An African first: Mediclinic surgeon becomes full member of Academy of Master Surgeon Educators

Professor Zacharia Koto, a surgeon at Mediclinic Medforum and world-renowned expert in laparoscopy, hopes his induction into the prestigious Academy of Master Surgeon Educators will motivate young surgeons. He explains what his new role involves and reflects on his career, which includes many groundbreaking surgical achievements.

Being inducted into the prestigious American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators is the pinnacle of any surgeon’s academic career. The ACS, the world's largest surgical organisation by membership, oversees several programmes, including education, which is managed by the Academy of Master Surgeon Educators.

Becoming a Master Surgeon Educator

The Academy’s main goal is to develop training programmes for surgeons worldwide, with a strong focus on the United States. To choose its members, the Academy follows a strict review process, selecting surgeons who have made outstanding contributions to training and education in their field.

 “They also look at your publications, standing in the surgical community, what you have achieved in terms of teaching outcomes, and your work in research provision and mentoring,” says Professor Koto, who was recently inducted into the Academy at a ceremony in Chicago.  

The Academy has different levels of membership, but only the top 1% of surgeons are chosen as full members. As far as Professor Koto knows, he is the first doctor in Africa to receive this honour. He believes his induction sends a powerful message to young African surgeons – that anything is possible. “If you put your mind to it and work hard, it is possible to be recognised at the highest level.”

As a Master Surgeon Educator, Professor Koto plays an active role in the Academy. He leads and moderates educational webinars and is committed to spreading surgical knowledge worldwide.

Building a surgical career

Professor Koto studied medicine at Medunsa, now known as Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), where he completed his MBChB and stayed on to complete his surgical training.

He then worked as a surgeon in a regional hospital while continuing to expand his knowledge, especially in laparoscopic surgery. He remains actively involved in advancing laparoscopy for trauma care, both locally and internationally. “I did my PhD on laparoscopy in trauma, and it was widely published,” he says. “It made an important contribution to research and understanding of how this technique can be used to treat trauma patients.”

Professor Koto has achieved several surgical milestones, including performing South Africa’s first laparoscopic aortobifemoral bypass graft in 2012. This procedure helps improve blood flow to the legs by bypassing blocked or narrowed arteries.

Committed to continuous learning, he has taken advanced training courses both in South Africa and abroad, including in France and Austria.

“In South Africa, I have been very active in various organisations that propagate endoscopic surgery,” he says. Professor Koto is a key member of the South African Endoscopic Society and the Association of Surgeons of South Africa, where he served as president last year. He is currently the president of the College of Surgeons, which focuses on surgical education. In April, he will take office as the president of the College of Medicine South Africa (CMSA) for a three-year term.

Passion for teaching

But Professor Koto’s main passion lies in teaching. He is currently the head of surgery at SMU. “I'm involved in postgraduate teaching, teaching people to become surgeons,” he says. “I've qualified well over 70 surgeons to date.” He’s also shared his expertise beyond South Africa’s borders, teaching and performing live surgical workshops across the African continent in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda.

As a bariatric surgeon, Professor Koto has played a pivotal role in getting Mediclinic Medforum accredited for weight loss surgery. His practice in this field continues to grow steadily.

Professor Koto’s advice for those who want to follow in his footsteps? “Nothing is impossible. It’s all about changing your mindset, staying focused on your goals, and most importantly, working hard and being consistent. With these in place, success is within reach.”