Draft:World Federation of Associations of Pediatric Surgeons (WOFAPS)

The WOFAPS is a non profit organization with the official address in Switzerland but its executive board remains from all over the World.

History

The World Federation of Associations of Pediatric Surgeons, WOFAPS, was founded on 15th October 1974 in Sao Paulo, Brazil during a Pediatric Surgery Congress with representatives from 43 Countries, under the Presidency of Prof. Virgilio Carvalho Pinto and Secretary General Prof. Josa Pinus. Prof. Harvey Beardmore (Canada) was elected the first President of the WOFAPS.

In 1983, only 23 Associations belonged to the WOFAPS, but the organization has made considerable strides since its inception and has grown to include over 100 member countries. It is recognized and participates in International Associations of Pediatric Surgery and also other organization such as UNICEF, UNESCO, and WHO. This has been due to the strong leadership and efforts of the Presidents, Executive Board Members and especially the extraordinary hard work of General Secretary Treasurer Prof. J. Boix-Ochoa.

The Kyoto Declaration of Pediatric Surgery remains its main core constitution.

Organization of WOFAPS

The WOFAPS has a President that is elected every three years for one term; Prof. David Sigalet (2016-2019). There are two Vice Presidents who are elected as Presidents. The Secretary acts as Treasurer for the WOFAPS. Executive Board members are selected from all continents around the World. They are elected by the regional Associations of Pediatric Surgeons and provide periodic reports.

Objectives of WOFAPS

• Promotion of a high standard of pediatric surgery
• Encouragement of the ethical practice of pediatric surgery
• Improve the standards of education for the training of pediatric surgeons
• Promotion and encouragement of pediatric surgical research

WOFAPS Foundation

The goals of the WOFAPS Foundation are to encourage furthering of professional training, promote education of individuals in training through participation in seminars and special courses, consider granting travel scholarships, scientific research fellowships, or unique projects such as medical ethics, clinical outcomes studies and health care delivery systems and other projects that will enrich the knowledge of the grant recipient, and institution, a community or society in general as it pertains to broadening the horizon’s of children’s surgery.

WOFAPS Scholarship

The WOFAPS Foundation offers International Guest Scholarships to competent young pediatric surgeons (less than 40 years old) from developing countries who have demonstrated strong interests in teaching and research. The Foundation will cover economy class travel expenses and additional support. The scholarships provide the recipients with an opportunity to visit well recognized and established pediatric surgical teaching centers in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa for a clinical observership. The host ion will provide lodging and sustenance.

Meetings

The annual conference is held every 3 years. The last one was in 2016 in Washington D.C. The next conference will be in Doha, Qatar in November 2019.

Related Associations

There are many worldwide Associations of Pediatric Surgeons affiliated with WOFAPS. Most notably are:
EUPSA
BAPS
APSA

References

• About WOFAPS
• Official Website

This article "Wofaps" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Wofaps. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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