BIOGRAPHY

Clive Van Geems graduated from the University of Cape Town with a Bachelors Degree in Primary Education and taught at Pinehurst Primary School, Cape Town for 8 years. He decided on a career change and had the opportunity to study in the USA as a Certified Stapling Technician with United States Surgical Corporation. It was at this time that USSC included training in Minimally Invasive Surgery and so Clive was one of the first non-Healthcare Professionals in South Africa to be trained on Laparoscopic Surgery. After qualifying, he returned to South Africa and was intimately involved with the first Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Course held at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town in May 1991. Subsequently, Clive has been very involved in Minimally Invasive Surgery Training in South Africa and also spent a number of years travelling internationally to organise and run training courses. He was appointed as Manager of the Surgical Skills Training Centre from February 2015 to January 2023, and now works as a consultant. The Surgical Skills Training Centre became the first Diploma Centre outside of Europe for the Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgery Education and Assessment programme (GESEA) of the European Academy of Gynaecological Endoscopy and Clive was appointed as the Chief Administrator for South Africa in 2015 Clive successfully completed a Damelin Sales and Marketing Diploma and attended, as the only non-Healthcare Professional to attend the SLS Master Class on Reduced Port Surgery in Boston. He organised and attended a TEP inquinal hernia course under Dr Guy Voeller in Memphis, Tennessee. He has been involved in training throughout the world and had a period as the International Clinical Specialist, teaching Endoscopic Saphenous Vein Harvesting in Europe, based out of Brussels. He also was involved in introducing the use of 2.7mm diameter instruments in Europe, North America and Central America.