PWRS - ReSurge International

The Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery (PWRS) Program

There are only three female surgeons for every 1 million people in low-income countries.

The Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery (PWRS) program is a partnership between ReSurge International and SkinCeuticals, a L’Oreal company, to advance first-generation women reconstructive surgeons in low-income countries across the world.

Together, we created the Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery (PWRS) program to support women through surgical training, leadership development, mentorship, and networking.

Watch the PWRS Program in Action

We are tackling the gender gap in global surgery to help the 5 billion people in low-income countries who lack access to surgical care.

We Need More Women Surgeons

Less than 1/3 of surgeons globally are female

Women only make up 7% of the surgical workforce in Sub-Saharan Africa

5 billion people worldwide lack access to surgical care

Meet the Female Reconstructive Surgeons Who are, Quite Literally, Changing the World

Meet the 2023 Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery Cohort

Dr. Armaan Khosa

India

Dr. Swosti Thapa

Nepal

Dr. Tran N Nhat Khanh

Vietnam

Dr. Adelaida Mghase

Tanzania

Dr. Karen Gaibor

Ecuador

Dr. Mildred Nakazwe

Zambia

Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Matolase Mtonga, 1987 - 2021

The late Dr. Matolase Mtonga of the PWRS program was on track to become Zambia’s first woman reconstructive surgeon. In honor of her perseverance, leadership, and aspirations for a world where no one suffered needlessly due to a lack of access to reconstructive surgical care, ReSurge and SkinCeuticals have established an annual scholarship in her name. The Matolase Mtonga Scholarship for Women in Reconstructive Surgery will be awarded annually to one woman from a low- or middle-income country training in reconstructive surgery.

The Application for the 2023/24 Matolase Mtonga Scholarship is now open! Submit your application by April 2, 2023.