Mission
Our mission is to train the next generation of surgical leaders with a focus and understanding of health equity who will foster knowledge, collaboration and innovation in global surgical development. We believe that surgical care and access are a global public health priority. By educating medical students, residents, and surgeons at home and abroad, we aim to improve sustainable access to safe surgery in resource-limited settings and stimulate awareness to the role of poverty and social determinants of health in all settings.
Rationale
Global Surgery is an academic pursuit that has seen an increase in student, resident and faculty interest in recent years. Academic global surgery focuses on developing sustainable partnerships to understand the complex, transnational issues related to providing equitable surgical care in diverse populations. This involves an exploration of how poverty, health disparities, rurality, culture, migration, health systems, development aid, and education, contribute to surgical disease and outcomes. Therefore, global surgery can be both local and international. It involves an integration of public health, human rights, development economics, ethics, innovation, discovery, and education to improve access to equitable surgical care around the globe. At the University of Florida, we are uniquely poised to foster global health initiatives, promote collaborative and innovative research, and train the next generation of surgical leaders.
What do we do?
Global Surgery Rotation for Residents
International resident rotations are approved by the ACGME and the RRC. Residents can count cases for approved rotations. Elective rotations for general surgery residents with our partners in Kigali, Rwanda coming soon!
Not only do surgical experiences in low-income countries allow participants to become leaders in surgical disease world-wide, but the cross-cultural competency developed has an immediate impact on patient care. Furthermore, as technical advances in leading academic centers make surgical training increasingly more specialized, a resident rotating in a resource-limited setting will learn resource management and gain exposure to a different spectrum of surgical disease, including novel pathologies and advanced disease. While aiming to increase international collaboration, this will also encourage trainees to practice in rural, resource-limited settings in the US.
Global Surgery Rotation for International Residents
Reciprocity is important in developing sustainable partnerships, and we believe that hosting our partner trainees on elective rotations/observerships is an important component of their educational development. More details coming soon! Currently on hold due to COVID.
Global Surgery Elective for Medical Students
Medical students in their fourth year are eligible to participate in a global surgery elective. Research may be included. Students are encouraged to reach out to Dr. Petroze for further details and will be considered on a per student basis.
Global Surgery and Health Equity Track
We are excited to be developing a track for residents that focuses on interdisciplinary global health and health equity education and research. Requirements will include advanced coursework, a global health or health equity research project, and engagement in interdisciplinary education efforts.
MSRP summer research for medical students
Medical students between their first and second year are eligible for the summer research program for 10 weeks of mentored research. Details regarding global projects can be found here. Learn more about past MSRP students in global surgery.
Global Surgery and Medicine Interest Group at the University of Florida College of Medicine
The Global Surgery and Medicine Interest Group (GSMIG) aims to educate, inspire, and unite medical students through engagement and mentorship in global surgery and medicine. Such opportunities include lunch talks (food provided), chances to meet and interact with attending physicians and residents involved with global surgery/medicine, and research and clinical opportunities abroad. The GSMIG is an official chapter of the Global Surgery Student Alliance.
Global Surgery Research
Opportunities for global surgery research exist for residents in their academic development time as well as for medical students. Check out our newest publications!
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32892140/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32209626/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32151404/
Global Surgery Grand Rounds Speaker Series
Several times a year, we host world-renowned speakers on global health and health equity. We were thrilled to host Dr. Abebe Bekele, MD, FCS, FACS, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic and Research Affairs, Professor of Surgery, and Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda on October 2, 2020 to discuss Surgical Education in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Collaboration in Global Health
For more information about other global health efforts at the University of Florida, follow these links: