Will there be a good general surgeon when you need one?

INTRODUCTION: The Public Policy & Advocacy Committee sponsored the panel on the topic of "Will There Be a General Surgeon When You Need One?" at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the SSAT. The panel of experts was convened to formulate recommendations to help general surgeons adapt to the changing landscape which will undoubtedly affect the practice of surgery in the future. The invited speakers were Drs. David Hoyt, Carlos Pellegrini, Kaye M. Reid-Lombardo, and David Rattner. The session was moderated by Drs. Ross Goldberg and Tara Kent. The invited presentations and audience commentary are the basis of this manuscript.