ReSurge’s 2024 gala occurred at the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco. Women surgeons in the 2024 cohort of the ReSurge Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery (PWRS) program, supported by SkinCeuticals attended — joining us from various countries, including Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nepal, Mozambique, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe. We also had the honor of hosting Natalia Ponce de León, a Colombian Acid Attack Survivor and Women of Courage Award Winner who has dedicated her life to championing the rights of acid attack victims and survivors.
Together, our community celebrated how ReSurge International is closing the gap to reconstructive surgery. Guests of honor joined us from all over the world to share their journeys, prominent community members inspired us with their thought leadership and strategic vision, and we immersed guests in an exclusive preview of our upcoming brand awareness campaign sharing evidence of ReSurge’s impact at each turn.
2024 Transformations Gala: Cocktail Hour
We started the cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres, mingling against the rooftop view of the city. Upon arrival, guests were already engaging in ReSurge’s brand awareness campaign: Closing the Gap, through curated decor, visuals, textiles, and stories of hope and resilience as told through our surgeons and patients.
Guests had the opportunity to meet, connect, and take photos with the 2024 cohort of ReSurge’s Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery (PWRS) program who were joining us from various parts of the world.
ReSurge Leaders Take the Stage at the Gala
After the cocktail hour, guests took to their seats while ReSurge leaders, including Gala Chair, Dr. Arvin Taneja, ReSurge CEO Claire Lachance, and Board Chair Manisha Shelly Gulati took to the stage. Dr. Taneja welcomed our guests with a patient story, setting the tone for a lively and inspiring evening. ReSurge President and CEO Claire Lachance gave a moving speech about standing on the backs of giants to honor those who have set us up for a successful journey ahead — while prefacing ReSurge’s strategic plan for the future. Later on, Manisha Shetty Gulati shared powerful words about ReSurge’s work while introducing our guests of honor including women surgeons in the 2024 cohort of ReSurge’s Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery (PWRS) program and acid attack survivor, Natalia Ponce de León.
Beverly Kent Receives the ReSurge International Leadership Award
At the gala, Claire Lachance was honored to award former ReSurge Chief Operating Officer Beverly Kent with the ReSurge International Leadership Award honoring her 28 years of exceptional service to ReSurge International. Bev was pivotal in increasing access to reconstructive surgery worldwide for thousands of patients, who may not have otherwise received life-changing care and deeply impacted the careers and lives of hundreds of surgical partners, medical volunteers, and ReSurge staff over nearly three decades. For the ReSurge community, it was great to see Bev take to the stage, receive a well-deserved accolade, and share a few words with the ReSurge community.
Unveiling ReSurge’s Awareness Campaign: Closing The Gap
ReSurge Chief Marketing Officer Anna Santos gave audiences an exclusive preview of ReSurge’s upcoming Closing The Gap campaign with an inspiring video filmed at our ReSurge site in Nepal. The campaign will launch publicly this November during key global days of giving and activism, including Giving Tuesday and UN Women’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Developed in a pro bono partnership with Ogilvy Health, one of the largest advertising agencies, this campaign is a result of their profound commitment to our mission. The collaboration aims to exponentially raise awareness around the work ReSurge is doing to close the gap to reconstructive surgical care once and for all. Throughout the evening, the campaign served as an immersive experience for guests who had the opportunity to interact with elements of the campaign throughout the venue space.
The campaign reveal was followed by a live auction featuring two VIP tickets to a live taping of the Daily Show in New York City, two VIP tickets to the Larry David Comedy Show, a private dinner at Michelin-starred State Bird Provisions “The Workshop,” and a private tasting and lunch for six hosted by Michael Uytengsu at Tusk Estate.
Guests of Honor: Natalia Ponce De León
Attending the gala as one of our guests of honor was Natalia Ponce de León –– a Colombian survivor of a 2014 acid attack who has dedicated her life to championing the rights of acid attack victims and survivors. Natalia’s impactful contributions have earned her recognition as one of the Best Leaders in 2016 and the “Outlook Inspirations” award from the BBC. In 2017, she received the “Women of Courage” award from the First Lady of the United States, solidifying her status as a beacon of bravery and resilience.
Natalia has become an important partner in ReSurge’s efforts to raise awareness around the plight of women burn victims and survivors. She participated in ReSurge’s panel “Girls on Fire: The Gendered Outcomes of Burn Injuries” at the United Nations, our creative campaign shoot in Nepal, and is prominently featured in our Closing the Gap Campaign. Participating in the gala from Colombia, Natalia took to the stage to share her work, story, and collaboration with ReSurge!
Guests of Honor: The 2024 Cohort of PWRS Surgeons
Guests had the honor of meeting and recognizing women surgeons in the ReSurge 2024 cohort of the Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery (PWRS) program supported by SkinCeuticals. All eight women surgeons joined us from various countries, including Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nepal, Mozambique, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.
Several of these surgeons are the first surgeons in their home countries. They will participate in a two-year leadership and clinical development program to continue increasing access to reconstructive surgical care ––while trailblazing a pathway for women’s leadership, service, and representation in global reconstructive surgical care.
Relevant to the PWRS program, we showcased the trailer of ReSurge and SkinCeuticals award-winning documentary, “A Place at The Operating Table”. The film highlights the critical challenges women face in the medical field while following the inspiring journey of PWRS Surgeon Dr. Thandiwe Munaiwa. It was a privilege to share this experience with these brilliant surgeons and Dr. Munaiwa, who took to the stage to share her story and heartfelt gratitude with everyone in the room!
Thank You for Your Support
Building off the momentum but also the critical need for access to surgical care, Dr. Munaiwa’s heartfelt speech, preceded the fund-a-need which concluded the program for the evening. Several members present within the ReSurge community generously gave to ReSurge to continue supporting access to life-changing surgical care.
Thank you so much for your support and generosity!
Get Involved!
Didn’t have a chance to attend the gala or make a contribution? You can keep the gala spirit alive by giving to ReSurge to help us provide life-changing reconstructive surgeries for patients across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. We also invite you to watch the full documentary, “A Place at The Operating Table” and share it within your networks to help spread awareness of these vital issues.
Event Photos
Thank you to all our amazing donors, sponsors, and friends for making the 2024 ReSurge International Transformations Gala an unforgettable evening!
View more photos from the evening here.
The evening wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our Transformations Gala sponsors.
