PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Chandauka, Tinashe
AU  - Leusink, Astrid
AU  - Hsiao, Marvin
AU  - Kahn, Delawir
AU  - Azzie, Georges
TI  - The International Association of Student Surgical Societies: creation and dissemination
AID  - 10.1503/cjs.000816
DP  - 2016 Dec 01
TA  - Canadian Journal of Surgery
PG  - 429--431
VI  - 59
IP  - 6
4099  - http://canjsurg.ca/content/59/6/429.short
4100  - http://canjsurg.ca/content/59/6/429.full
SO  - CAN J SURG2016 Dec 01; 59
AB  - 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.