Loma Linda Global Surgery Elective: First 1000 Cases

Area of Science:

• Global surgery
• Surgical education
• International health

Background:

• General surgery residency programs in the US increasingly incorporate global surgery electives.
• Understanding the case mix and volume during these rotations is crucial for evaluating their educational value.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the types and number of surgical procedures performed by US general surgery residents during international electives.
• To assess the contribution of global surgery rotations to resident surgical training.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of surgical case logs was conducted.
• Data were collected from residents rotating at Malamulo Mission Hospital, a rural facility in Malawi, between 2012 and 2016.

Main Results:

• Residents performed an average of 12 surgical cases per week.
• The cases spanned a diverse range of surgical disciplines, indicating broad exposure.

Conclusions:

• Global surgery rotations, when supported by dedicated faculty, offer substantial surgical case volume and variety.
• These experiences are highly beneficial for enhancing the surgical skills and overall training of residents.