Moving the Needle on Global Surgery Education in the US

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Surgical Education
• Medical Trainee Networks

Background:

• Growing interest in global surgery among US students and trainees in perioperative fields.
• Identified gaps in global surgery education, mentorship, and resources.
• Need to shift from short-term clinical experiences to long-term, equitable global surgery models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the formation and function of a national student-led organization in global surgery.
• To highlight how this organization addresses educational and resource gaps for trainees.
• To emphasize the promotion of equitable engagement in global surgery.

Main Methods:

• Establishment of the Global Surgery Student Alliance (GSSA) as a national network.
• Development of resources, including toolkits and a mentorship database.
• Organization of national events, symposia, and webinars.

Main Results:

• GSSA network spans 75 US medical schools.
• Provided toolkits for ethical and equitable global surgery research, education, and advocacy.
• Created a database connecting students with global peers and mentors.

Conclusions:

• A national student-led organization effectively connects future perioperative providers with global surgery opportunities.
• GSSA bridges the gap between trainee interest, available opportunities, and the principle of equity.
• The organization supports trainees in meaningful global surgery work.