The International Association of Student Surgical Societies: creation and dissemination

Tinashe Chandauka; Astrid Leusink; Marvin Hsiao; Delawir Kahn; Georges Azzie

doi:10.1503/cjs.000816

The International Association of Student Surgical Societies: creation and dissemination

Can J Surg. 2016 Dec;59(6):429-431. doi: 10.1503/cjs.000816. Epub 2016 Oct 1.

Authors

Tinashe Chandauka¹, Astrid Leusink¹, Marvin Hsiao¹, Delawir Kahn¹, Georges Azzie¹

Affiliation

¹ From the Department of Surgery, Frere Hospital, East London, South Africa (Chandauka); the Department of Surgery, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa (Leusink); the Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (Hsiao, Azzie); the University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa (Kahn); and the Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada (Azzie).

Abstract

While initiatives exist to address the worldwide need for surgeons, none involve a student-driven solution from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In response to falling surgical residency enrolment in South Africa, the students at the University of Cape Town (UCT) founded the UCT Surgical Society and were subsequently instrumental in creating the International Association of Student Surgical Societies (IASSS). The IASSS currently includes 25 societies in 15 countries. Its primary objectives are building sustainable networks for mutually beneficial exchanges, supporting student-driven projects, understanding issues impacting student interest in surgery, promoting global fellowship, creating an elective database and providing assistance to student surgical societies. The IASSS is a unique student-led initiative trying to improve surgical care in LMICs.