Sigrid Burruss, MD, Named ACS Advocate of the Year

Sigrid Burruss, MD, associate professor of surgery in the Division of Trauma, Burns, Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery and vice chair of education in the Department of Surgery at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, has been named the 2025 SurgeonsVoice Advocate of the Year by the American College of Surgeons (ACS).

The honor was presented during the 2026 Leadership & Advocacy Summit, where national surgical leaders gather annually in Washington, D.C., to advance policies that support patients, physicians and the future of surgical care. During the summit, Burruss — a board-certified UCI Health surgeon who specializes in trauma surgery and surgical critical care — was recognized by colleagues for her long-standing commitment to advancing surgical issues at both the state and national levels. 

A recognized leader in surgical advocacy, Burruss has chaired the Southern California ACS Advocacy Committee since 2023 and also serves as co-chair of the Joint Advocacy Committee of the ACS California Chapters. She is a member of the ACS Legislative Committee and is active in the California Medical Association, working with physicians across the state to advance healthcare policy priorities. Through these roles, Burruss has helped educate and engage lawmakers in Washington, D.C., reinforcing the importance of surgery in the nation’s healthcare system and ensuring that the perspectives of surgeons are represented in federal policy discussions.