World Federation of Associations of Pediatric Surgeons
Global federation advancing pediatric surgery through education and collaboration.
Its mission, defined in the 2001 Kyoto Declaration of Pediatric Surgery, focuses on the development and education of surgeons serving children worldwide.
Quick Facts
- Abbreviation
- WOFAPS
- Formation
- 15 October 1974
- Founding location
- São Paulo, Brazil
- Subsidiaries
- WOFAPS Foundation
- Headquarters
- Bern, Switzerland
Facts from the source article.
History
The proposal for an "International Union of Pediatric Surgeons" was endorsed by several surgeons and associations in Paris in 1963, but progress was slow. WOFAPS was founded on 15 October 1974 in São Paulo, Brazil, during a Pediatric Surgery Congress with representatives from 43 countries, under the Presidency of Prof. Virgilio Carvalho Pinto and Secretary General Prof. Jose Pinus. Harvey Beardmore from Canada was elected the first President, while Prof Jose "Pepe" Boix Ochoa was re-elected as General Secretary, a post he held for 35 years. By 1983, only 23 associations belonged to WOFAPS, but it has since grown to include over 100 member countries. The organization is recognized by and participates in International Associations of Pediatric Surgery, the International Pediatric Association, UNICEF, UNESCO, and WHO. Notable member associations include the American Pediatric Surgical Association, EUPSA, the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kinder- und Jugendchirurgie, and the Pan-African Paediatric Surgical Association. WOFAPS represents pediatric surgical associations without political, racial, or religious distinctions, and is governed by its Constitution with its official office in Bern, Switzerland. The WOFAPS Foundation, a subsidiary, offers scholarships to young pediatric surgeons from developing countries; it was headed by Prof. Prem Puri and is now headed by Prof. Sameh Shehata. In 2025 in Antalya, Turkey, the first Jose Boix Ochoa Medal was inaugurated and awarded to Prof. Prem Puri. World Pediatric Surgery (WPS) Day was established on April 7th by WOFAPS and is celebrated annually.
WOFAPS presidents
The World Federation of Associations of Pediatric Surgeons has been led by a series of presidents from around the globe, starting with Harvey E. Beardmore of Canada (1975–1977) and continuing through leaders from France, India, Switzerland, Argentina, the United States, Germany, South Africa, Japan, Ireland, Egypt, and others. The current president is Udo Rolle of Germany, serving from 2026 to 2029. Shilpa Sharma of India is general secretary, and Amadeo Zanotti of Paraguay is president-elect. The executive board includes 15 voting pediatric surgeons representing all continents, plus one non-voting member, Mahmoud Elfiky of Egypt.
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