WP6.9 - Essential Surgery Skills Course: A One Week Training Program to Prepare Surgeons for Humanitarian Deployment

Abstract Background Medical students, surgical trainees, and surgical faculty are increasingly interested in incorporating global surgery into their clinical practices and professional careers. However, many concerns remain about the preparation of surgeons for operating in resource-limited settings and their exposure to critical procedures such as cesarean sections, hysterectomies, or fracture reductions. In an attempt to address these concerns, academic institutions have developed advanced professional training programs for the global surgeon. Methods A six-day essential surgery skills conference was created at a large academic institution that provides trainees and surgeons with an overview of common surgical scenarios across orthopedics, urology, obstetrics, gynecology, general surgery, anesthesia and ultrasound in the form of didactics, simulations, and wet labs. Results 11 surgical trainees from four large academic institutions attended the essential surgery skills conference. Trainees attended sessions on point of care ultrasound, regional anesthesia, general anesthesia, hysterectomies, cesarean sections, post-partum hemorrhage, fracture reduction and fixation, ureteral injuries, and humanitarian deployment. A pre and post-test was administered. Improvement was noted in the trainees scores on the post-test in their knowledge of surgical subspecialty care. Trainees also reported feeling better prepared for humanitarian deployment. Conclusion Global surgery conferences can be designed to provide a networking and collaboration forum for improving access to surgical services worldwide. One-week predeparture conferences that discuss essential technical skills and relevant global surgery knowledge may better prepare surgeons to operate in resource-limited settings.