Author: Professor Vincent Lam, FRACS
Co-authors: Associate Professor Michael Hollands, FRACS and Professor Owen Ung, FRACS

Prof Lam with Prof Jose Antonio, Immediate past president of the ASA

The 25th Asian Congress of Surgery (ACS) took place in Macau from 24–26 October. This biennial meeting of the Asian Surgical Association (ASA) is a cornerstone event for surgeons across Asia and the Indo-Pacific. Each Congress features a strong scientific program and is often held in partnership with another surgical association. Last year, it was the Philippine College of Surgeons in Manila; this year, the World Association of Chinese Doctors joined the event.

The ASA’s roots go back to 1967 when Professor Tan Sri GB Ong of Hong Kong first conceived the idea. After years of discussion, the Association of Surgeons of South East Asia was formally established in Singapore on 23 May 1976. Its mission: to foster professional ties and share surgical knowledge across the region. In 1988, the name changed to the Asian Surgical Association to reflect its growing membership and reach.

RACS has been closely linked to the ASA from the beginning. Today, RACS Fellows make up the largest national group within ASA membership, and two RACS representatives sit on the ASA Council. This partnership is symbolised by the RACS Foundation Lecture, introduced in 1983 by Professor Richard Bennett. Delivered at every Congress, the lecture underscores RACS’ commitment to surgical education and collaboration. The speaker, nominated by RACS and ratified by ASA, is honoured with ASA membership during the opening ceremony.

Prof Lam with Prof Rowan Parks, immediate past president of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

RACS Foundation Lecture 2025

The Congress features three keynote lectures: the GB Ong Lecture, the ASA Lecture, and the RACS Foundation Lecture. In 2025, Professor Vincent Lam, Professor of Surgery at Macquarie University, delivered the RACS Foundation Lecture titled Value of Surgery: The Rise of the Robot.

Professor Lam explored how robotic technology is reshaping surgical practice and patient outcomes. He highlighted the growing importance of precision, minimal invasiveness, and rapid recovery in defining surgical value. Robotic platforms, he said, are not just tools—they are catalysts for setting new standards and expanding surgical capabilities across the Asia-Pacific.

Some of the recent RACS lectures include:

Future of surgery
Reflecting on the experience, Professor Lam said, “It was a profound honour to represent RACS and deliver the Foundation Lecture. The Asian Congress of Surgery is a vital platform for sharing insights on the future of surgery, and the enthusiastic reception to robotic surgery confirms its central role in enhancing the value we provide to patients. The enduring partnership between RACS and ASA is crucial for maintaining the highest standards of surgical excellence across our shared region.”

The ASA also publishes the Asian Journal of Surgery, first launched in 1978. Published quarterly, it features symposia on topics ranging from general surgery to specialties such as paediatric and cardiothoracic surgery.

The ASA remains an outstanding surgical society, attracting internationally recognised leaders to its Congress—a testament to its commitment to advancing surgical knowledge and collaboration.

You can get more information here