Sidra Medicine and the Pan Arab Association of Pediatric Surgeons (PAAPS) have been chosen to co-host the 6th World Congress of the World Federation of Associations of Pediatric Surgeons (WOFAPS) in 2019. The congress will take place in late 2019 at the National Convention Center in Doha, Qatar.
It is the first time in its 40-year history that WOFAPS will be hosted in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region. Doha was chosen in the competitive bid over Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul and Sydney.
“The selection of Doha as the host city for WOFAPS 2019 continues the organization’s focus on improving the surgical care of children in emerging and developing countries. The region, and Qatar specifically, have invested heavily in building world-class medical institutions and developing innovative infrastructure, making a visit to Doha an exceptional experience from colleagues from across the world,” said WOFAPS President Dr. Richard Azizkhan.
Co-chairs of the regional organizing committee, Sidra Medicine’s Clinical Chief of Surgery Dr. David Sigalet and Hamad Medical Corporation’s Head of Pediatric Surgery Dr. Mansour Ali, were in Berlin at this year’s WOFAPS conference when the win was announced.
Dr. Sigalet, who also serves as president elect of WOFAPS and will take over as president in 2017, said, “Qatar sits at the intersection of a growing, youthful population and a curious people dedicated to learning and improving lives, which makes Doha, Sidra Medicine and our regional partners ideal hosts for a WOFAPS conference. Over 1,000 pediatric surgeons from all over the world will contribute to learning opportunities for the attendees by taking part in training sessions and panel discussions, expanding the regional knowledge bank through access to international expertise, as well as the latest techniques and technologies.”
The MENA region has a young and expanding population and consequently a growing need for pediatric surgical care and expertise. Sidra Medicine and its partners are committed to support education for these physicians and will sponsor 100 surgeons from low- and middle-income countries to attend WOFAPS 2019, who would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend to take part in the event.
Sidra Medicine staff and the medical and research center will also play a major role in making WOFAPS 2019 a key educational event for the region by holding a number of instructional courses in conjunction with the congress through the use of its simulation center and access to the latest available surgical technology.
The theme of the 2019 conference will be “Arabian Pearls of Pediatric Surgery”, and a number of high-profile speakers from North America and Western Europe have already agreed to take part in the event, including Chief of Pediatric Surgery at the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children Dr. Steven Rothenberg; European Paediatric Surgeons’ Association President Dr. Jean-Michel Guys; Senior Associate in Surgery, Surgical Director at Center for Advanced Intestinal Rehabilitation at the Boston Children’s Hospital Dr. Tom Jaksic; Assistant Professor in Surgery at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Dr. Katherine Barsness; Director of the Colorectal Center at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Dr. Marc Levitt; Director of the Center for Prospective Clinical Trials at the Children’s Mercy Kansas City Hospital Dr. Shawn St. Peters.