Shows
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 56: Coleen SabatiniIn this episode of Global Scalpels, we explore the challenges and opportunities in building sustainable, locally led pediatric orthopedic care in low-resource settings. From developing in-country fellowship programs in Uganda to navigating the balance between “do no harm” and providing essential care, we dive into what it takes to train surgeons, improve surgical systems, and expand access to care for millions of children. We also discuss mentorship, global collaboration, and the role of education in creating lasting impact—highlighting strategies that could transform surgical care worldwide. Join us as Dr. Coleen Sabatini discusses these essential topics and even walks us thr...
2026-01-051h 09
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 55: David SpiegelWhat happens when a scalpel meets the unexpected? In this episode, we journey into the heart of global orthopedic surgery, where late-presenting cases, resource scarcity, and cultural nuances redefine the art of healing. We are joined by none other than Dr. David Spiegel as he discusses the challenges and triumphs of treating complex musculoskeletal conditions in austere settings over the last several decades - emphasizing the importance of adaptability and collaboration. From crafting a practical textbook for surgeons in the field to navigating the intricacies of low-resource environments, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at orthopaedic care in various...
2025-12-0543 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 54: Patrick MinerCars are more than just a means of transportation—they’re a hidden driver of global health disparities and surgical needs. In this thought-provoking episode, we speak with urban health expert Patrick to unravel the untold impact of cars on global surgery. From the rise in trauma cases and chronic diseases to the long-lasting effects of pollution, cars are contributing to a global health crisis. As the world shifts to electric vehicles, will it solve these challenges or just shift the problem? Join us as we explore how mobility, infrastructure, and health intersect, and what this means for access to s...
2025-10-051h 03
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 54: Patrick MinerCars are more than just a means of transportation—they’re a hidden driver of global health disparities and surgical needs. In this thought-provoking episode, we speak with urban health expert Patrick to unravel the untold impact of cars on global surgery. From the rise in trauma cases and chronic diseases to the long-lasting effects of pollution, cars are contributing to a global health crisis. As the world shifts to electric vehicles, will it solve these challenges or just shift the problem? Join us as we explore how mobility, infrastructure, and health intersect, and what this means for access to s...
2025-10-031h 03
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 53: Rowa and GladysIn this episode of Global Scalpels, we dive into the complexities of delivering surgical care across different healthcare systems. We explore what it truly means to be a surgeon in a world where protocols, resources, and even antibiotics are far from universal. From Malawi to the UK and beyond, our expert guests share eye-opening stories on resourcefulness, teamwork, and cultural adaptation in global surgery. Discover why a Foley catheter is never just a Foley catheter, how surgical hierarchies can hinder progress, why being open-minded is the key to sustainable impact and why the best surgeons aren’t just skilled wi...
2025-04-061h 10
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 52: Meryl and LucyIn this episode, we’re joined by two powerhouse storytellers in the global development space, Meryl Westlake and Lucy Taylor. Together, they share their journeys into digital content creation for international development, offering insights into crafting compelling narratives for global health, humanitarian emergencies, and environmental causes. They dive into the ethics of storytelling in global development, exploring the fine line between advocacy and the “commercialization of suffering,” the importance of valid consent, and the power dynamics between creators and subjects. Plus, they discuss social media’s role in global health advocacy, with practical tips on using these platforms “for good.” Tun...
2025-01-051h 15
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 51: Metasebia AbebeEach surgical subspecialty has unique sets of challenges when performing their specific procedures. In plastic surgery, procedures for complex burns, hand injuries, and congenital deformities can require tissue/skin graft preparation and microscopic reapproximation. These challenges are only exacerbated when resources are limited - both in terms of personnel and materials. Meet Dr. Metasebia Abebe, the first female plastic surgeon in Ethiopia and one of only a few specialists in her country where there are more than 1 million people per plastic surgeon! Join us as we discuss the complex care involved in treating hyena bites, the effects of climate...
2024-03-0541 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 50: Myron RolleThe dawn of a new year brings new resolutions, new perspectives, and new hope. And what better way to kick off 2024 than with our latest episode – one that explores global surgical topics as well as life lessons. We are proud to present our guest, Dr Myron Rolle, a former American football (NFL) player turned neurosurgeon. In this episode, we will explore the finer nuances of positions of power within hierarchical structures, public health education models, neurosurgical access in the Caribbean, and racial disparities within medicine. Dr Rolle reminds us that each one of us possesses a unique and immeasurable value...
