Dr. Rebecca Minter, A.R. Curreri Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery, was named the Chair of the American Board of Surgery (ABS) Board of Directors for the 2025-26 term.
“I am deeply honored by the opportunity to serve the American Board of Surgery, the profession of surgery at large, and our patients as chair of the ABS Board of Directors,” Dr. Minter said. “It is a true privilege to serve an organization that is so grounded in purpose and supported by such outstanding talent. I am very excited to be able to support the innovative and impactful work of the ABS.”
Dr. Minter was first nominated to the ABS by the American Surgical Association in 2018, her first year at UW. She served on the previous ABS Board of Directors (now the ABS Council) until 2019 when she was elected to serve as a director on the new governing board of the ABS. She has also served as Vice Chair of the ABS Board of Directors and Chair of the Audit Committee.
Dr. Minter is a national leader in academic surgery. She is a pancreaticobiliary surgeon who has a particular interest in the management and treatment of benign and neoplastic diseases of the pancreas. Dr. Minter’s research efforts are primarily focused within the domain of surgical education in the development of innovative training paradigms. Prior to her move to the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Minter held successive leadership roles at the University of Texas Southwestern and the University of Michigan, including serving as Chief of the Hepatopancreatobiliary Section/Division at both institutions.
The American Board of Surgery is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides board certification to individuals who have met a defined standard of education, training, and knowledge in the field of surgery. Surgeons certified by the ABS have completed at least five years of surgical training following medical school and successfully completed a written and oral examination process administered by the ABS. They must maintain their board certification through ongoing learning and practice improvement activities. The ABS offers board certification in general surgery, vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, surgical critical care, and complex general surgical oncology. It is one of the 24 member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties.