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Transforming surgery through
research and training

The Innovation in Surgery Foundation (ISF) is a non-profit company dedicated to advancing the field of surgery through research and training. Our mission is to support and fund innovative projects that have the potential to transform surgical practices and improve patient outcomes.

As a not-for-profit company, ISF serves as a funding vehicle for research initiatives and training programs in the field of surgery.

We aim to facilitate collaboration between surgeons, researchers, and healthcare institutions to drive positive change within the surgical community. ISF is proud to be a BBBEE company, committed to promoting diversity and empowerment in the surgical industry.
Innovation is at the heart of what we do. We actively seek out groundbreaking ideas, technologies, and methodologies that have the potential to revolutionize surgical techniques. By providing financial support and resources, we enable these innovations to progress from concept to reality.

Projects

Bariatric surgery and the management of obesity

The ISF has partnered with Zuid Afrikaans hospital to assist with the funding of training of multidisciplinary teams in the management of obesity.  

Obesity is rapidly becoming one of the greatest burdens on the South African healthcare system. The ISF is working with the team at ZAH and with the South African Metabolic medicine and surgery society to assist with training and research in the care of obesity.

Artificial intelligence study

We have partnered with Sefeko Makgatho Health Science University department of surgery to launch a study to assess whether technology like AI can improve surgical outcomes. We know that surgical outcomes in Africa are 2 to 3 times worse than in first world countries. There are various reasons for this. 

The question is whether we can use tools like AI to improve training, improve decision making, improve availability of services and so doing, ultimately have a positive impact on surgical outcomes in Africa. To really have a huge impact we would like to include as many hospitals as possible, from as many different areas as possible, to increase the amount of data captured and used for training of AI and machine learning.  

The added benefit of this study is that hospitals who become part of this study will have access to a single electronic health record for their use, to improve care and sharing of data for better care. The audit of surgical outcomes is of great value for any hospital that is interested in training clinicians or improving their level of care. This will in turn be of huge value for the whole community. 

Our Partners

Directors 

Dr Yanila Nyasulu 

Dr Preetha Thomas 

Dr Thinus Smit 

Martin Mbetse

advancing the field of surgery through research and training.