“Are you afraid of failing because you are a woman, or because you are a foreigner?” This is the question I was asked when interviewing for my first job in Switzerland at 22 years of age. Up until that moment, I had never questioned whether me being a woman, or a foreigner, would ever impact my career in any shape or form.

About three years ago, I was invited by SkinCeuticals and ReSurge International to develop a leadership program as part of the project Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery (PWRS). At the time, I was not aware of the grandeur of the journey I was about to embark upon. Today, I realize the significance of this initiative.

Supported by ReSurge International and SkinCeuticals, Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery (PWRS) provides technical training, leadership development, and support to the first generation of local women reconstructive surgeons in underserved nations.

In the spring of 2019, we brought our leadership training to the staff of ReSurge Nepal and their work site, Kirtipur Hospital. ReSurge International is a global not-for-profit dedicated to increasing access to reconstructive plastic surgery in developing countries.