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The Alliance for Surgery and Anesthesia Presence ASAP
from ISS/SIC Newsletter May 2020
by International Society of Surgery / Société Internationale de Chirurgie
ASAP Report
Russell Gruen, President ASAP
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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.
The world recently farewelled a giant of global surgery, Catherine Hamlin, who died in Addis Ababa on March 18 th 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, founded
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
Catherine HamlinC. Hamlin at the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital
May 2020
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