The International Surgical Ambassadors (ISAs) are based in regions and countries worldwide. Their role is to act as the representative of the College in their country or region. They can provide advice and guidance on:
- Career development
- Applying for and participating in RCSEd examinations and courses
- Local contacts in the surgical profession
- Access to RCSEd resources such as webinars or eLogbook
- Professional updates and skills development
- Local networking and events
Click on the regions below to find your nearest ISA representative.
Contact Us
For more information on the network or to connect with a local Ambassador please email: Caroline Berry, International Partnerships Manager.
Contact hereAmericas
To find your nearest International Surgical Ambassador located in Americas, please find your country in the list below.
T. Forcht-Dagi is a neurosurgeon working with Queen’s University Belfast and the Mayo Clinic Medical School, where he teaches residents and undergraduate medical students. In addition, he has deep interests in translational research, surgical innovation, online medical training and the history of surgery. He serves as a Director of the American Association of Neurological Surgery, and as an editor of Neurosurgery. He has been active in the patient safety movement and chaired the Committee on Perioperative Care for the American College of Surgeons and the U.S. Council for Surgical and Perioperative Safety. He served as a military surgeon, was elected to Fellowship in the College of Critical Care Medicine and is a member of the American Association for Automotive Medicine.
Australasia
To find your nearest International Surgical Ambassador located in Australasia, please find your country in the list below.
East Asia
To find your nearest International Surgical Ambassador located in East Asia, please find your country in the list below.
Kent-Man Chu is Pollyanna Chung and Eric Cheung Professor in Surgical Oncology, Honorary Consultant Surgeon, Director of the Surgical Endoscopy Service, and Director of the Centre for Education and Training, in the Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. He was the Chief of the Division of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery until its merge with the Division of Esophageal Surgery. He obtained his undergraduate medical degree from The University of Hong Kong in 1987.
He was the 1999 International Guest Scholar of The American College of Surgeons. He also received the Faculty Teaching Medal 2003 of The University of Hong Kong. His main clinical and research interests are on upper gastrointestinal conditions, clinical and laboratory research on gastric tumours, endoscopy and minimally invasive surgery for the upper gastrointestinal tract, and surgical education. He introduced to Queen Mary Hospital laparoscopic upper gastrointestinal surgery in 1995, laparoscopic gastrectomy in 2001, and bariatric surgery in 2007.
He is the President of College of Surgeons of Hong Kong (2022 – 2025). He is the President (2021 – 2023), Honorary Advisor (2017 – now), and Secretary General (2005 – 2011) of the Asian Surgical Association. He is the President (2019 – now) of the International Society for Digestive Surgery – Asian Pacific. He was the President (2018 – 2022) of the Hong Kong Society of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons. He is the Founding President (2015 – 2021) of the Hong Kong Endoscopic Ultrasonography Society. He is a council member of the Hong Kong Society of Minimal Access Surgery. He was a member (2016 – 2018) of the International Relations Committee of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT), USA. He was a member (2020 – 2024) of the Program Subcommittee, Stomach/Bariatric/Metabolic, of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT), USA. He is a member (2021 – now) of the Board of Directors, and Treasurer (2021 – now), of the Asian Pacific Digestive Week Federation (APDWF). He is International Surgical Ambassador (Hong Kong) of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (2025 – now).
He is an Expert Reviewer for the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), Geneva, Switzerland. He is a Sentinel Reader for McMaster Online Rating of Evidence (MORE), McMaster University, Canada. He has published one doctoral thesis, 7 book chapters, over 187 journal articles, and over 161 conference proceedings. He has also been an invited speaker or faculty on more than 305 occasions. He has been ranked among the top 2% scientists worldwide in 2023, 2024, and 2025 in their specialty areas by Stanford University (career-long impact).
Middle East
To find your nearest International Surgical Ambassador located in Middle East, please find your country in the list below.
Emad Saweeres is an Orthopaedic Professor and Chairman of the Orthopaedic Advisory Committee in Cairo, Egypt, graduated and earned an M.Sc. in Orthopaedics from Cairo University. After training in the UK and completing research on ACL reconstruction, he returned to Egypt, building a clinical and teaching portfolio with a focus on arthroplasty and biomechanics. Currently holding key roles in the Arab Board of Health Specialisation and EFOT, he is an accomplished ATLS instructor and has directed various international courses. In 2019, he received the "Innovation in Education Award" from AOTrauma. Collaborating on the "Excellence in Education" course, his work garnered distinction in Harvard Medical School's Postgraduate Certificate Program in 2020.
Mai Rostom is an Egyptian born and UK trained plastic surgeon. Her primary areas of interest are hand surgery, microsurgery, and reconstruction. She has completed fellowships in hand surgery, reconstructive microsurgery and aesthetic surgery in Sydney, Australia and has travelled widely in pursuit of further training and education. She has recently moved back to Egypt and splits her practice between Egypt and the UK.
South Asia
To find your nearest International Surgical Ambassador located in South Asia please find your country in the list below.
Department of Neurosurgery and Spine Surgery
MBBS, MS (Neurosurgery), MRCS (Glasgow), MRCS (England), FRCS (Edinburgh), FACS, FICS, FMAS, IFAANS
Saumitra Sarkar is a Professor and Head of Neurosurgery in Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, where he teaches residents and undergraduate medical students. He is a leading Neurosurgeon and an expert in advanced reconstructive and complex Neuro-spine procedures. In addition, he has deep interests in Spine surgery research, surgical innovation, online medical training and the history of neurosurgery and professional leadership. He serves as a Secretary, International College of Surgeons (ICS), Bangladesh Section and as an Executive editor of JShSMC. He has been a member of various societies including the Society of British Neurological Surgeons, Association of Surgeons of India, Association of Minimal Access Surgery of India, American Association of Neurological Surgeons. He has a number of publications in international and local journals and he continues to strive to publish high-quality articles relevant to this field. He is an excellent public speaker and has invited various conferences to present his work locally and internationally.
South East Asia and Australasia
To find your nearest International Surgical Ambassador located in South East Asia and Australasia, please find your country in the list below.
Chee Loong Yeap (CL Yeap) is an Upper Gastrointestinal surgeon based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He obtained his Medical Degree (MBBS) and Master of Surgery (M.Surgery) from the University of Malaya, Malaysia. Subsequently, CL Yeap pursued Senior Clinical Fellowship Training in Advanced Upper GI Surgery at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Scotland.
CL Yeap is an accredited surgeon in Robotic Surgery, and with a focus on Minimally Invasive Surgery. He holds Fellowship with the Academy of Medicine Malaysia (FAMM), the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCS), and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) United States.
Additionally, CL Yeap has a profound interest in Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTTS) and currently serves as the co-chairman of the NOTSS international subgroup committee for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd). He actively contributes to the advancement of Masterclasses globally, and with a particular emphasis on Asia. In addition, CL Yeap serves as an external examiner for the Malaysian National Conjoint Board for the Master of Surgery Examination and has previously held the position of Senior Lecturer at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur.