UBC Branch for Global Surgical Care

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UBC Branch for Global Surgical Care

Welcome to the Branch for Global Surgical Care at the University of British Columbia on Facebook.

02/13/2026

🌟 Student Spotlight: Dr. Simon Holland 🌟

🌎 Dr. Holland’s work in global eye care has taken him across continents and into communities around the world. His journey began in Zimbabwe and continued through specialist training in the UK, USA, and Canada. He has since spent decades working with ORBIS to strengthen ophthalmology education worldwide.

Today, he is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at UBC, Chair of ORBIS Canada, and a student in the Master of Global Surgical Care (MGSC) program. His work spans international training initiatives, simulation programs in low-resource settings, and outreach clinics in Northern British Columbia.

Through the MGSC program, he is deepening his understanding of program development and exploring how eye care can be better integrated into broader health systems, both globally and locally.

👉 Want to learn what continues to shape and inspire his work? Read Dr. Holland’s full story at https://buff.ly/xmtNV6a

02/06/2026

Dr. Joseph Kuei Akech Aguer is one of the graduates of the Vital Surgery Training Program (VitalSurg), an 18-month, task-sharing initiative designed to equip non-surgeon physicians with essential, life-saving surgical skills.

Created through a partnership between the Global Surgery Lab and Médecins Sans Frontières, VitalSurg uses a hybrid model that combines open-access online learning with hands-on mentorship and in-field skills evaluation. As of today, the program has trained three cohorts of physicians in South Sudan.

His training has positioned him as what he describes as a “middle cutter” – a medical doctor with surgical skills who can bridge the gap between surgeons and general medical practitioners. This unique position allows him to provide life-saving interventions and be someone who brings change in the community.

Read the full article to learn more about Dr. Joseph's journey ➡️ https://buff.ly/gIFgAuu

02/04/2026

Cancer care doesn’t end at diagnosis. For many, timely and safe surgical care is essential. On , we’re reminded that every cancer journey is unique — and so are the needs of each person seeking care.

A people-centred approach that integrates individual needs with compassion and empathy can lead to better outcomes for patients and communities alike.
Together, we can help rewrite the future of cancer care.
Together, we are .

Learn more at worldcancerday.org

01/30/2026

Dr. Garang Garang Nuoi Aguer is one of the graduates of the Vital Surgery Training Program (VitalSurg), an 18-month, task-sharing initiative designed to equip non-surgeon physicians with essential, life-saving surgical skills.

Created through a partnership between the Global Surgery Lab and Médecins Sans Frontières, VitalSurg uses a hybrid model that combines open-access online learning with hands-on mentorship and in-field skills evaluation. As of today, the program has trained three cohorts of physicians in South Sudan.

From early displacement to training and practice in Aweil, Dr. Garang’s path reflects the realities many physicians navigate while building skills to serve their communities. His story offers insight into how this training is experienced on the ground.

Read the full article to learn more about Dr. Garang’s journey ➡️ https://buff.ly/gCJ1IQV

01/23/2026

🌍 2 months left to apply! Don’t miss this chance to take your global surgery career to the next level! ✨

🚨 Application Deadline: April 1, 2026 🚨

Our UBC Branch for Global Surgical Care programs offer:
🌟 Flexibility: Full-time or part-time options to suit your schedule.
🤝 Community: Collaborate with surgical care professionals worldwide.
🌐 Convenience: 100% online, accessible wherever you are.

This is your moment to make a difference in global health. Apply now at https://buff.ly/XhBuSUm

📩 Tag a friend or colleague who might be interested!

01/16/2026

‼️ REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN ‼️

Join us Friday, May 29, 2026 (8:00 AM–3:00 PM PDT) for a day highlighting global surgery work at UBC and beyond.

👉 Featuring:
• BGSC's student project presentations
• Global Surgery Lab research & initiatives
• A special ceremony honouring Dr. Robert Taylor, founder of the Branch

👥 Open to global surgery practitioners, trainees, students, alumni, and partners in BC and globally.

📍 Join us in-person at UBC Medical Student & Alumni Centre (2750 Heather St, Vancouver, BC) or attend virtually via Zoom
📝 Registration details available at https://buff.ly/6mqdbog

01/13/2026

❄️ Want to get caught up on the latest BGSC news and updates? Check out the latest winter edition of the BGSC Newsletter!

👉 Explore our faculty and student achievements, recent graduates, upcoming events, and the latest research! Read and subscribe here: https://buff.ly/CGdxLM0

01/09/2026

🌟 Student Spotlight: Dr. Emily Joy Stevenson 🌟

Meet Emily, a general surgery resident at Loma Linda University Health and a first-year student in the Master of Global Surgical Care (MGSC) program. With an undergraduate background in Global Studies from Arizona State University and medical training at Loma Linda University, Emily has intentionally shaped her career at the intersection of surgery and global health systems strengthening.

Emily’s passion for global surgery began early in life, sparked by childhood experiences witnessing health and social inequities in rural Mexico. Since then, her journey has taken her across the globe. From teaching English in Ecuador and providing HIV/AIDS prevention education in India, to assisting with a surgical camp in Ghana. These experiences solidified her commitment to sustainable and systems-level approaches to global surgical care.

Through her residency training and the MGSC program, Emily is building the skills to support sustainable healthcare capacity building. She is particularly excited about future work in low- and middle-income countries and is currently exploring trauma system development projects, including Stop the Bleed training in Papua New Guinea.

🌎 Learn more about Emily’s amazing journey at https://buff.ly/ivXboiw

12/23/2025

🎊 Happy Holidays from the team at BGSC! 🎊

Sending you and your family and loved ones the warmest greetings this holiday season and may 2026 bring peace, joy, health and happiness.

Please note that our offices will be closed from December 25, 2025 to January 3, 2026 for the winter break.

12/18/2025

⭐️ Event Alert: 2026 Global Surgery Day Symposium ⭐️

🌎 Join us Friday, May 29, 2026 (8:00 AM–3:00 PM PST) for a day highlighting global surgery work at UBC and beyond!

👉 Featuring:
• BGSC's student project presentations
• Global Surgery Lab research & initiatives
• A special ceremony honouring Dr. Robert Taylor, founder of the Branch

👥 Open to global surgery practitioners, trainees, students, alumni, and partners in BC and globally.

📍 In-person at UBC MSAC + Zoom
📝 Registration & full agenda coming soon at https://buff.ly/YwY1KAR — stay tuned!

12/16/2025

🔍 Research Voices from the Field is a new feature from the UBC Faculty of Medicine Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (REDI) Office, that showcases cutting-edge research that breaks barriers and promotes inclusion in medicine. Each edition spotlights a research publication and includes insights directly from the authors—revealing their motivations, the significance of their findings, and why the research matters for healthcare professionals everywhere.

⭐️ In this edition, Graduate Program Advisor of our MGSC and GCGSC programs, Dr. Faizal Haji, a pediatric neurosurgeon at the BC Children’s Hospital, Scholar at the Centre for Health Education Scholarship (CHES), and Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, reflects on why he co-authored “Defining a Framework and Evaluation Metrics for Sustainable Global Surgical Partnerships” with colleagues in the Branch for Global Surgical Care—a piece relevant to anyone interested in decolonization and global health equity.

👉 Learn more about the feature at https://buff.ly/9yqMZ4U

12/12/2025

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Garang Garang Nuoi Aguer and Dr. Joseph Kuei Akech Aguer on completing the 18-month Vital Surgery Training Program! We are incredibly proud to celebrate their achievements.

Through this collaboration between Médecins Sans Frontières ( ) and the Global Surgery Lab, they gained essential surgical skills and confidence to provide life-saving care in communities where surgical services are limited.

Their stories highlight the power of training local clinicians, the impact of investing in surgical education, and the hope that grows when people continue pushing forward no matter the challenge.

📖 Read their full journeys and reflections at https://buff.ly/9OWP3PK

Address

2775 Laurel Street
Vancouver, BC
V5Z1M9

Website

http://www.globalsurgery.med.ubc.ca/

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