art” talks and debates. We will have a pre-congress workshop that will include hands-on and formal lectures in conjunction with the Local Organizing Committee, under the leadership of Dr. April Roslani geared towards trainees and young surgeons. For the first time we will sponsor two travel scholars with a grant that will help them with the cost of attending the Congress. We will also have for the first time a ISDS Gastrointesti-
nal Surgical Emergency Postgraduate Course chaired and staffed by members of the Executive Committee. Overall the ISDS program will include: 8 Free Paper sessions, 8 Main sessions, Postgraduate Course NEW, 4 Combined sessions: 1 with IATSIC, 1 with FELAC NEW and 2 with IASMEN, Kitajima and Grassi Prize sessions, ISDS General Assembly and the ISDS Presidential Lecture.
I am humbled and honored to be leading such a talented, diverse and hard-working group of surgeons and I am looking forward to a very successful road to ISW 2021. Respectfully submitted Alessandro Fichera President ISDS
ASAP Report Russell Gruen, President ASAP
ASAP is the ISS/SIC’s youngest integrated society, and also the only international organisation that specifically represents Global Surgery throughout the life-course, spanning students, trainees, consultants, and emeritus professors. As such ASAP has a unique career development role for those interested in global surgery, and in doing so strengthening the future workforce and preparing future leaders. At present we are focusing on the development of a mentoring network connecting members across time-zones and generations, to share experiences and provide inspiration, guidance and support. Working with the IASSS, trainees’ groups, National Chapters, and academic and professional
organisations, we look forward to launching the mentoring network in 2021.
Catherine Hamlin
C. Hamlin at the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital
The world recently farewelled a giant of global surgery, Catherine Hamlin, who died in Addis Ababa on March 18th 2020, aged 96. After training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Sydney she moved to Ethiopia in 1959 where she spent more than six decades introducing and expanding care for patients with obstetric fistulae. Catherine and her husband, Reg, found-
ed the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital and operated on more than 60,000 women. She has had a prominent role bringing attention to this debilitating and neglected condition affecting women with poor access to obstetric care, raising millions of dollars including a personal gift of USD 450,000 from Oprah Winfrey. Catherine has been a guest of International Surgical Week, and an inspiration to many of us. She received many honours, including the Companion of the Order of Australia, the Australian Centenary medal, honorary citizenship and an Eminent Citizen award from the Ethiopian Government, and was twice nominated for a Nobel prize. A lecture in her honour will be unveiled at the ISW 2021 the World Congress of Surgery. Russell Gruen President ASAP
May 2020
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