The annual American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress will take place virtually this year, from 3 - 7 October 2020. At RCSI, we are delighted to a host a virtual reception in place of our usual in-person meeting at the Congress. ACS President and RCSI Honorary Fellow Dr Valerie Rusch will firstly extend a warm welcome to all RCSI participants, followed by Professor Mark Shrime, newly-appointed O’Brien Chair of Global Surgery who tells us about his new role in RCSI. We will also hear from Dr Keith Lillemoe, Surgeon in Chief at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Editor-in-Chief of the Annals of Surgery. Professor Conor Delaney, newly appointed CEO of Cleveland Clinic Florida; Professor Vivian McAlister from London, Ontario and Professor Majella Doyle, based in St. Louis, will tell us about the effects of COVID on their practice. Dr Ruth Tevlin and Dr Jaime Doody also reflect on their experiences of the last six months.