Canadian Association of General Surgeons

What Canadian Association of General Surgeons does

The Canadian Association of General Surgeons (CAGS) is a private, not-for-profit professional medical association founded in 1992 and headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, serving as the only national organization representing general surgeons in Canada. Its membership comprises over 1,500 practising general surgeons and general surgery residents across academic, community, rural, and remote settings. CAGS's mission centers on advocacy (health human resources, pay equity, transition of practice), education, and research on behalf of the specialty.

CAGS's core products are built around three pillars: the General Surgery Learning & Resource Centre — an online LMS providing 50+ hours of Royal College accredited MoC content (Section 1 and Section 3) including webinars, procedure videos, virtual patient cases, and the EBRS review program; the Canadian Surgery Forum — the annual flagship scientific meeting and largest general surgery networking event in Canada; and a suite of member services including the CAGS Exam Preparation tool, mentorship programs (Global Surgery, Rural Surgery, Women in Surgery), a national job board, and research grants administered through the affiliated Canadian General Surgery Foundation. The technology stack is centered on a learning management system (learn.cags-accg.ca) and member portal (mysurgicalsocieties.ca), supplemented by third-party partner integrations with Theator (AI/computer-vision surgical intelligence for coaching) and iSBERGDATA (EXPERTIS performance monitoring and PRAKTIK resident portfolio tools).

CAGS operates a membership-dues-funded revenue model augmented by event registration fees, CPD accreditation services to external physicians and organizations (fees ranging from C$500 to C$9,000 per activity plus 13% HST), and corporate sponsorships. Exclusive multi-year financial services partnerships with MD Financial Management Inc. and Scotiabank (renewed November 2021) anchor the sponsorship base alongside medical device sponsors (Ethicon, Pendopharm, Medtronic). The organization is led by CEO Shelley Pelkey (appointed September 2020), operates with 1–10 employees, and is governed by an elected board and 18 active committees advancing specialty-specific policy and education.

Name

Canadian Association of General Surgeons

Legal name

Canadian Association of General Surgeons

Website

https://cags-accg.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Canadian Association of General Surgeons (CAGS) is Canada's only national professional association representing over 1,500 general surgeons and residents, delivering accredited continuing education, the annual Canadian Surgery Forum, advocacy, and research funding for the specialty.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Medical Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare Clinical Professions (CME/CE for Nurses, Allied Health, Pharmacy) (EDAAALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Healthcare Licensing, Accreditation & Credentialing Boards (HLAJACAC), Medical Professional Standards & Scope-of-Practice Regulators (HLAJACAH), Healthcare & Medical Licensure Exam Prep (USMLE/COMLEX, NCLEX, Dentistry, Pharmacy, PA) (EDANAIAA), Healthcare & Clinical Professional Development (CME/CE) (EDAGANAJ)

Keywords

• Professional medical association
• Continuing medical education
• Surgical education
• Medical advocacy
• Healthcare workforce

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues providing access to member portal, learning resources, reduced CSF registration, mentorship programs, job board, and affinity discounts.
2. Canadian Surgery Forum Registration: Revenue from annual scientific conference with reduced fees for members. Sign-up for auto-renewal offers additional $50 discount.
3. CPD Accreditation Services: Royal College accredited CPD provider reviewing programs for MOC Section 1 and Section 3 credits. Fee schedule includes application fees, accreditation fees, and rush fees ranging from $500 to $9,000 per activity plus 13% HST.
4. Job Postings: Free job posting service for employers; members can also use Post & Manage Jobs feature inside member portal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Canadian Association of General Surgeons (CAGS) is Canada's only national professional membership association representing the interests of general surgeons. It provides advocacy, continuing medical education (CME/CPD), and research support to over 1,500 general surgeons and residents across Canada. Its core offerings include the annual Canadian Surgery Forum (the largest national scientific meeting for general surgeons), the General Surgery Learning & Resource Centre online CME platform with 50+ hours of Royal College-accredited MoC content, CPD accreditation services, mentorship programs, and a national job board.