2024-01-0554 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 49: Zachary EnumahLeaving behind everything to escape war, persecution, or even natural disaster poses its own unique challenges. Forced relocation is difficult, creating a unique set of problems including housing, food, finances, and importantly, healthcare. Accessing these resources as a refugee is extremely difficult and uniquely convoluted. Refugee camps seek to be a safe haven for these underserved populations but pose their own unique challenges as well. With limited resources, experts like Dr Zachary Enumah are fighting to help provide essential healthcare in these settings, most recently in Tanzania. With over 500 live births per month, OBGYN services are vital to life...
2023-10-0546 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 48: Kiran Agarwal-HardingAs professionals working on a global scale, even the simplest of things must be challenged. Surgeons, lawyers, administrators, and many others, must adapt to become multifaceted individuals in this space. Surgery doesn’t just start and stop with the drapes. It involves supply chain, personnel management, legislation, advocacy, and so much more. In order to tackle these issues, it requires groundbreaking research to act as journalism to paint a picture of the story on the ground - the story of what is really happening. It is this research that helps to identify problems that can then be used to ad...
2023-07-051h 05
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 47: Shahrzad JoharifardDelivery of surgical services in low-resource settings is extremely difficult. Supply chain issues, funding, shortages of supplies, and even lack of healthcare professionals are each enormous hurdles in and of themselves. What about when civil conflict arises and a war begins? Increases in different types of injuries start to plague the already fragile system. How does one get life-saving supplies via the already scarce supply chain when roads have been taken out by bombs or blocked by military personnel? Doctors, nurses, and support staff, all risking their lives each day just to show up and provide care. Join us...
2023-05-0557 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 46: Clifton EwbankGlobal climate change directly affects every person on the earth today. Whether this is a simple temperature rise or abnormal weather patterns to complete displacement of one's living situation due to rising ocean waters, climate change is happening all around us. Many industries have sought to do their part to slow the progression including the migration to renewable energy resources, home solar panels, electric vehicles, or even recyclable cutlery. In medicine, we often discuss saving lives but this can come at a cost of not saving our planet. Join us as we speak with Dr Cliff Ewbank and...
2023-04-0540 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 45: Thomas MonaghanWhen we discuss global surgery, we often focus on the physical workforce that it takes to support a patient through their surgical needs. The other side of this process is the digital or mechanical support that makes surgery all possible. It is easy to take for granted the countless computers, x-ray machines, ventilators, and more. We often don’t recognize the biomedical engineering that takes place to make all those tools function - we just know it works (but often not how it works). Acquiring these machines in low-resource settings is important, however, understanding how the machine works and ho...
2023-03-0537 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 44: Anita MakinsNew year, new episode! After a brief pause, we are excited to be back to share with you more about the amazing initiatives happening around the world and major concepts within the field of global surgery. The episode today is focused on a topic relevant to every listener because we all have one - mothers! Women’s health is at the very core of medicine with the unique overlap of the creation of life with also the prevention of death. Our guest host specializes in several unique aspects of this cornerstone of healthcare, namely support for access and dissemination of...
2023-02-0548 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 43: Steven OrrIn commemoration of Pride month this month, we wanted to highlight a population within society, but particularly in the field of global surgery, that is often left behind. The LGBTQ+ community has experienced high rates of discrimination and ostracization resulting in higher rates of mental illness, suicide, and even drug use. Further, LGBTQ+ patients encounter a very unique set of barriers within healthcare globally. For example, in many countries, significant others/partners of LGBTQ+ are not recognized as legal unions. This lack of legally legitimate status can pose issues when healthcare proxy decisions need to be made. Further, LGBTQ+...
2022-06-051h 01
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 42: Joel BervellLights, camera, ACTION! With the continued evolution of social media and technology, content creators can share their talent widely throughout the world without the need of a stage crew, make-up artist, costume designer, scriptwriter, director, etc. etc. etc.; in fact, you can do it from your very own living room with your iPhone! While it doesn’t take an army to create the content, it can be just as powerful and impactful as anything on the big screen. Many of these posts can reach tens of millions of people in a matter of hours and have the power to cr...
