GLOBAL GENERAL SURGERY PROGRAM
About Us
The Vanderbilt University Medical Center Global General Surgery Program seeks to address issues of health inequity and improve the care of patients with surgical conditions in resource-constrained settings, both domestic and abroad. We actively engage in initiatives to address the global burden of surgical disease through education, research, clinical care, and advocacy.
Our Mission
Improve the health of populations in resource-constrained settings by addressing the disparities in access to safe surgical care.
Our Goals
- Build capacity to address the global burden of surgical disease in resource-constrained settings in the United States and around the world
- Strengthen research capacity in low-resourced settings
- Equip residents who intend to work in global health with the skills necessary to be effective academic global surgeons
Faculty Members
| Adrian Barbul | Stephen Gondek | Rondi Kauffmann | Kyla Terhune |
| Naira Baregamian | Alex Hawkins | Allan Peetz | |
| Robel Beyene | Mike Holzman | Matt Spann |
International Faculty Members
| Mary B. Adam | Beryl Akinyi Ooro | Jason Axt |
| Richard Davis | Jana Macleod | Michael Mwachiro |
| Peter Nthumba |
Education and Training
The Vanderbilt Collaborative for Global Health Excellence (VCGHE) provides high-level training for graduate medical trainees (i.e. VUMC Residents) seeking to integrate global health service, research, education and development into their professional careers.
VCGHE aims to use a combination of multidisciplinary and specialty-specific didactic teaching, small group discussion, mentorship, research and practical clinical experiences to build the knowledge, skills and attitudes expected of physicians competent in global health work. This will be accomplished through a curriculum shared among all programs with monthly modules covering global health foundations for resident participants in their first year followed by specialty-specific education for residents in the remainder of the program.
Global HEALS Program
The mission of the Global Health Excellence, Availability and Leadership in Surgery (Global HEALS) program is to support and foster surgical trainees and faculty committed to increasing and improving surgical care, access and safety in under-resourced settings, both domestic and abroad. This educational track is embedded within Vanderbilt’s general surgery training program. Applications will be accepted at the end of the PGY1 year. Accepted residents will begin participation during the PGY2 and 3 years, with two years of dedicated global surgical experiences during their lab years. The program includes completion of the requirements for the GME certificate above, but also completion of a formal capstone research project, clinical experience at Shade Tree clinic, Siloam clinic, and Kijabe Hospital, sub-specialty skill training (pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, urology, obstetrics & gynecology, and neurosurgery), and grant submission.
Preparing Residents for International Medical Experience
This workshop takes place in the VUMC Center for Experiential Learning and Assessment (CELA). It is led by faculty from multiple disciplines, including surgery, anesthesia and obstetrics/gynecology to prepare residents participating in rotations abroad, and uses simulation and guided discussion to teach relevant ethical, clinical, social, and safety considerations for international medical work.