Product overview

CAGS is a professional membership association providing a unified platform of educational products, career services, and professional development tools for Canadian general surgeons. The core offerings include the General Surgery Learning & Resource Centre (online CME portal with videos, webinars, and virtual patient cases), the annual Canadian Surgery Forum conference, and the CAGS Exam Preparation tool. Through partnerships, CAGS offers EXPERTIS (surgeon performance monitoring) and PRAKTIK (resident training portfolio) from iSBERGDATA, and the Surgical Intelligence-Based Coaching Program using Theator's platform. Additional products include mentorship programs (Global Surgery, Rural Surgery, Women in Surgery), various CPD courses (Scalpels and Sun, Operative Delivery, Urology), EBRS reviews, a Job Board, research grants, and the CAGS Store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Surgery Learning & Resource Centre Online platform and repository providing accredited Royal College MoC continuing medical education (CME) content, including over 50 hours of Section 1 and Section 3 accredited learning, short procedure videos, virtual patient cases, webinars, and surgery resources. Available to CAGS members at free, discounted, or member-only rates.
• Canadian Surgery Forum (CSF) Annual national scientific meeting and flagship conference of CAGS, the largest scientific and networking event for General Surgeons in Canada. Brings together practising surgeons, residents, and researchers to share best practices, innovative surgical approaches, research findings, and non-technical skills development. Members receive reduced registration fees, with an additional $50 discount available via auto-renewal.
• CAGS Exam Preparation National formative assessment tool for general surgery residents and program directors. Multiple-choice computer-based examination administered annually across Canada, covering Surgical Foundations and Core training content aligned with Royal College goals and objectives, providing topic-specific feedback to identify clinical deficiencies.
• CPD Accreditation Services Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada-accredited CPD provider services for organizations seeking MoC Section 1 and Section 3 accreditation of webinars, programs, and conferences. Fee schedule ranges from $500 to $9,000 per activity plus 13% HST, including application fees, accreditation fees, rush fees, and industry-sponsorship surcharges.
• CAGS Job Board and Job Posting Service Comprehensive public job board listing general surgeon positions, locums, and fellowship opportunities across Canada, with bi-weekly email job alerts for members. Free job posting for employers, plus a Post & Manage Jobs feature available inside the CAGS member portal.
• Evidence Based Reviews in Surgery (EBRS) Online evidence-based CPD resource providing reviews in surgery to help busy surgeons obtain CME credits remotely, supporting ongoing professional development and Maintenance of Certification requirements.
• Scalpels and Sun Update Course Continuing medical education update course offered by CAGS for general surgeons to upgrade their skills in a resort setting.
• Operative Delivery Program Post-graduate course and certificate of recognition program for general surgeons in operative delivery and maternal care.
• Urology Program Educational program offered by CAGS for general surgeons covering urology-related surgical procedures.
• Global Surgery Mentorship Program Mentorship initiative connecting CAGS members interested in global surgery with experienced surgeons in the field to support careers in global surgical practice.
• Rural Surgery Workforce Development Initiative Program developing connections between surgeons practising in rural areas and residents interested in rural surgery, addressing rural healthcare workforce needs across Canada.
• Women in Surgery Committee Mentorship Program Mentorship program supporting women pursuing careers in general surgery, operated by the CAGS Women in Surgery Committee.
• Surgical Intelligence-Based Coaching Program Training and coaching program for CAGS members leveraging Theator's AI-powered Surgical Intelligence Platform, using computer vision to analyze recorded surgical video footage. Enables CAGS coaches to conduct performance reviews with mentees by tagging and commenting on specific events within procedures performed.
• Canadian General Surgery Foundation Operating Grants Two $40,000 operating grants competition open to CAGS members to fund general surgery research, administered in conjunction with the Canadian General Surgery Foundation (CGSF).
• Global Surgery Bursary $10,000 bursary program supporting CAGS members engaged in global surgery initiatives.
• Resident Research Grant Research grant program for general surgery residents to support their academic and research activities during training.
• Masters Laparoscopic Colectomy Program (MLCP) Advanced training program enhancing uptake of laparoscopic colectomy across Canada for practising general surgeons.
• CAGS Membership Annual professional membership providing access to a full 5-year cycle of MoC Section 1 and Section 3 credits, the 60+ hour video library, robust job board, mentorship programs, affinity discounts, free Canadian Journal of Surgery manuscript submissions, and reduced Canadian Surgery Forum registration fees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,500 general surgeons and residents represented nationally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• iSBERGDATAcoreTechnology or Integration · 18 March 2025Affinity partnership providing members with EXPERTIS (surgical performance monitoring) and PRAKTIK (resident training portfolio) platforms. EXPERTIS tracks patient outcomes post-surgery, logs procedures, and supports Section 3 MOCOMP credits. PRAKTIK enables residents to log procedures, organize teaching materials, and document learning experiences.
• TheatorcoreTechnology or Integration · 14 March 2022Partnership to launch Surgical Intelligence-Based Coaching Program leveraging Theator's Surgical Intelligence Platform. Uses AI and computer vision to analyze surgical video footage, providing actionable insights for training and performance review. CAGS coaches can use the platform to conduct thorough performance reviews with mentees.
• Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization listed on CAGS website, supporting collaborative initiatives in gastrointestinal and endoscopic surgery education.
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational professional association that oversees medical education of specialists; CAGS is Royal College accredited CPD provider for MOC credits.
• Canadian General Surgery Foundation (CGSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeparate foundation supporting surgical research in Canada. Donations can be made through CanadaHelps. CAGS Board member sits on CGSF Board aligning research granting and best practices.
• Canadian Medical Association (CMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational medical association partnership supporting physician advocacy and professional development.
• American College of Surgeons (ACS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational surgical society partnership supporting education and professional standards.
• TD InsuranceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred insurance rates offered to CAGS members through affinity partnership.
• GoodLife FitnessminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate membership rates available to CAGS members.
• Perkopolis.comminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDiscount program for travel, shopping, events, and business services available to CAGS members.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education: ACCME is the US national accreditor of CME providers, analogous to CAGS's role as a Royal College accredited CPD provider. It is an adjacent ecosystem participant shaping how specialty societies monetize and deliver accredited education.

