GENEVA: The American Surgical Association (ASA) announced the selection of Kuwaiti surgeon Dr Waddah Al-Refaie, Chair of the Department of Surgery at Creighton University in the United States, to participate in the 2025 Scientific Exchange Program with the European Society of Surgery. Dr Al-Refaie becomes the first Kuwaiti, Gulf national, and Arab surgeon to receive this prestigious honor.
In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Dr Al-Refaie expressed his deep pride and gratitude for the recognition, which was announced during the 31st Annual Meeting of the European Society of Surgery, currently taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, and concluding on Saturday. Dr Al-Refaie credited this achievement to the continued high-level support provided to Kuwait’s medical sector by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
He emphasized that this selection crowns the efforts of Kuwaiti talent on the international stage and reflects Kuwait’s distinguished standing in the global medical community. “My medical journey will always remain dedicated to serving Kuwait and humanity as a whole,” Dr Al-Refaie said, highlighting the importance of enhancing scientific collaboration and the exchange of expertise with leading global medical institutions to advance Kuwait’s healthcare sector. Dr Al-Refaie also expressed his appreciation to the American Surgical Association for this honor and looked forward to actively participating in the program’s activities, further elevating Kuwait’s profile in the international medical arena.
The Scientific Exchange Program between the American Surgical Association and the European Society of Surgery aims to foster scientific collaboration and the sharing of expertise by enabling selected surgeons to participate in each society’s annual meetings, present their research, and engage with their peers across various surgical disciplines. — KUNA
