Dr. Hillary Mabeya Named Honorary Fellow of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons

 Renowned Kenyan surgeon and women’s health champion Dr. Hillary Mabeya has been named an Honorary Fellow of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS), one of the highest international honors in the field of colorectal surgery.

The prestigious recognition is awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to colon and rectal surgery and significantly advanced patient care. Dr. Mabeya’s selection reflects decades of groundbreaking work in the treatment of rectovaginal fistulas and complex fistula cases, among the most technically demanding and life-altering conditions in women’s health.

Dr. Mabeya is the founder and lead surgeon of Gynocare Women’s & Fistula Hospital in Eldoret City, Western Kenya, a nongovernmental organization dedicated to providing comprehensive reproductive health services to women. Since becoming the first specialized fistula surgeon in the region in 2003, he has performed thousands of life-changing surgeries, restoring dignity, health, and hope to women affected by obstetric fistula—often the result of prolonged and obstructed childbirth.

His work has been transformative for women who suffer not only severe physical injuries but also profound social and economic exclusion. Through surgical excellence, training, and advocacy, Dr. Mabeya has helped countless women heal from devastating childbirth injuries and reclaim their futures.

Before founding Gynocare, Dr. Mabeya served as District Medical Officer of Health in West Pokot District and as District Obstetrician/Gynecologist in Kajiado, Kenya. His specialized training includes advanced fistula surgery at Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and service as a fistula surgeon with the Africa Medical Research Foundation (AMREF).

Dr. Mabeya is an active member of several professional bodies, including the Kenya Medical Association (KMA), Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (KMPDB), Kenya Obstetrics and Gynecological Society (KOGS), and the East, Central and Southern Africa Obstetric and Gynecological Society (ECSAOGS).

In addition to his surgical work, he is a respected researcher and educator. He has delivered numerous presentations on obstetric fistula in rural hospitals, HIV in pregnancy, the socioeconomic and cultural determinants of fistula, and surgical outcomes. His research on cervical cancer screening among HIV-seropositive women contributed to the development of an HPV vaccine in Belgium, through a grant funded by the AIDS International Training and Research Program, Fogarty AIDS International, and the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Dr. Mabeya holds an MBChB in Medicine and Surgery and an MMED in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the University of Nairobi. He is certified in reproductive research by the World Health Organization (WHO), served as a Fellow of HIV in Women at Brown University, and is a Certified Fistula Trainer with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) in Kenya.

The ASCRS Honorary Fellowship places Dr. Mabeya among a distinguished global group of surgeons whose work has had a lasting impact on patient care and surgical practice.

As tributes pour in from across Kenya and the international medical community, Dr. Mabeya’s recognition stands as a powerful testament to the global impact of African-led surgical innovation and compassionate care.

Congratulations, Dr. Hillary Mabeya, on this well-deserved and historic honor.