UBC Branch for Global Surgical Care

04/10/2026

We’re excited to share a recent publication featuring Dr. Godfrey Sama Philipo (M.D., MPH, MGSC) and Esther Chin MD MGSC FRCSC, both UBC Master of Global Surgical Care alumni who now teach at the Branch of Global Surgical Care.

This work was developed in collaboration with a diverse, international team of clinicians, researchers, and public health professionals from Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Nigeria, Tanzania, the United States, and Canada. 🌎

Published in the Journal of Global Surgery, this study explores key ethical challenges in global surgery and proposes a structured course framework to better prepare learners. The authors identify four major areas of concern, including medical donations, short-term medical missions, research partnerships, and special situations involving humanitarian aid.

Their work reinforces the need for stronger, more accessible ethics training to support equitable and responsible surgical care worldwide. It also reflects a broader commitment to inclusive and collaborative knowledge-sharing in global surgery.

🔗 Learn more here: https://buff.ly/TTqZD63

04/02/2026

We are beyond excited to showcase the amazing work by our talented Master of Global Surgical Care students at the upcoming Global Surgery Symposium Day!

⭐️ Valerie Tiller: Fulfilling the Promise of TRC Call to Action 24: Continuing Education for Perioperative Nurses in Canada
⭐️ Philip Haché: The Uganda Sustainable Trauma Orthopedic Project (USTOP) Turns 15: A Mixed Methods Evaluation
⭐️ Dieudonné Lemfuka: Strengthening Blood Systems for Emergency Surgery in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review and Retrospective Case Study on Availability, Timeliness, and Patient Outcomes
⭐️ Carlyn Barclay: A Quality Improvement Project on Surgical Site Infections Among Interior Health’s Cardiac Surgery Population
⭐️ Brynn Aucoin: Pediatric Surgery Wait Times in Ontario: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Join us on May 29 for a day filled with connections, conversations, and insights from the global surgery community. Whether you’re a student, trainee, or professional, we hope you’ll be part of the conversation!

🔗 Learn more and register at: https://buff.ly/fzhWYp7
📍 In person (UBC Medical Student & Alumni Centre) and virtual (via Zoom) options available
🗓️ Friday, May 29, 2026 (8:15 AM - 4:00 PM)

03/30/2026

Our condolences on the passing of Dr. John Tracy Kidder. In his book Mountains Beyond Mountains, he brought to life powerful stories of compassion, global health, and the profound impact one individual can have on the lives of many. His work didn’t just inform; it inspired, challenged, and connected people across disciplines and generations. He showed us the power of curiosity, empathy, and storytelling. His legacy will continue to shape how we think, learn, and engage with one another.

03/30/2026

Our condolences on the passing of John Tracy Kidder. In his book Mountains Beyond Mountains, he brought to life powerful stories of compassion, global health, and the profound impact one individual can have on the lives of many. His work didn’t just inform; it inspired, challenged, and connected people across disciplines and generations.

He showed us the power of curiosity, empathy, and storytelling. His legacy will continue to shape how we think, learn, and engage with one another.

Happy Friday! Today's book recommendation is "Mountains Beyond Mountains" that explores Dr. Paul Farmer's philosophy where "the only real nation is humanity"—a philosophy that is embodied in the small public charity he founded, Partners in Health. More recommendations here! bit.ly/reading-recommendations

03/25/2026

Last chance to apply for our September 2026 intake! The application deadline for our Master’s and Graduate Certificate programs is April 1, 2026.

Our programs offer:
🌟 Flexibility — Full-time or part-time options to fit your schedule
🤝 Community — Collaborate with surgical care professionals from around the world
🌐 Convenience — 100% online, accessible wherever you are

🌎 This is your opportunity to contribute to improving surgical care globally!

🔗 Learn more and apply at https://buff.ly/9N8xzag

📩 Tag a friend or colleague who might be interested!

03/20/2026

We are honoured to welcome Dr. Jean-Pierre Letoquart as our keynote speaker for this year’s Global Surgery Symposium Day.

With over 20 years of humanitarian experience with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), Dr. Letoquart will speak on delivering surgical care in some of the world’s most fragile places.

The symposium will also feature presentations from students, faculty, and members of the Global Surgery Lab, highlighting ongoing work and perspectives across the field.

We invite you to join us on Friday, May 29, 2026 to learn and connect with the global surgery community across BC and beyond. Whether you’re a student, trainee, or professional, we hope you’ll be part of the conversation!

🔗 Register today: https://buff.ly/mK7th27
📍 In-person (UBC Medical Student & Alumni Centre) and Virtual (via Zoom) options available
🗓️ Friday, May 29, 2026 (8:15 AM - 4:00 PM)

03/17/2026

🎉 New article spotlight!

We’re very proud to see Dr. Esther Chin, a Master of Global Surgical Care (MGSC) alumna from the UBC Branch for Global Surgical Care, featured on Pathways. She is also currently an instructor for SURG 512 (Global Disability – A Surgical Care Mandate) at the Branch and a member of the Global Surgery Lab.

In the article, Dr. Chin reflects on an early experience during a medical elective in Rwanda that changed the direction of her career after witnessing the impact of postpartum hemorrhage, one of the leading causes of maternal death worldwide. That experience later inspired her work on STITCH (Surgical Trainer for Interventions to Control Postpartum Hemorrhage), a low-cost surgical training device that helps clinicians practice procedures used to treat postpartum hemorrhage.

Developed in collaboration with students from the UBC School of Biomedical Engineering Engineers in Scrubs program, the simulator uses 3D printing and silicone materials to mimic a postpartum uterus. The goal is simple: give clinicians a way to practice these critical procedures before they need to perform them in real emergencies.

Today, STITCH is already being used to support surgical training in Rwanda, Tanzania, Cameroon, and South Sudan. Read the full article to learn more about the inspiration behind STITCH and how interdisciplinary collaboration at UBC is helping expand access to life-saving surgical care.

🔗 Read more at https://buff.ly/GmsYAAL

03/13/2026

03/13/2026

‼️ Only 2 weeks left to apply! The application deadline for our Master’s and Graduate Certificate programs is April 1, 2026.

Hear from our current students as they share what drew them to our program and how they hope to apply the skills and knowledge from this program in their careers.

Our programs offer:
🌟 Flexibility — Full-time or part-time options to fit your schedule
🤝 Community — Collaborate with surgical care professionals from around the world
🌐 Convenience — 100% online, accessible wherever you are

💻 This is your opportunity to contribute to improving surgical care globally. Ready to apply? Visit https://globalsurgery.med.ubc.ca/graduate-programs/apply/

📩 Tag a friend or colleague who might be interested!

03/10/2026

Please join us in extending sincere thanks and gratitude for Dr. Charles Mock’s contributions to the Branch for Global Surgical Care over the years, on the occasion of his retirement.

🔗 To learn more about Dr. Mock's experiences and contributions, visit https://buff.ly/V0C8hGP

03/08/2026

Happy International Women's Day! This year, we asked some of the amazing women in our community to share one important lesson they've learned through their work.

Thank you to Dr. Doreen Nakku, Dr. Ruth Vilayil, Carlyn Barclay, and Dr. Lina Roa for sharing these insightful responses.

👇 We'd love to hear one important lesson you've learned through your work in the comments below!

03/04/2026

🎉 We’re very proud to highlight an article by several members of the Global Surgery Lab!

This study, which was recently published in the the Journal of Pediatric Surgery, aimed to examine the global landscape of pediatric surgery training in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The authors conducted an extensive grey literature review to identify formal training programs across 132 LMICs and found significant gaps in access to pediatric surgical education. Only 66 countries (50%) had at least one formal pediatric surgery training program. Availability varied by income level, with programs present in 56% of upper-middle-income countries, 51% of lower-middle-income countries, and just 35% of low-income countries. Regional disparities were also notable: while the European, Eastern Mediterranean, and South-East Asia regions had relatively higher proportions of programs, the African and Western Pacific regions had the lowest representation.

Given that LMICs have younger populations and a high burden of surgically treatable conditions, the study underscores an urgent need to expand and standardize pediatric surgery training. The authors call for sustainable, accredited training initiatives to strengthen pediatric surgical capacity and improve access to care for children worldwide.

🔗 Read the full article here: https://buff.ly/EoWYDEJ