2022-05-0549 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 41: Marci BowersThe beautiful thing about surgery is that it has the power to change lives in ways that no other field can. Surgery is often used to correct physical deformation. Whether that is a fractured femur from a motorcycle accident, a craniotomy to relieve pressure on the brain, or an appendectomy to remove a ruptured appendix, each of these procedures helps to restore a person back to “whole”. What we don’t often talk about is when these procedures are needed to help bring a person back to whole when many places in the world do not acknowledge that this person...
2022-04-0559 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 40: Priyanka Naidu and Zach CollierAsking questions is at the very core of education. Surgical education specifically is a unique circumstance in which “learning” directly affects the lives of others - sometimes in very negative and real ways. Thus, tackling training of new surgeons around the world has very real consequences that can help increase access to needed care around the globe but in safe and competent ways. The goal of surgery is to be effective, safe, and have the desired outcome. Learning how to ask questions and learn essential procedural skills through accessible materials is the goal of Drs. Priyanka Naidu and Zach Colli...
2022-03-0553 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 39: George DyerImagine if you arrived at your house and there were dozens of Amazon boxes at your door. None of which you had ordered. You open them only to find random items – a hairbrush, t-shirts that are way too big for anyone in your household, a toaster, and ice cream that is now all melted since you didn’t know it was there and should be refrigerated. Further, this doesn’t happen just once. It happens over and over again. Each time with a new set of items, all of which you didn’t order and may or may not even nee...
2022-02-051h 02
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 38: Fabio Botelho4 hours? 7 hours? 10 hours? Look around you. Chances are you have a cell phone, tablet, or computer within reach (you are reading this after all). The number of hours an individual spends on their electronic devices each day continues to rise every year. With mobile devices reaching almost every corner of the earth, access to technology has never been easier. So how can we use this technology to do good? And how can we harness it specifically for surgery?
The term “virtual reality” is often used but it’s not something I know a lot about. Simulating an experi...
2022-01-051h 07
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 37: Bukola Oluyide and Charity KamauOur episode today covers a debilitating and life-threatening condition that disproportionately affects those in developing countries around the world. Affecting more than 150,000 people annually, Noma is a fatal infection of the face and mouth with the mortality rate approaching more than 90 percent and the morbidity/sequelae are permanently debilitating. Noma is a result of acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (infection of the gums) which can rapidly spread and destroy other facial tissues. This can lead to struggles with eating, talking, and even breathing for affected individuals - if they even survive. Not only does this affect their activities of daily...
2021-12-0554 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 36: Kokila LakhooChildren are one of the world’s protected populations. Indeed, they are the very make up of our future as a race. They bring new life, ideas, and opportunities we can only dream of. Unfortunately, not all children around the world have equal opportunities to contribute to this future. In 2019 alone, more than 5 million children under 5 years died from preventable and treatable causes - many of which are due to lack of surgical access. While there are many initiatives to help combat these alarming findings, many projects are condition specific (e.g. clubfoot, cleft palate, etc.) or have teams th...
2021-11-0551 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 35: Paola FataFindings from studies published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) report that more than 45% of resident physicians experience burnout and the numbers are continuing to climb. If that number didn’t surprise you, then you are well aware of the psychological stress and struggles that doctors and other healthcare workers experience on a daily basis - particularly during this recent pandemic. As a result, more than 1 in 10 physicians said they had suicidal thoughts. Unfortunately these thoughts often become action with suicide deaths among physicians is 250-400% higher than similar counterparts in other occupations. These suicides lead to...
2021-10-0551 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 34: Drew Reynolds and Alison FussellUndergoing surgery is an extremely multifaceted process that includes physical, mental, and social aspects to make it successful. Often when we talk about surgery, we focus on the physical and neglect these other important parts. This is where social work can bring all the pieces together to include the biopsychosocial approach to surgical care - an inter-disciplinary model that connects these three important patient factors. Join us as we talk in this episode about how Drew and Alison are helping to tackle this issue for pediatric populations around the globe!
