Women in Surgery Africa

WiSA Gala Dinner and AGM - 2022
2022-12-08 | Avani Hote and Casino Wnindhoek, Namibia-Stratos Ballroom, Windhoek, Namibia
Theme: Women Surgeons: At the frontline of surgical solutions and innovations.
Please bring your complimentary dinner ticket.
Visit the WiSA desk in the Exhibition Hall at the Safari Hotel and Conference Centre.

COSECSA Events
2022-12-03 08:00 - 2022-12-09 17:00 (Europe/Helsinki) | TBC, Windhoek, Namibia
December 2022 COSECSA Events in Namibia
December 3rd-4th : Council meetings
December 5th-6th : FCS Clinical/Viva Exams
December 7th : AGM/Graduation Ceremony
December 8th-9th: Scientific Conference

WISA virtual AGM and Conference
2022-10-01 | TBC, Windhoek, Namibia
WISA virtual Annual General Meeting and Conference October 2022. The dates to be announced.

WiSA Luncheon and AGM 2019
2019-12-05 | Serena Hotel, KAMPALA, Uganda
Message from the Chair
Dear WISA Family and Friends,
It is with great pleasure that we invite you all to our annual AGM and luncheon meeting this year in Kampala.
We would want to wish our esteemed colleagues great success in their MCS and FCS clinical exams, we are proud of your achievements thus far and await a joyous graduation celebration with you all.
Let us come together as we celebrate the growth of WiSA in the last four years with highlights from this year’s events. We have interesting speakers on importance topics such as how to brand yourself and prepare to launch our surgical career after training. We also have a great panel discussion on the current barriers we face as women in surgery and how to overcome them.

We look forward to hosting you all.

Welcome, karibu….tukusanyukidde!
Speakers for the 2019 WiSA Luncheon Event
WiSA 2019 Luncheon Program

COSECSA 2019 AGM, Graduation Ceremony & Scientific Conference
2019-12-04 - 2019-12-06 | Serena Hotel, KAMPALA, Uganda
The COSECSA 20th AGM and Graduation Ceremony will be held on 04th December followed by the Scientific Conference on 05th and 06th December 2019 in Kampala, Uganda.
Apply Now

WiSA Luncheon and AGM 2018
2018-12-06 13:00 - 15:00 | Unnamed Venue, Kigali, Rwanda

Women in Surgery Africa Annual Meeting
2016-12-07 18:30 - 21:00 | Paradise Pride Inn, Mombasa, Kenya
Changing the Face of Surgery:
Women Surgeons in the 21st Century
COSECSA AGM Side Event
Supported by the RCSI, ACS and COOL
Paradise Pride Inn, Mombasa, Kenya – Wednesday, 7 December 2016
ONLINE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE HERE ($30 Per Person)

1.
1830 – 1900
Arrival and Registration Arrival of guests and registration

2.
1900 – 1920
Welcome and Introduction Faith Muchemwa, WiSA Chairperson Prof Milliard Derbew, COSECSA President

3.
1920 – 1925
Presentation of Event Theme Shelmith Muthee (Kenya)

4.
1925 – 1945
Keynote Address/Guest Speaker Ms. Hilary Sanfey, First Vice-President Elect, American College of Surgeons

5.
1945 – 2000
Presentation of Travel Grants and Grantees Grace Kansayisa (Rwanda)Lydia Nanjula (Uganda)Womba Kadochi (Zambia)

6.
2000 – 2020
Presentation of Chapters and Chapter Representatives Chapter representatives

7.
2020 – 2030
Presentation of Pocket Mentor Dr. Hilary Sanfey & WiSA Board

8.
2030 – 2040
Presentation of Mentorship Scheme Faith Muchemwa

9.
2040 – 2050
Communications and Future Plans WiSA Executive Board Members

10.
2050 – 2100
Farewell and Thanks Thanks and Acknowledgement from the WiSA Board

WiSA Strategic Plan - Consultation Process
2016-02-11 08:00 - 2016-03-04 17:00
WiSA will undertake a consultation to inform its Strategic Planning process from 10 -28 February 2016.
More information is available under the Strategic Planning tab of the WiSA website. We look forward to hearing from you.

