“With the establishment of the Mohs Surgery Society of South Africa (MSSSA), we take a pivotal step in upholding excellence in Mohs surgery nationwide – ensuring quality, expertise, and trust for patients and practitioners alike.”
Over the past decade, the South African Mohs Group has represented the interests of Mohs surgeons practicing in South Africa. In 2024, the group took a significant step forward by formally establishing the Mohs Surgery Society of South Africa (MSSSA). This transition is pivotal in ensuring Mohs surgery’s consistent quality and standard nationwide.
The MSSSA is a registered public benefit organisation governed by a formal constitution. It is affiliated with the Dermatologic Society of South Africa and the South African Society for Dermatologic Surgery.
The society’s primary objectives are:
1. Annual Peer-Review: To evaluate and maintain the standard, quality, and quantity of work its members perform.
2. Membership Criteria: To establish clear standards for evaluating new applicants seeking membership. The MSSSA welcomes applicants practicing in the SADC countries, offering guidance to those who do not yet meet the criteria to support them in achieving eventual membership.
These initiatives ensure Mohs surgery in South Africa is performed to international standards and provide confidence to dermatologists, referring doctors, other specialties, the public, funders, and affiliated societies. Membership in MSSSA serves as a benchmark for identifying Mohs surgeons who meet these rigorous standards.
The current members of the Mohs Surgery Society of South Africa are (in alphabetical order):
In the best interest of skin cancer patients, MSSSA recommends supporting Mohs Surgery practitioners who are MSSSA members. MSSSA is the only body in South Africa to recognise, endorse, and peer-review Mohs Surgeons’ training and practice.
MSSSA is committed to fostering the growth of well-trained Mohs surgeons in South Africa. This is especially critical in a country with a significant skin cancer burden. The society aims to ensure that the public and referring doctors have access to Mohs surgeons with the appropriate standard of training and expertise.
To this end, MSSSA is proud to endorse the Mohs Fellowship training program, which the newly created Academy of Mohs Surgery will soon offer. This initiative will expand access to Mohs surgery across South Africa. MSSSA can also advise on international training programs and the MSSSA criteria for membership.
We trust that MSSSA will grow and continue to serve as a cornerstone of excellence in skin cancer care.
The new society and its members appreciate your support as we embark on this exciting chapter in the development of Mohs surgery in South Africa.
Sincerely,
Dr. Pieter du Plessis
Chairperson
Mohs Surgery Society of South Africa