2021-08-0552 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 33: James Johnston (w/ Guest Host Daniel Lowe)Humans are inherently social creatures. For centuries we’ve learnt to survive, adapt and overcome through collaboration and unity. Medicine, in particular, highlights the value of taking input from multiple specialities and healthcare professionals to optimise patient care. However, with the power of modern technology, does this collaboration need to be confined to a single hospital? Why shouldn’t we collaborate with experts from around the world? Intersurgeon.org aims to establish a new paradigm to ensure the standard of clinical care is high no matter the setting. By harnessing the knowledge of over 600 specialities worldwide, this free service driv...
2021-07-0548 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 32: Christina Dejean SorayHealing takes time. To heal means to regenerate, to align and to gain strength. Wound healing, in particular, highlights the power of the human body in times of crisis – manipulating its resources and cells to restore homeostasis. But what happens when that fails? What happens if it’s a traumatic wound that gets infected, fails debridement? In high-income settings, the simple answer is negative pressure wound therapy – which costs thousands of dollars a device. But that’s not sustainable in every environment around the world. Here creativity and innovation rise from the ashes as Hattian and International surgeons and engineer...
2021-06-0635 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 31: Adrianna SernaChecklists have been instituted in many sectors to help streamline processes. They are there to make things easier and bring peace of mind by eliminating forgotten aspects of a procedures. Surgery is no different. The surgical checklist is vital to the delivery of safe surgery around the world, however, checklist implementation involves changing minds, operating room culture, and the dreaded word - paperwork. However, “leadership is more important than resources. If you change your mind you can change every environment. The difference is inside of the head of the people.” Surgical checklists save lives. One doesn’t want to be hav...
2021-05-0540 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 30: Chidiebere IbeMedical textbooks are a staple for education for medical trainees worldwide. These textbooks teach through words but they also teach through picture portrayals of conditions students will see in the future. Topics include basic anatomy, skin conditions, injury patterns, and even necessary medical equipment. Unfortunately, many of these textbooks are currently dominated by picture portrayals of patients with caucasian skin. This lack of diversity not only misrepresents the overall patient population, but can also be misleading - for example, certain skin conditions can look extremely different based on skin color and students may miss critical diagnoses due to inadequate...
2021-04-0541 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 29: Garreth WoodVaccination efforts around the world have been extremely successful - saving millions. They have been particularly helpful in pediatric populations. While vaccinations for children are important, if they are not followed by adequate access to surgical care, many of these children will still die premature.
Currently part of the bottleneck of decreased access for pediatric populations is the lack of operating rooms as well as lack of surgeons trained to care for this vulnerable population. This is where Garreth Wood and KidsOR are trying to help, by not only building additional pediatric operating rooms but also helping t...
2021-03-0551 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 28: Lotta Velin and Lina Roa“Climate change is the single greatest threat to planetary and human health of our time. It is not a distant future concern, but a process that is occurring here and now.” - Roa L, Velin L, et al.
Climate change is a huge idea. It stems from the accumulation of greenhouse gases due to human consumptive practices that results in environmental changes. Some of these changes have drastic changes not only on our planet but also on health. Increasing global temperature have “resulted in approximately 125 million more people who have health issues related to heat, such as dehydr...
2021-02-0555 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 27: Cecilia ChitayiPerforming surgery requires many different parties. Each needs to come to the operating room prepared to excel in their field but also work collaboratively with the other parties. Unfortunately, the field of surgery has the potential to be surgeon-centric and important collaborators like anesthesia fail to be discussed. In this episode, we seek to better highlight the field of anesthesia through the lens of Cecilia Chitayi - a nurse anesthetist practicing in Kenya. In a country where more than 70% of the population lives in rural areas, training healthcare providers at all levels is vital to expanding care capacities. Join...
2020-12-1234 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 26: Salome Maswime (w/ Guest Host Daniel Lowe)Health systems are sick. Around the world gaining access to necessary surgical treatment can be difficult due to inadequate healthcare infrastructures but also due to imbalanced care across demographics. Women across the globe often struggle to gain equal access to healthcare and maternity services - and not just access, but high quality care. The issue extends far past the surgeon in the operating room. It is the break in health systems, the procedures being performed, and the surgical outcomes. This is where Dr Salome Maswime and her team are trying to chart a new course for maternal health. Join...
