Global Pediatric Surgery Committee

Introduction

Welcome to the APSA Global Pediatric Surgery Committee (GPSC) web page on PedSurgResource. We would like to inform you of our recent activities and to provide links to websites that might be of interest and use to you.

Our mission is to

  • develop partnerships with overseas colleagues to facilitate the exchange of information and resources
  • advocate and encourage responsible international service and surgical education by APSA members and trainees
  • facilitate the educational opportunities of surgeons caring for children in resource-limited settings
  • identify and support areas of research relevant to pediatric surgical care in resource-limited settings.

Our vision is to promote access to optimal surgical care for children throughout the world and aim to identify partners in resource-limited settings.

Initiatives

The initiatives conducted by the GPSC have a unifying goal: to promote APSA as a leader in global pediatric surgery

  • by integrating efforts at all levels: APSA committees’ activities, the individual surgeon, the institutions, and the professional societies
  • by harmonizing with ongoing efforts and initiatives
  • by supporting global health efforts of APSA members
  • by inspiring and engaging APSA and international pediatric surgical constituencies in these efforts
  • by implementing global health programs in a strategic manner to achieve the mission of the GPSC.

The GPSC principles used to implement these initiatives include

  • tapping into the existing resources of APSA and other nongovernmental organizations or societies
  • focusing on workforce capacity building primarily through education and training
  • using an academic approach with integrated system-strengthening efforts with outcome-based interventions which could potentially be funded by future external grant support
  • emphasizing high impact, safe, feasible, and resource-appropriate initiatives.

See also the Global Pediatric Surgery chapter in the Pediatric Surgery Not a Textbook.

APSA Global Surgery Surveys

APSA Global Pediatric Surgery Committee Publications:

Opportunities for APSA Members

American College of Surgeons Operation Giving Back (OGB)

OGB is the humanitarian arm of the American College of Surgeons, helping to coordinate care in low-resources environments in the United States and overseas. The APSA Global Pediatric Surgery Committee has developed a joint partnership with OGB to support their capacity-building partnerships with universities identified through the College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA). The current ACS/OGB partnership is with the Department of Surgery at Hawassa University in Ethiopia, and future partnerships are envisioned in Zambia or Rwanda.

Our initial goal is to support on-site training and curriculum development for general surgery residents in the surgical care of children.

APSA Travel Fellowship

The Travel Fellowship, supported by APSA and the APSA Foundation, is an annual award for early career surgeons in low- and middle-income countries to attend and experience the educational and networking opportunities of the APSA Annual Meeting. The Travel Fellowship includes travel to and attendance at the APSA Annual Meeting, a presentation to the APSA membership on their background, current practice, and future goals, and an opportunity for a clinical observership and specialty training at a US or Canadian hospital for 4-6 weeks either before or after the meeting. Additionally, Travel Fellows will receive a complimentary subscription to PedSurgLibrary, where they can access APSA’s online Not a Textbook, as well as other educational resources.

Click here for more information on the application process.

Due to the cancellation of the in-person 2020 and 2021 Annual Meetings, new applications for the Travel Fellowship are currently on hold.

Additional Resources

Global Initiative for Children’s Surgery (GICS)

The aim of GICS is to ensure that every child has access to safe surgical care. It does this by defining and advocating for optimal resources for children’s surgery in resource-poor regions of the world, engaging providers of surgical care globally, as well as organizations whose missions affect children’s surgical care. GICS includes providers from all children’s surgical subspecialties, with its projects driven by members working in low- and middle-income countries, who define needs, design practical solutions, and promote research. Visit the GICS website, and click here to become a Member of GICS.

The Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma, and Anesthesia Care (The G4 Alliance)

The G4 Alliance, represented by more than 70 worldwide organizations, advocates for the neglected surgical patient, aiming to put surgical care on the health agenda of low- and middle-income countries through strategic relationships with the World Health Organization and policy-making bodies. Visit the G4 Alliance website.

InterSurgeon

InterSurgeon brings people together in the field of global surgery. It allows all members of the surgical team, as well as organizations working to improve the care of surgical patients worldwide, to find and help each other in the promotion of safe surgery, perioperative care, and anesthesia. Visit the InterSurgeon website.

World Federation of Associations of Pediatric Surgeons (WOFAPS)

WOFAPS consists of more than 100 pediatric surgical societies around the globe, organizing educational meetings and other gatherings. Visit the WOFAPS website.

Last updated: December 16, 2021