Cultivating The Next Generation Of Global Surgery Leaders: Evaluating The Impact Of The Research, Advocacy And Implementation (rai) Fellowship On Leadership

Background When addressing sustainability in Global Surgery, the key focuses are usually capacity-building by way of skills, expertise and resources in a healthcare system. These interventions mostly target qualified healthcare workers. An important, often overlooked, factor is leadership training for medical students as future healthcare leaders and innovators. The Research, Advocacy Implementation (RAI) Fellowship by the Division of Global Surgery at the University of Cape Town (UCT) seeks to address this shortfall by nurturing the talents of medical students who have a proven leadership track-record. The program is designed to equip medical students with research competencies and leadership skills which are vital in advancing global surgical care. This study aims to evaluate the impact of the RAI Fellowship on leadership development and long-term engagement in the field of global surgery. Methods Using a mixed-methods research model, this study evaluates the leadership growth among RAI fellows through pre-, inter- and post-fellowship self-assessments created using leadership competency frameworks. Interviews with past and present fellows will explore the ways in which mentorship, project management and advocacy training has shaped them as a leader. Results The results of the study will be used to assess if involvement in the RAI Fellowship has led fellows to being able to apply their learnings to lead, advocate for policy reforms and increase surgical capacity training in low-resource communities. Furthermore, the results of the study will inform of the translatability of the RAI Fellowship to other medical schools. Conclusion The study highlights the importance of integrating leadership training in global surgery into medical education. Through equipping future surgical leaders with the skills that they need to navigate research, policy and implementation of global surgery-related strategies, the RAI Fellowship fosters a new generation of leaders who are skilled and committed to advancing equitable surgical care. ****** The author has no conflicts of interest to declare.