2020-12-061h 02
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 25: Katayoun Madani & Joffre GuzmanThe power of students can be immense. In a team, each person brings something to the table and has different strengths to offer. Students offer the benefit of time, passion, and drive. Mentors offer the benefits of experience, teaching, and context. The combination of student and mentor can bring both to new heights. In the world of global surgery, students have banded together to push the movement forward. One such initiative has been the InciSioN Global Surgery Symposium (IGSS) - an annual student-led global surgery conference, and the largest of its kind in the world! Join us in this...
2020-11-271h 12
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 24: Andres RubianoTrauma injury kills more people every year than HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis (TB) combined. Despite this, it often takes a backseat when receiving research support, clinical funding, and policy change. Trauma disproportionally affects low- and middle-income countries with its far reaching effects beyond the walls of the hospital. In fact, in some countries like Colombia, severe traumatic injuries are sustained from many mechanisms including landmines, guerrilla and paramilitary warfare, homicide, and vehicular accidents.
As a member of the Global Initiative for Essential and Emergency Surgical Care at the World Health Organization, our guest today has worked extensively w...
2020-11-211h 03
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 23: Mamta SwaroopThe term “global surgery” is extremely broad and elusive. “Academic global surgery” even more so. It can be hard to feel like one is making a difference, particularly when there are so many injustices all around us. However, global surgery is everywhere! It is anywhere that there is health inequity. Join us in this inspirational episode as we talk with Dr. Mamta Swaroop about how you can make a difference, your power, and how just one drop can make a ripple that forever changes the lives of those around you.
2020-11-141h 02
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 22: Edward FitzgeraldLean methodology is a core principle that focuses on minimizing waste in order to maximize value. In other words, when an organization is lean, they have created the most value possible for both the producer which can then be passed onto the consumer. In order to do this, there needs to be a shift from optimizing individual processes to optimizing entire process streams that transverse multiple products and services. This eliminates waste in a wide range of areas rather than a single isolated point. This concept is widely known in business and management, but can be limited or absent...
2020-11-0656 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 21: Papaarangi ReidColonialism has affected almost every major indigenous population around the globe. Some civilizations have been affected by settler colonialism with large-scale immigration of foreign individuals to overtake land and property that did not belong to them. Other civilizations have experienced more exploitative colonialism where natural resources and native labor have been extracted and even forcibly removed. Still, others have been affected by foreign political influence that, while not under direct rule, are so intimately affected that they are effectively ruled by a foreign crown due to resulting policies and decisions. Others have experience more than one.
Today, albe...
2020-10-301h 02
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 20: Kee ParkHome to 25 million people, North Korea is a world of its own. Insights into the country’s healthcare system are scarce at best, let alone surgical care. This is not the case, however, for Dr Kee Park, a neurosurgeon working with Harvard’s Program in Global Surgery and Social Change and the World Health Organization to support local surgeons in their efforts. Tune in as we discuss innovative, cost-effective computed tomography designs unique to North Korea, neurosurgery in Ethiopia and Cambodia, geopolitical healthcare diplomacy, as well impending funding cuts to the largest global health entity in the world – the W.H.O.
2020-10-2358 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 19: Pierre Marie WoolleyIn a matter of seconds, your world can change. When a 7.0 magnitude earthquake ripped through Haiti in 2010, no one was prepared for the aftermath that would occur. Over a quarter-million people dead, and with 52 aftershocks, the country continued to be hit over and over. As the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere at the time, the country’s infrastructure was brought to a halt and the process of rebuilding was painful. Despite the immense amount of aid that was brought in, efforts were often uncoordinated and lacked local partnerships which impeded the impact made. But as our guest today sa...
2020-10-0950 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 18: Marc DuBoishu·man·i·tar·i·an: (h)yo͞oˌmanəˈterēən/ = concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare.
We often put humanitarian aid as an ideal – but what does it truly mean to be a humanitarian? Is it volunteering one’s time or financial resources to another? Is it only during times of crisis or disaster, or is it at any time? What are the ethics behind the aid and how can the fundamental human right of dignity be ensured or at least strived for?
As a field of endeavor, humanitarian aid is unique i...
2020-10-051h 06
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 17: Godfrey SamaThere are many ways to make a difference in people’s lives. Some people do that through medicine. Others through technology. And even others through public health. For our speaker this week, he started as a clinician and has transitioned to a public health specialist. Global surgery requires an army - people from every discipline to come together to create change. One cannot be the master of all trades and expect to get the kind of results that a team of specialists would. One is not a surgeon by him or herself. It requires an interdisciplinary team and people co...
