Tucson, AZ -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/20/2017 -- Dr. Jamie Moenster was among 1,827 Initiates from around the world who became Fellows of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) during the Convocation ceremony at the College's 2017 annual Clinical Congress in San Diego, Calif., last month. This year's class of Initiates was among one of the largest ever admitted into the College.

Dr. Moenster graduated from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. She then completed five years of residency in general surgery and two years of fellowship in plastic and reconstructive surgery at South Pointe Hospital/Cleveland Clinic Health Systems in Cleveland, Ohio. She served as the chief resident in both general and plastic surgery. Dr. Moenster is dual Board Certified in Plastic, Reconstructive and General Surgery by the American Osteopathic Association and the American Osteopathic Board of Surgeons. She is currently practicing at Dermatology and Plastic Surgery of Arizona with offices in Tucson and Sierra Vista, Arizona. Dr. Moenster has a strong professional interest in breast reconstruction.

Dr. Moenster earned the title Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Surgery (FACOS) in 2012. She received the Resident Achievement Award by the ACOS in 2010. She was awarded the CORE/OUCOM Resident of the Year and Skills Lab Instructor of the Year.

By meeting the College's stringent membership requirements, Fellows of the College have earned the distinguished right to use the designation of "FACS" (Fellow, American College of Surgeons) after their names. An applicant for Fellowship must fulfill the following requirements: possess the ability to speak and/or write in English; be a graduate of an approved medical school; possess documentation of the completion of the basic surgical requirements determined by his or her country; possess a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the country and state or province in which he or she practices; have completed three years of surgical practice; have a current hospital appointment; have a current surgical practice; and display ethical fitness and professional proficiency as established by references and documentation. Moreover, the surgeon's acceptance as a Fellow of the College must be approved by three-fourths of its Board of Regents.

The Convocation ceremony was a highlight of the five-day meeting, which also featured reports on research-in-progress, postgraduate courses, panel discussions, symposia, and scientific and industrial exhibits. Total estimated attendance at the Congress was 11,895, including approximately 8,231 physicians. Allied health professionals and members of the scientific and consumer media also attended the meeting.

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 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 80,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.

For more information, visit: www.facs.org.