Training & Research

Our mission is to provide world-class specialty surgical care to Africa and other underserved regions. FFSSE is committed to being the leader in training the next generation of sub-specialized local surgeons in the region we serve. FFSSE enlists participation of surgeons and other healthcare providers from the world’s leading medical institutions to volunteer their time providing care and sharing their expertise with local healthcare workers. By establishing self-sustaining training and research programs, FFSSE strives to build local capacity thereby bringing modern surgical care to people who need it the most.

We believe that:

  • Training subspecialists locally in Africa will be the most effective way of minimizing brain drain and increasing the capacity for subspecialty surgical care.
  • African specialists working in developed nations and advanced hospital centers are best positioned to train other specialist surgeons locally.
  • African specialists in developed nations are best positioned to recruit their non-African colleagues to assist in training specialists in Africa.
  • Given the right working environment, trained subspecialists are more likely to stay and provide care locally.

Our current specialty focus areas are:

  • Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
  • Craniofacial Surgery
  • Pituitary Surgery
  • Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
  • Skull base Surgery
  • Urology

COURSES:

Principles of Craniomaxillofacial Trauma and Reconstruction – This course will cover modern techniques for diagnosing and treating craniomaxillofacial deformities, resulting from trauma. The course will review anatomy, biomechanics, surgical approaches and principles of fructure reduction and fixation.

Facial Soft Tissue Course – This course will cover techniques for repairing soft tissue defects involving the face including local and regional flaps.

Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Course – This course will review sinus anatomy and endoscopic techniques for sinus surgery.

Microsurgical and Free Tissue Transfer Course – This course will focus on the application for microsurgical free tissue transfer techniques for reconstruction congenital facial defects and defects acquired following resection of cancer and trauma.

RESEARCH:

Evidence-based medicine is key to improving clinical outcomes. The foundation will focus on building the infrastructure to support clinical outcomes research in Africa.