Bridging Gaps In Surgical Care: The Global Surgery Mph At The University Of Cape Town

Background Over half of the world lack access to essential surgical care, prompting the emergence of Global Surgery as a critical field of enquiry focused on addressing surgical disparities, especially in low-resourced setting. The Division of Global Surgery at the University of Cape Town seeks to fill this gap by integrating the Global Surgery academic learning within the Master of Public Health (MPH) curriculum, offering students an innovative course that goes beyond the operating room to explore non-clinical systems that influence surgical access and outcomes. Method The course is available as an elective for MPH students, and emphasizes a comprehensive, systems-based approach where public health principles are complemented with surgical education. This allows students to grasp the broader social, economic, and non-clinical healthcare determinants that influence surgical needs and care. The curriculum features expert-led lectures, student presentations, and interactive discussions, promoting engagement and practical application of concepts. Results Since its inception, over 20 students have enrolled, with all cohorts actively exploring surgical systems and advocacy. The program has expanded to offer a Global Surgery track within the MPH, preparing students to advocate for surgical care across all healthcare levels. Conclusion By addressing surgical care as a public health issue, the program equips students to understand surgical burdens and needs, especially in resource-constrained regions like Africa, and empowers them to advocate for systemic improvements to improve surgical care and outcomes. The MPH Global Surgery elective highlights the importance of surgery within the larger health system, shaping a new generation of inter-disciplinary professionals ready to address the global challenge of surgical service inequity.