WiSA Board Appointments Announced
2015-12-08
Following an election in Blantyre Malawi on 2 December, today COSECSA announced the is the appointments to the WiSA Board.
The WISA Patron and Board Members are as follows:

Role

Name

Country

Patron

Dr Jane Faulal

Uganda

Chairperson

Dr Faith Muchemwa

Zimbabwe

Vice Chairperson

Dr Agnetta Odera

Kenya

Secretary

Dr Ainhoa Costas Chavarri

Rwanda

Treasurer

Dr Pamela T K Samoyo

Tanzania

Membership Officer

Dr Chiku Clara Mpanga

Malawi

Congratulations to all and wishing WiSA every success for the future.

New Women in Surgery Group Officially Launched in Malawi
2015-12-02 12:00 - 14:00
The First Members of Women in Surgery Africa (WiSA) with AWS Founder Dr Patricia Numann at the WISA Launch Event in Blantyre Malawi.

Victoria Hotel, 2 December 2015
Today over 100 representatives from Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Uganda convened at the Victoria Hotel in Blantyre, Malawi to celebrate the inauguration of Women in Surgery Africa (WiSA).
WiSA is an advocacy and mentorship group which provides support to female surgeons, surgical trainees and medical students working in the East, Central and Southern Africa. WiSA seeks to inspire, encourage and empower women surgeons in Africa to realise their professional and personal goals.
WiSA was created under the auspices of the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA), which is the second largest surgical training college is Sub-Saharan Africa. It is supported by Irish Aid, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, UKAID and the University of Oxford.
Leadership and Mentorship
Speaking at the WiSA launch, the incoming President and gender focal person Prof Miliard Derbew stated: “COSECSA is delighted to endorse Women in Surgery Africa and recognises the importance of advocating for and effectively supporting female surgeons. This is the first group of its kind in Africa and constitutes a unique opportunity for surgery in the region. WiSA will promote, facilitate and enable women to take up leadership roles and positions in surgery.”
WiSA seeks to advance the professonal growth and development for women surgeons through dedicated networking events and grant opportunities for its Members. It offers a unique Mentorship Programme which links up female surgeons around the world. COSECSA Council Member Dr Jane Faulal stated: “The WiSA Mentorship Programme will enhance and facilitate interaction among women surgeons through a global network. This will create a supportive environment which will allow female surgeons to achieve the highest standards of competence and excel in their field.”
Mr Declan Magee, President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) “RCSI is a long-term partner of COSECSA and a proud supporter of WiSA. WiSA is a unique initiative which will undoubtedly help empower future generations of leaders. We wish WiSA every success and anticipate that many surgeons in Ireland will engage with their peers in Africa through this organisation. We look forward to continued partnership and collaboration with COSECSA and WiSA over the coming years.”
Surgeon Workforce Shortage
Africa is currently facing a serious shortfall of surgeons. The World Health Organisation and Lancet Commission on Global Surgery recognise that effective engagement and support for female surgeons is critical to addressing the workforce shortage and ultimately improving patient outcomes.
There are currently 108 female surgeons working across 10 countries in East, Central and Southern Africa, representing only 7% of the existing surgical workforce. More women are now opting for a career in surgery and 14% of COSECSA surgical trainees are female.
Dr Patricia Numann, who established the Association of Women Surgeons in the United States in 1981, stated in her Keynote Address : “Supporting WISA and women surgeons is critical as women are the greatest under-utilised resource in surgery. Increasing the number of women surgeons will go a long way to increasing the surgical workforce and improving access to surgical care. To achieve this, there must be a proactive approach by which WISA can champion women surgeons.”
WiSA will support and enable more women to successfully enter the field of surgery and bolster the surgical workforce in Africa. Increased numbers of female surgeons will ultimately save lives and provide access to surgery for those who need it most.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Notes
WiSA
Website: www.womeninsurgeryafrica.org
Twitter: @womensurgafrica #womeninsurgeryafrica
Email: wisa@cosecsa.org
Malawi Organising Committee
Linda Chokotho
Email: lindachokotho@gmail.com
Phone: 0881668152
College of Surgeons in East Central and Southern Africa
Email:info@cosecsa.org
Website: www.cosecsa.org

WiSA Launch Event - Keynote Speaker Announced
2015-12-02 12:00 - 13:30 | Victoria Hotel, Blantyre, Malawi
Women in Surgery Africa (WiSA) is delighted and honoured to announce that Dr. Patricia Numann, Founder Member of the Association of Women Surgeons will join us in Malawi to deliver the Keynote Address and mark the inauguration of WiSA.

