POTSDAM -- Charles R. Wilson, MD, FACS, board-certified general surgeon with Canton-Potsdam Hospital, has been named a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (ACS).

The ACS is a scientific and educational association of surgeons founded in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.

The letters “FACS” following a surgeon’s name mean that the surgeon's education and training, professional qualifications, surgical competence, and ethical conduct have passed a rigorous evaluation, and have been found to be consistent with the high standards established and demanded by the College. The initiation ceremony took place at the ACS Annual Clinical Congress in San Francisco, CA on October 26, 2014.

Dr. Wilson joined the CPH medical staff in September of 2008 following residency. He completed his medical degree at St. George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies and completed his residency in General Surgery at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, NJ, a joint surgical residency with Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, NJ. Dr. Wilson completed additional training in surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering in Manhattan and trauma/critical care at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

Dr. Wilson was elected by his peers to the Chairmanship of the Department of Surgery at CPH in January of 2014. In addition, Dr. Wilson was tapped by the administration to spearhead the development of an accredited Trauma service as Trauma Medical Director in September of this year. Since joining the medical staff, he has pioneered many advanced surgical procedures not known to have been performed before in the North Country, including one of only 50 documented total laparoscopic abdominoproctocolectomies. Dr. Wilson was the first surgeon in New York’s North Country region to perform a laparoscopic adrenalectomy. He remains the only surgeon in St. Lawrence County offering laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery and laparoscopic repair of diaphragmatic hernias.

Dr. Wilson’s practice offers comprehensive surgical evaluation and treatment for a wide range of disorders and diseases, including minimally invasive colon surgery, breast cancer surgery and hernia surgery.

Dr. Wilson’s practice is located at 25 Cottage St., adjacent to the main hospital’s surgical suites. For more information, visit www.cphospital.org or call 265-1055.