A general, thoracic and trauma surgeon, and surgical educator, Richardson became an ACS Fellow in 1980. Since then, he has served the ACS in various leadership capacities, most recently as chair of the Board of Regents (2011–2012). In that role, he also chaired the Regents’ Finance and Executive Committees.
Richardson was a member of the ACS Board of Regents from 2003 to 2010. He also played a leadership role on several other ACS committees. He was the ACS Governor from Kentucky (1989–1995) and served on the Governors’ Committee on Surgical Infections (1992–1995). He was chair of the Research and Optimal Patient Care Committee (2004–2011) and vice-chair of the Health Policy and Advocacy Group (2010–2011). He has been an active member of the ACS Committee on Trauma (COT), including serving as the chair of the Emergency Services-Prehospital Subcommittee (1992–1999) and as a member of the COT’s Executive Committee (1992), Membership Committee (1993), and Verification/Consultation Committee (1993).
In addition, Richardson has served on the ACS Advisory Council for General Surgery (1997–2002), the Advisory Council for Vascular Surgery as a Regent (2003–2006), and the Advisory Council for Rural Surgery as an ex officio member (2011–2012). He also has been a member of the ACS Committee on Video-Based Education (1991–1997). Currently, Richardson is chair of the ACS Transition to Practice Program in General Surgery Steering Committee.
At the state level, he has served ACS as chair (1985–1987) and vice-chair (1981–1985) of the Kentucky Committee on Trauma; secretary-treasurer (1983–1986) and president (1987) of the Kentucky Chapter; and as a member of the Kentucky Committee on Applicants (1997–2002) as well.
A prolific author, Richardson has published more than 345 articles in peer-reviewed publications, 50 book chapters, and currently has 10 publications in press. In addition to his leadership roles within the ACS, he has served as former director and chair of the American Board of Surgery, director of the American Board of Emergency Medicine, president of the American Association for Surgery of Trauma, president of the Southeastern Surgical Congress, and secretary and president of the Western Surgical Association.
Richardson is a 1970 graduate of the University of Kentucky School of Medicine. He completed a surgery internship and worked as a junior assistant resident at the University of Kentucky before moving to the School of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio to complete a general surgery and a thoracic surgery residency.
After completing his surgical training in 1976, he returned to Kentucky to teach and practice at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He rose through the academic ranks at the institution, starting as an assistant professor of surgery and becoming associate professor of surgery in 1979. He has served in his current positions as professor and vice chair of surgery since 1983 and 1985, respectively. He has served as chief of surgery service and director of emergency surgical services at the University of Louisville Hospital since 2005.
Richardson will be installed as the 96th president of the American College of Surgeons in October 2015, during the Convocation ceremony that precedes the opening of the ACS 2015 Clinical Congress in Chicago.
About the American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 79,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit www.facs.org
