Report IASSS

Gabriella Hyman, President, IASSS

IASSS Future Surgeons – World Congress of Surgery

The International Association of Student Surgical Societies (IASSS) remains committed to enriching aspiring surgical care providers’ academic careers through meaningful interpersonal experiences, collaborative opportunities and professional development. In this spirit, and with the support of the International Society of Surgery (ISS/SIC), we are proud to have hosted our first Future Surgeons Program at the 48 th World Congress of Surgery (WCS) in Krakow, Poland.

Our delegation comprised 24 aspiring surgeons from 10 different countries and included medical students and junior doctors interested in surgical care careers – each a leader or innovator in their region. The Future Surgeon Delegates provided conference support; conducted interviews of congress attendees; attended renowned WCS career development courses; and integrated into the global surgical care community. Delegates described this program as career-defining, inspiring and galvanising experience. IASSS also hosted our inaugural society dinner. This meant, that for the first time, WCS trainee attendees were able to network with like-minded colleagues from around the globe at an event dedicated to future surgeons.

IASSS hosted 2 panel discussions: The Future of Surgery: Collaborative Research and Education, and The Future of Surgery: Surgical Leadership and Agenda Setting. These sessions signified our inclusion in the WCS scientific program - a humbling and exciting landmark for our organisation and the future of surgery - and provided future surgeons and congress attendees an opportunity to engage the world’s surgical leadership in a candid and insightful manner.

Through the success of our Future Surgeons Program and with the continued support of ISS/SIC, a range of international surgical organisations and a group of dedicated individual partners and mentors, we have matured from being a Grassroots group to an organisation with the unique position to cultivate surgical interest and expertise for aspiring surgeons globally. We look forward to announcing our new Executive Committee in the coming weeks and invite you to join our IASSS community and or to connect us with aspiring surgeons, anaesthetists and surgical care providers (including medical students, junior doctors, interns, residents) so that we may continue to create an equitable, innovative, accessible and unified future for surgery.

Gabriella Hyman President IASSS

Leaders of ISS/SIC with the aspiring IASSS surgeons