Education & Training, Mentorship & Leadership, Global Health & Access
Student surgical societies serve an essential function in furthering the field of surgery. They encourage surgical exposure, interest, leadership and education at a pre-specialist level and, in so doing, mould the world’s next generation of surgeons. IASSS aims to unite the world’s existing student surgical interest groups, facilitate the creation of new ones and ensure every aspiring surgeon around the world has the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals locally and internationally. Through the IASSS network, we hope that surgical societies across the globe can work together to set the agenda for the future of surgery.
We hope you will share in our vision!
Our core objectives are to:
Promote and facilitate surgical education and interest worldwide through the establishment and support of student surgical interest groups as well as through activities and events. We aim to serve as a hub for for the exchange of ideas between the world’s future surgeons.
Hold regular IASSS Symposiums (in High and Low-Middle Income countries) to present progress and problems of interest to all aspiring surgeons in attendance. The Symposium offers iconic lectures, workshops, skill development sessions and networking opportunities for the world’s future surgeons.
Disseminate knowledge pertaining to the science and art of surgery through regular publication of articles, manuals, social media posts and newsletters.
Prioritise affordable and equitable access to career development opportunities offered by our organisation.
Foster a pre-specialist passion for surgery, global surgery and the ensuring of equitable surgical education and care for all.
Cassandra (Tatenda) Mbanje completed her Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBBCh) Degree at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in 2021. It was there that she discovered her passion for improving access to healthcare, especially surgical, obstetric, trauma and anaesthesia (SOTA) care, for hard-to-reach populations globally. Since completing her undergraduate studies, Dr. Mbanje has worked as an associate researcher for a leading breast surgery unit in Johannesburg as well as for the Wits Health Consortium Health Economics and Epidemiology Office (HE2RO). As a result, she has published scientific papers in the areas of breast cancer and tuberculosis, respectively. She also has experience in business development, working as a grant writer and public health consultant who has supported proposal development for PEPFAR-funded non-profit organisations. In 2024, Dr. Mbanje was 1 of 16 young professionals, worldwide, who was selected as a G4 Alliance Fellow in the 2024/25 cohort. She was also awarded a full scholarship by the Nuffield Department of Population Health (NDPH) to undertake a master’s in science degree in Global Health Science and Epidemiology at the University of Oxford. Whilst at Oxford, she has keenly explored health economics, genetic epidemiology, and entrepreneurship – the latter as part of the OX1 Incubator. Further, having served as the President of the International Association of Student Surgical Societies (IASSS) in 2024, she now serves on the IASSS Board as the Immediate Past President. She is also a member of the Innovations in Global Surgery group, committed to making surgery safe, affordable and available to all through contextual innovations.
Published
Mar 2025
Kirtana Ponnuswamy is a dedicated medical professional with a passion for surgery and medical education. After completing her MBBS in Chennai, India, she embarked on a dynamic career that has taken her across specialties and roles. Currently, she is a Medical Education Fellow at the East Kent Hospital University Foundation Trust, where she combines her clinical expertise with a commitment to teaching and mentorship. Kirtana previously worked as a Locally Employed Doctor at a core trainee level in General Surgery and is now focused on pursuing specialty surgical training in the UK. She also held the role as the Postgraduate Manager for the International Association of Student Surgical Societies (IASSS) for two years, and holds her current position as the Committee Development Officer within the same organization. She is also pursuing a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education, further solidifying her expertise in teaching. As an Wellbeing Champion within her hospital trust and a long-time mental health advocate since medical school, Kirtana is deeply committed to supporting her colleagues and patients alike.
Published
Feb 2025
Dr. Davies graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) from Stellenbosch University in 2023. She is currently working as a medical intern at the Frere Hospital Complex in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Dr. Davies currently serves on the Board of the International Association of Student Surgical Societies (IASSS) and has been part of the organization for five years in various roles. She is also a representative on the Executive Committee of the Junior Doctor’s Association of South Africa (JUDSASA) and a committee member of the Rural Health Initiative of South Africa (RHISA). Dr. Davies has been a co-author on a number of articles with notable publications including in the World Journal of Surgery. She has a strong passion for surgery and hopes to make an impact in the South African healthcare system in the future.
Published
Jan 2025
Dr. Sulé Burger graduated with her MBBCh from WITS University, South Africa in 2014 and obtained a postgraduate certificate in Health Care Leadership through Lancaster University in 2017. She is currently working as a medical officer in general surgery at Worcester Hospital in South Africa while she awaits a specialty training post. During her university years, she founded local surgical societies and ultimately the International Association of Student Surgical Societies in 2014. The societies aimed to provide extracurricular surgical skills training as well as build leadership and community amongst future surgeons. In her capacity as Secretary General of the IASSS, she formally aligned the ISS-SIC (International Society of Surgery) as the official student and trainee wing in 2017, designed and hosted 4 groups of Future Surgeon’s programs at the World Congress of Surgery, launched a trainee congress track and supported all geographic regions to gain equitable representation and access to opportunities. She has a passion for connecting people in order to advance the art and science of surgery and develop the next generation of highly skilled, thoughtful, globally-minded surgeons.
Published
Sep 2024
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