The American Surgical Association was founded in 1880 and is the nation's oldest and most prestigious surgical organization. Its members include the nation’s most prominent surgeons from the country's leading academic medical institutions, many of whom are Chairs of the Departments of Surgery at these institutions. Membership also includes leading surgeons from around the world, making it much more than an American association.

The primary mission of the Association is to be the premier organization for surgical science and scholarship and to provide a national forum for presenting the developing state of the art and science of general and sub-specialty surgery and the elevation of the standards of the medical/surgical profession. This mission is accomplished primarily by conducting an annual scientific meeting consisting of selected presentations containing the most current information available on clinical and research topics related to surgery or surgical specialties, including studies on outcomes, practice of surgery and ethical and other issues that affect its practice. The Annual meeting of the American Surgical Association is designed to provide two and one half days of comprehensive educational experiences in the fields of clinical surgery, experimental surgery and related sciences, surgical education and the socioeconomic aspects of surgical care. It is the Association's intent to bring together at this meeting the leading surgeons and scientists from North America and other continents to freely and openly discuss their latest clinical and research findings.