — so if your letters are outstanding, contact your recommenders today.

An application fee, nonrefundable, accompanies the submission; the current fee is at facos.org/fellow.

Submit: facos.org/fellow

#ACOS #OsteopathicSurgery #FACOS #DFACOS #ACOS100Years

This Veterans Week, we recognize Dalkeith G. Facey, D.O., FACOS, for his service in the U.S. Air Force and his lifelong commitment to caring for others.

Dr. Facey enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1996 and served for six years as a Medical Laboratory Technologist.

After being honorably discharged, he earned a Master of Business Administration at Long Island University's Brooklyn campus.

He then pursued his medical degree at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, followed by a general surgery residency at St. John's Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, New York.

From 2011 to 2019, Dr. Facey volunteered his surgical skills to the Haitian community, performing thousands of free surgeries as a way of giving back to the less fortunate.

Today, he is a board-certified robotic surgeon practicing in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, and has completed over 1,150 robotic surgeries to date.

We honor Dr. Facey for his military service and his continued dedication to improving lives through surgical care.

This Veterans Week, we honor Roberto Taarea, D.O., FACOS, for his service in the U.S. Army and the lasting impact of his military experience on his career in trauma and acute care surgery.

After completing his medical education through the Army's Health Professions Scholarship Program, Dr. Taarea served on active duty, including a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His time in the military strengthened his commitment to trauma and critical care surgery and sparked an interest in surgical education that continues in his work today.

Reflecting on his military service and the experiences that helped shape his career, Dr. Taarea shares:

"I was a three-year recipient of the HPSP scholarship from the Army at KCUMB-COM. After graduation, I was one of the very lucky few to be granted civilian deferment for residency. I then completed my residency as an Individual Ready Reservist for the 5 years of residency. After residency, I served active duty for the US Army for 3 years. My first duty station was in Yongsan, in Seoul, South Korea. I served there for one year before heading back to the US and being stationed at Ft. Hood. Not long after arriving in Ft. Hood, I was then tagged to deploy to Afghanistan under Operation Enduring Freedom. I was deployed to Jalalabad, Afghanistan in Forward Operating Base Fenty from June to November 2014. After serving my required active duty obligation, I separated from the Army with an Honorable Discharge with the rank of Major. I then went into Surgical Critical Care fellowship after separating from the Army. I have been a trauma/acute care surgeon since.

Although my time in active duty was short, I am quite proud of my service. I had been interested in trauma/critical care since residency, but my time in the service cemented that desire. I felt that there was no greater honor than to treat and manage service members injured in the fight for freedom. And while in garrison, I felt honored to be able to treat and manage service members and their family. It was also while I was in Ft. Hood when I was first exposed to academic service. Although we only had one visiting resident at a time, I found that I enjoyed teaching the art of surgery. This led me to my current position as faculty for a Level 1 trauma center residency program."

We honor Dr. Taarea for his military service and his continued dedication to caring for others through trauma surgery and surgical education.

ACOS member Daniel Gay, DO, FACOS, has earned Master Surgeon in Hernia Surgery accreditation from Surgical Review Corporation (SRC). The designation recognizes Dr. Gay’s commitment to patient safety, surgical quality, patient education and continuous improvement. The accreditation process includes an extensive review of surgical experience, clinical protocols, facility standards and quality assessment practices. Congratulations to Dr. Gay on this achievement and his continued dedication to excellence in osteopathic surgical care!

Read more: usatoday.com/press-release/…

Couldn't Make It to ACA 2026? We've Got You Covered.

The learning doesn't stop when the meeting ends! Selected recordings from the 2026 Annual Clinical Assembly (ACA) are now available on demand, giving you the opportunity to revisit key sessions, explore valuable clinical insights, and strengthen your practice on your schedule.

Don't Miss This Featured Session

🎤Lift as You Climb: How to Lead by Helping Others Succeed Featuring keynote speaker Brandon Fleming This inspiring session explores the power of leadership through helping others succeed. The recording is available only through November 16, 2026, so be sure to watch before access ends!

Earn CME Credit on Your Schedule

Eligible participants can earn AOA Category 1-A CME Credit or AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ by completing eligible on-demand sessions.

📅Register by December 15, 2026. Complete your viewing and claim eligible CME credits by December 31, 2026, to apply them toward your 2026 CME reporting year.

Visit: facos.org/events/2026-an… to register!