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04 November 2024 | Story André Damons | Photo Supplied
Dr Emmanuel Arko-Cobbah
Dr Emmanuel Arko-Cobbah, Senior Lecturer and Medical Specialist in the Department of Surgery at the University of the Fee State (UFS) and a trauma surgeon, has recently been inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (ACS).

Dr Emmanuel Arko-Cobbah, Senior Lecturer and Medical Specialist in the Department of Surgery at the University of the Fee State (UFS), says he hopes his induction as a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), will show the world that South Africa also produces great doctors from whom they can learn.

The ACS is dedicated to improving the care of the surgical patient and safeguarding standards of care in an optimal and ethical practice environment. Dr Arko-Cobbah was inducted on 19 October after a rigorous process. He was part of 1 800 candidates from around the world, but mostly from North America, with about 600 from other countries outside of the US and Canada.

Dr Arko-Cobbah, a trauma surgeon, says it feels surreal as it has always been his dream to become a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, although it often felt like an impossible dream. “I truly thank God, and I am very grateful, because to me, it feels like it's all part of His plans for me, that is why He is making these things possible for me.

“As a trauma surgeon, it makes me feel I have achieved even beyond our borders, and it gives me the opportunity to also share the knowledge we have locally with the rest of the world. We have a lot to offer, but we tend to get underestimated because of where we’re from,” says Dr Arko-Cobbah.

To become a fellow of the ACS, applicants go through a selection process after applying and then they need to be nominated by three different fellows of the American College who are in good standing. If their nominations get accepted, an interview follows whereafter the reports are reviewed by the committee which then decides the outcome.

South Africa produces great doctors

According to Dr Arko-Cobbah, he hopes to put the UFS on the map with this lifelong fellowship so that the world can know South Africa also produces great doctors and that they can learn from these doctors. “The other side of the coin is for me to inspire others to also aim to get into the American College, and to dream even bigger than this. If I could do this, then anybody can. Partner with God, and dream big dreams, and make big plans. That is what I was taught by Pastor At Boshoff since I was a student, and God has always been faithful.”

After qualifying as doctor and becoming a general surgeon at the UFS, and super specialised as a trauma surgeon, Dr Arko-Cobbah completed a Surgical Leadership Programme with Harvard University in Boston, in the US. “God has always been good to me, and I am forever grateful to the support of my wife and family and continued inspiration and mentorship from Prof André Loubser. I am grateful to the late Prof Theron, and the UFS Surgery Department, past and present, for always pushing me to be better. 

News Archive

Training symposium draws cardiothoracic surgeons from the continent to the UFS
2015-07-15

 

The University of the Free State hosted its annual Hannes Meyer Registrar Symposium at the Bloemfontein campus from 10 to 12 July 2015. This symposium was a collaborative effort by the UFS, the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgeons of South Africa (SCTSSA) and the European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgeons (EACTS). Young surgeons in training (registrars) from all over the continent attended this two and a half day conference.

The delegates include the heads of the departments of, or a senior consultant from, every department of Cardiothoracic Surgery in South Africa as well as two or three registrars and three perfusionists. In addition, delegates from other African countries were welcomed to our shores as well.

Unlike traditional conferencing, this symposium will feature a wet lab session, where surgeons perform a range of heart operations in a laboratory setting, using pig hearts.

The symposium is organised by Prof Francis Smit, (Head of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, UFS) and Prof Tony Linegar, (part-time lecturer-UFS).

“This is a truly remarkable training symposium. It is supported internationally by EACTS, nationally by SCTSSA, and locally by the UFS. It is the largest training symposium in Africa, and Bloemfontein/UFS is proud to host this event on an annual basis, having coordinated and organised this event since 2004.”


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