2020-09-2558 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 16: Mamy Lalatiana AndriamanarivoDelivering care in rural areas is one of the hardest challenges of global surgery. Access to necessary medications is difficult and limited, but access to surgery is even harder, forcing many to travel hours on muddy roads through public transport to seek care. Even still, these are the lucky ones. Many never even make it out. Today about 15% of people live in rural areas around the world. In Madagascar however, over 60% of the population lives in a rural area, thus creating unique challenges in access to surgery.
As the minister of health for Madagascar, our guest today...
2020-09-1921 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 15: Noel Aruparayil & William BoltonLaparoscopy is a major breakthrough in surgery. By using gas to inflate the abdomen, surgeons are able to drastically increase their visibility and thus can work through very small incisions to do major abdominal surgeries. The benefits are numerous including smaller scars, quicker recovery, and shorter time to return to work (which decreases lost wages). The problem? It requires a constant supply of carbon dioxide gas to be pumped in.
While this is usually not a problem in a high-resource setting, how do you do this in a low-resource context where even electricity is often unavailable? No g...
2020-09-1258 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 14: Nadine Hachach-HaramImagine you are sitting in a medical tent in a combat zone. You are the military surgeon and a solder is brought to you with injuries from a bomb blast that you have no idea how to treat. This wasn’t in your training. You have no idea what to do. How do you save this soldier’s limb - or even more importantly - this soldier’s life? Now imagine you are in a rural, remote hospital. A new patient is brought to you with a congenital condition you have never seen before. While you are a surgeon and ha...
2020-09-0458 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 13 : Jim Ansara (w/ Guest Host Rolvix Patterson)You are sitting at your desk with a paper and pencil. You draw a rectangle on the paper and start looking at it from different angles. It represents the layout of an operating room. You draw a larger box around the inner one. This represents the whole perioperative area. What do you put inside these boxes? How many water stations do you need? Hand washing basins? What about oxygen pipes or electrical outlets? Or back-up generators for the unstable electrical system in the low-resource setting? These are all things Jim Ansara and his team and Build Health International (BHI...
2020-08-2756 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 12: Dominique Vervoort & Nabeel AshrafAs a country, creating a national long-term strategy to address barriers in your health system is a daunting task. Where do you start? What do you do if you fail? And how to you ensure long-term longevity. It is your responsibility to bring together key stake holders with different backgrounds including: health economics, surgery, business, advocacy, health policy, and so much more! This is where an NSOAP comes in. A National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anesthesia Plan (or NSOAP) is a national strategic plan that uses 6 pillars to strengthen the surgical system as a whole to expand surgical access across...
2020-08-211h 04
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 11: David ChongIn many regions of the world, clean water, electricity, medical facilities, and medical personnel are limited or nonexistent. Healthcare infrastructure is lacking and access to needed supplies can be highly variable. But what if you could have a state-of-the-art hospital and a whole crew of medical professionals delivered directly to the areas that most need it? This is where Mercy Ships comes in.
The ocean is a vast resource that covers 70% of the earth’s surface. It brings life to many through fishing and other important resources. For this reason, more than 40% of the world’s population live...
2020-08-141h 02
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 10: Andrew Bonneau250 degrees Fahrenheit. 121 degrees Celsius. This is the temperature at which surgical equipment is sterilized. Pressured steam envelops each and every instrument cleansing them of impurities and killing microbes. This whole process is vital to the practice of safe surgery and is done in the confines of an autoclave. In order to create these temperatures and the resulting steam, the autoclave machine needs power - and lots of it. So what happens when the power goes out? Or what happens when the generator runs out of gas? No power, no heat. No heat, no surgery. Join us as we talk...
2020-08-0751 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 9: Jean ChristopheEvery day 830 women die from pregnancy or childbirth related causes - that is over 330,000 per year. That is 830 mothers. 830 sisters. 830 wives. Lives lost, and families shattered. Sometimes these deaths come as a result of surgical complications, other times due to unsanitary conditions or infection, and still more due to severe bleeding that could easily be prevented if they had adequate access to healthcare. In addition to these 330,000 women, another 5.8 million die due to trauma related causes such as road traffic accidents. This is more than the total number of deaths that result from malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS combined!