Direct peers

• Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES): SAGES is a US-based specialty surgical society focused on gastrointestinal and endoscopic surgery with overlapping CME, guidelines, and annual meeting offerings. CAGS already lists SAGES as a partner, indicating closely aligned educational and advocacy missions for surgeons.
• Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland: ASGBI is a UK and Ireland surgical membership association focused on general and specialist surgeons, delivering education, annual meetings, and advocacy. It mirrors CAGS's combined advocacy-education-event model at a smaller regional scale.
• Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh: RCSEd is one of the oldest UK surgical colleges providing examinations, education, and membership services to surgeons worldwide. It is comparable to CAGS in operating a specialty credentialing and continuing education model with international reach.
• American Board of Surgery: ABS is the US certifying body for general surgeons, overseeing specialty exams and Continuous Certification Program. Its exam preparation and certification maintenance work parallels CAGS's CAGS Exam Preparation tool and CPD/MoC credit programs.
• Royal Australasian College of Surgeons: RACS is the principal surgical professional association for Australia and New Zealand, providing training standards, CPD, and advocacy analogous to CAGS. It is structurally comparable as a national specialty college running education, accreditation, and member services.
• Royal College of Surgeons of England: RCS England is a UK-based professional body and medical college for surgeons offering education, exams, and research support. Its membership, credentialing, and continuing education model closely mirrors CAGS's structure.
• American College of Surgeons: ACS is the largest US-based professional association for surgeons, offering continuing education, advocacy, and the Clinical Congress as its flagship event. It is the most direct international counterpart to CAGS, with which it already maintains a listed partnership, sharing mission, member model, and CPD structure.

Broad incumbents

• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada: Royal College is the national credentialing and accreditation body for Canadian medical specialists. It is both a strategic partner of CAGS (granting CPD accreditation authority) and a broader incumbent whose specialty committees overlap with CAGS's remit across all surgical disciplines.
• Canadian Medical Association: CMA is the national umbrella association for Canadian physicians across all specialties. It is a current CAGS partner and competes for general physician advocacy, CPD accreditation influence, and affinity partnerships at a national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CAGS_ACCG
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CAGS_ACCG
• Facebookfacebook.com/CAGSResidents
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canadian-association-of-general-surgeons
• Instagraminstagram.com/cags_accg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Canadian Association of General Surgeons