Tygerberg Hospital’s endoscopic surgeon chosen to serve on International Society of Gynaecological Endoscopists (ISGE)

Meet Dr Viju Thomas,  Consultant - Obstetrician Gynaecologist / Endoscopic Surgeon of  Tygerberg Hospital
 
Dr Thomas was recently asked to stand for nomination to serve on the board of the International Society Of Gynaecological Endoscopists (ISGE). He accepted the nomination and following a general election process of all international members, he was elected onto the board as of May 2015 and will serve his term until 2019.
 
Dr Thomas says: “African and South African representation on this international organization is important. It allows us to learn from Units that have already gone through the process of establishing structured training programmes in Gynaecological Endoscopy and apply their successes here. I am hoping that my position on the ISGE will help strengthen our role as endoscopists on the global platform.”
 
Adding to his accolades, over the past 5 years, together with the Gynaecological Endoscopic Interest group, comprising of Prof T F Kruger, Dr K Van der Merwe, Prof Igno Siebert and Dr Thabo Matsaseng, they have developed a fellowship degree which will allow qualified gynaecologists to acquire advanced endoscopic skills here in South Africa. This programme is called ‘Masters in Philosophy of Minimally Access Gynaecological Surgery (MPhil.  MAGS)’ and will be offered from 2016. This is the only formal qualification one can get in South Africa and to his knowledge, in Africa. Thereby being a first for Africa.
 
More about Dr Viju Thomas:
 He completed his gynaecological specialty training at the University Of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital in 2010.
 
 Since then he has worked as a consultant at Tygerberg Hospital and have been trying to develop a training program at the University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg Hospital.
 
  In 2011 he registered with The Minimally Access Therapy Training Unit (MATTU), University Of Surrey, in the United Kingdom.
 
He also completed the following courses:

• Certificate in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery
• Diploma in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery
•  Master Of Science in Advanced Gynaecological Surgery