Dr. Patricia J. Numann served as Vice-President of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons and President of the Association for Surgical Education. She is past Second Vice-President of the American College of Surgeons and past Chair of the American Board of Surgery, the first woman in either position. She was one of the founding members of the Association for Surgical Education and founded the Association for Women Surgeons. She was the first woman elected to the American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs. Dr. Numann has received numerous honors and awards at the local, state and national level. She has received the Post Standard Woman of Achievement Award, the Onondaga County Physician Service to the Community Award, the New York State Woman of Accomplishment Award, and the Nina Starr Braunwald Award of the Association of Women Surgeons. She is listed in Best Doctors in America. She has been named, by the SUNY Board of Trustees, as a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor. She received the Upstate Medical University Distinguished Alumna Award and SUNY Alumna of Distinction Award. She served as Medical Director of University Hospital for 10 years. She was designated the Lloyd S. Rogers Professor of Surgery in 2000. She was inducted into the International Women Physicians’ Hall of Fame and named “Local Legend” to The National Library of Medicine’s “Changing Faces of Medicine” exhibit. In 2006 Dr Numann received AMWA’s highest award the Elizabeth Blackwell Medal for her contribution in the professional advancement and recognition of women. Dr. Numann was given The American College of Surgeon’s Distinguished Award at the Clinical Congress in October of 2006. She was first woman to receive this prestigious award.
Dr. Numann is particularly interested in education and has been distinguished as a teacher, receiving the Clinical Teacher of the Year Award twice. She has been regularly asked by the graduating medical students to serve as the Faculty Marshall or to deliver the Oath of Hippocrates. Dr. Numann’s scientific and clinical interests are in the area of thyroid and parathyroid disease and breast disease, founding The Breast and Endocrine Center which now bears her name. She was highly regarded as a clinical surgeon. She has published numerous articles, abstracts and book chapters. She is committed to equity for women.
Dr Numann serves on numerous community boards including the Everson Museum of Art, The Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York, Vera House, Hospice of Central New York and the Greater Roxbury Learning Initiative Corporation.
In January of 2007 ,she retired from active clinical practice and as Lloyd S Rodgers Professor of Surgery but remains active in many teaching and organizational activities.
She was awarded Emeritus status by SUNY. She was elected First Vice president of the American College of Surgeons in October 2010. In April 2011 she became President Elect of the American College of Surgeons and in October 2011 was installed as President of the American College of Surgeons. In August 2011 she was awarded the ISS Prize of the International Society of Surgeons. In October 2011, she received an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow. May 2012 , she received an honorary Doctor of Science Degree from Upstate Medical University. In July 2012, she received an Honorary fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
The WiSA Launch Event will take place at the COSECSA AGM at the Victoria Hotel, Blantyre from 12.00 – 1.45pm on 2 December 2015. For more information contact wisa@cosecsa.org

Launch of Women in Surgery Africa
2015-12-02 12:00 - 13:30 | Victoria Hotel, Blantyre, Malawi
Women in Surgery Africa will hold its inaugural meeting and elections at the COSECSA AGM.
WiSA Launch Brochure
Location: Victoria Hotel, Blantyre, Malawi
Time & Date: 12 – 13.30, 2 December, 2015
Schedule of Events:

12.00pm

Arrival & Member Registration
Lunch will be served at this event.
Please note the WiSA registration desk will be open for the duration of the day.

12.10pm

WiSA Election
Nominees are invited to make a short presentation outlining their interest in WiSA. Secret Ballot Opens. There is one vote per each COSECSA Country. Each Country will be assigned a table to participate in voting. Membership of WiSA is a prerequisite for voting. Five WiSA Members shall be elected to the WiSA Board and a Chairperson (who must be a COSECSA Fellow) shall be elected by Board Members.

12.20pm

Welcome & Opening Address
Prof Miliard Derbew
COSECSA Vice-President

12.30pm

Key Note Address
Dr Patricia Numann
Founding Member
Association of Women Surgeons

1.00pm

Remarks
Dr Jane Faulal
COSECA Council

1.10pm

Remarks
Dr Patricia Eadie
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)

1.20pm

Inauguration
WiSA Board Members

1.30pm

WiSA Announcements & Closing Remarks
Prof Derbew