2020-07-311h 00
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 8: Walter UlrichHundreds of millions of shipping containers are transported around the world annually. Some of them are filled with cars, toys, or cosmetics. Others are filled with perishable food items or electronics. As the world shut down in the wake of COVID-19, we all saw what happens when supply chains are disrupted. Supermarket shelves full of toilet paper and canned goods disappeared seemingly overnight. Genuine fear arose as resources became restricted. Supply chain is a big issue. In many countries around the world, it isn’t that their medical supply chain is disrupted – it is that it doesn’t exist. You ca...
2020-07-241h 04
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 7: Anant JaniDiversity is the key to innovation and new solutions. Global surgery is a field that needs people from any and all backgrounds to tackle this issue. So how did a PhD researcher in immunology at Yale become a major force for good in global surgery? What does role does value-based healthcare have when working in low-resource settings where healthcare isn’t even present let alone “value-based” and how do social determinants of health affect access to surgery around the world? The answers to these questions and more are found in today’s episode. Join us as we talk about air cond...
2020-07-171h 03
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 6: Jacquelyn CorleyApproximately half of the world is female… yet they are often invisible. In fact, only 12% of neurosurgery residents in the United States are female. Although, great strides have been made for women’s rights we still have a long way to go – particularly in global surgery where the conversation is largely absent. A conversation, that our guest today has greatly changed. Listen in as we discuss the power of media and how to harness that power to bring awareness to critical issues such as gender equality. In this episode, we explore behind the scenes about what it is like...
2020-07-1044 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 5: Nobhojit Roy & Monali Mohan110 million people. This is twice the number of the entire population of the United Kingdom, 10 times the population of Greece, and more than 1,000 times the population of Tonga – and that is just one state in India. Welcome to Bihar and the amazing team at CARE India that works here. Join us as we investigate health systems strengthening through the lens of one of the original Lancet Commissioners for Global Surgery representing Southeast Asia as well as from physicians working on the ground in district hospitals to develop ground-level solutions. Both Indian born, with partial training abroad, our guests speak ab...
2020-07-031h 07
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 4: Zineb Bentounsi & Parisa FallahBeing able to make a difference in global surgery as a trainee can seem difficult. Even unachievable. “What skills do I have to offer?” “Do I have a voice in global surgery – and if so, how can I make it heard?” These questions can be hard to answer but that didn’t stop our two guests on this episode. If you are a global surgery trainee, you will definitely want to tune in as we explore the creating of the two largest student-founded and student-run global surgery student groups around the world! With over 5,000 members and 48 national working groups of InciSioN ...
2020-06-261h 02
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 3: Mahmoud HaririPracticing surgery is difficult in normal conditions. Even more challenging in resource-constrained situations. But what about when you are actively being targeted by your own government? You have several aliases and multiple SIM cards, but your not a spy, you are just trying to provide medical care to those in your war-torn city. Filling tires with sand to create shock absorbers on the roof of the hospital. Operating in the hospital underground corridors to be protected from missiles. For some this may seem like a movie, for Dr Mahmoud Hariri, this is his daily. Join us as we talk...
2020-06-191h 14
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 2: Gerald Mwapasa“Sent.” “Delivered.” 65 billion messages are sent on WhatsApp every day. That is 29 million messages every minute. Perhaps one of the most used social media platforms around the world, Gerald Mwapasa and his team at SURGAfrica are using WhatsApp to create a network of surgical advice across Southern Malawi. They are using the app to connect non-physician Clinical Officers in remote areas with surgeons around the region. Malawi currently only has approximately 10 orthopedic surgeons in the whole nation. Using non-physician Clinical Officers significantly increases the country’s ability to provide care. SURGAfrica helps to create a robust network to increase quality of...
2020-06-1159 min
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 1: Rishi RattanHave you ever wondered what it would be like to practice surgery during a mass-casualty event such as the Boston Marathon bombings? Or what about in a combat area? Join us as we talk about Kurdish controlled Iraq, medical education, disaster management, and even workforce management in some of the most well-known organizations in the world including the White House, US Army, United Nations, and local governments.
2020-06-051h 06
Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery PodcastEp 0: IntroductionAn introduction to Global Scalpels, the creators, and how to get involved!
Learn more at www.globalscalpels.com
2020-05-2505 min