A Definition

At its core, global surgery can be defined as "a field that aims to improve health and health equity for all who are affected by surgical conditions or have a need for surgical care, with a particular focus on underserved populations in countries of all income levels, as well as populations in crisis, such as those experiencing conflict, displacement, and disaster" (Global Surgery Student Alliance, 2024).

Since its development in the 1970s, the field of global surgery has grown steadily, with more and more individuals acknowledging that global surgery comprises an integral component of global health. However, what has propelled the topic of global surgery the most in recent years is the 2015 Lancet Commission on Global Surgery - a paper that provides an economic analysis of surgery in LMICs, underscoring the following statistics:

• around five billion people across the world today lack proper access to surgical care

• a stark economic disparity in surgical care exists, whereby the poorest 30% of the world receive only about 3-6% of surgical interventions, and the richest 30% approximately 75%

• a total of 17 million people in low- and middle-income countries die every year because of the existence of a lack of surgeons and/or sufficient surgical expertise

• at the time of the Lancet Commission publication, it was estimated that our global economy could lose $21 trillion USD due to the lack of surgical care worldwide

As such disparities shift among countries worldwide, it becomes important to understand these changes and encourage a sense of awareness among the younger generation. Only this can build an initiative in the future population of physicians to focus their work on global surgery ethics, and combine efforts to mitigate the above-described inequities step by step.

References:

FastStats. (n.d.). Inpatient Surgery. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/inpatient-surgery.htm.

GSSA | What is global surgery? (n.d.). Gssa. https://www.globalsurgerystudents.org/what-is-global-surgery

Meara JG, Greenberg SL. The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery Global surgery 2030: Evidence and solutions for achieving health, welfare and economic development. Surgery. 2015 May;157(5):834-5. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2015.02.009. PMID: 25934019.

human beings around the world do not have adequate access to basic surgical care

Illustrated: A photo taken from within the OR in one of Ghana's teaching hospitals, showing students actively observing a surgical procedure under the Global Colorectal Surgery Education Initative founded by UM colorectal surgeon, Dr. Gifty Kwakye.

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Our Global Surgery Initiatives

Faculty Panels

Hearing directly from experts involved in the healthcare industry and interacting with them in group discussions is one of the best ways to learn about the medical field. It is because of their value that GSSA engages in hosting faculty panels several times during the semester, inviting Michigan Medicine doctors and surgeons to share their stories and discuss public health matters with our students. In the past, we have had the honor to hear from practioners like Dr. Kwakye (Colorectal Surgery), Dr. Ogunsola (Neurosurgery), Dr. Raghavendran (Trauma Surgery), and many more!

Towsley Simulation Center

GSSA is the only undergraduate student organization at the University of Michigan that has access to the Towsley Clinical Simulation Center. Here, members have the chance to practice using surgical equipment through hands-on learning, just like medical students, residents, and faculty! Students have access to laparoscopic instruments, suturing equipment, and even the world-class Da Vinci Robotic Surgical System utilized by our Medical School.

One of the core pillars of GSSA is discussing, synthesizing, and presenting solutions to real-world health problems. Through case hackathons, members are given a prompt that includes both medical and public health implications, and students work together to craft a holistic treatment plan for the patient. GSSA members are assisted by those with more experience in the field, and have the opportunity to hone their understanding of complex treatment plans.

Case Hackathons

What does a typical week at GSSA look like? In working toward global surgery advocacy, our chapter engages in numerous activities that provide educational and hands-on opportunities for members to increase their awareness of the global health issues described above.

Emergency Readiness & Suturing Workshops

GSSA also places a strong emphasis on preparedness in emergency medical situations. Join our students as they learn techniques such as suturing, performing CPR, operating an AED machine, stopping a bleed, and more to prepare for high-intensity trauma situations.

Journal Clubs

Through journal clubs guided by the Research Committee, GSSA members are able to participate in research discussions and topics of interest with like-minded peers. Students will learn to improve their interpretation and communication skills by discussing impactful global health research with those who have written groundbreaking publications. It is through this initiative that members are able to educate themselves on global surgery topics, while actively preparing themselves for a professional future in which research plays a pivotal role.

Our GSSA chapter has built exclusive connections with surgeons from the Center for Global Surgery at Michigan. It is through this partnership that students have the opportunity to shadow surgeons in the operating room and gain first-hand experience about what a day in the life of a surgeon might look like. During the 2023/2024 school year, preparing members for shadowing was made possible by our weekly OR Readiness Program implemented by GSSA alum, Chichi Amanze.

Immersive Clinical Opportunities

Committees

Every semester, members have the opportunity to apply to a smaller committee within GSSA, each instilling different skills and experiences for those who choose to join. Check out some of our operating committees below!

Research Committee

Outreach Committee

Recruitment Committee

Marketing Committee

Fundraising Committee

Events Committee

Wellness Committee

DEI Committee

Within this committee, members are responsible for collaboratively conducting a liteature review on a global surgery issue, organizing journal clubs, and hosting GSSA research symposia.

Work with our Director of External Affairs to connect with other organizations on campus and within the local community of Ann Arbor to participate in and lead volunteering opportunities for all.

Strategize and implement recruitment events during the Fall and Winter seasons, attracting potential members to ensure our organization's sustainable growth and future success.

Interested in graphic design and website development? Join the Marketing Committee in creating GSSA flyers, videos, merch and more to promote our organization to the community and spread its mission to those around us.

From organizing field day to connecting with keynote speakers, members can propose and create initiatives that connect us as an organization, and allow us to utilize our resources to better understand the field of global surgery.

Take charge of planning and executing initiatives to raise funds for both our chapter and charities aligning with GSSA's goals.

Promoting healthy lifestyle choices and providing a safe space for our members, this committee aims to raise awareness of mental health issues and give students a break from the chaos of being a student.

Organizing events and other initiatives to both celebrate and educate our members on different groups, cultures, traditions, and backgrounds of the people in our proximities.

Global Outreach Committee

Under the leadership of the Director of Global Affairs, this committee works to advance GSSA's mission of community service, collaboration and paternship in a global context.

GSSA Outside of Ann Arbor...

Click on the link below to learn more about the other operating Global Surgery Student Alliance medical school, dental school, and undergraduate chapters located all around the U.S.