In 1987, a group of rural vascular surgeons from the northern plains states met in Montana for the inaugural society meeting of the “Northern Plains Vascular Surgical Society.” The following year, The group began meeting in Denver, and the society’s first president was elected. For many years, Dr. Robert Rutherford, a champion of vascular surgery, provided influence and support for the society and its annual meetings.

Over the years, the amount of vascular surgery performed by rural general surgeons decreased substantially. The group felt that continued meetings was paramount, but while vascular surgery was the topic that brought them together initially, they were really just a group of general surgeons who valued the collegiality and education that came from gathering. 2015 marked the final year of the Northern Plains Vascular Surgical Society. Then in 2017, the Northern Plains Rural Surgical Society held its first meeting.

From 2017 through 2024, the Northern Plains Rural Surgical Society further grew into a robust rural surgical group. It amassed many new members from across the country, and has seen the addition of surgical residency programs bring eager residents and medical students to further consider a career in rural surgery. In 2024, the society felt another transformation was in order. While the name “Northern Plains” honored the origins of the society, new nomenclature was proposed in order to make the society more inclusive and help grow its membership even faster. Thus, in 2024, the society was officially renamed the “North American Rural Surgical Society.” The group is excited about this change and the impact the organization will have for the future of rural general surgery.