The Institute for Global Health at BC Children's Hospital and the BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre is thrilled to announce the 6th Annual Global Health Conference (GHC24)! GHC24 is an annual event bringing together a community of students, trainees, clinicians, researchers, and faculty from across health professions and disciplines to share knowledge.
When: Thursday, April 11, 2024 | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm PDT
Where: In-person at the Chan Centre for Family Health Education, BC Children's Hospital & Virtual
The Global Health Conference is an annual event bringing together a community of students, trainees, clinicians, researchers, and faculty from across health professions and disciplines to share knowledge.
We hope that you will join us at GHC24 for a conversation on "Global Surgery: Addressing a Neglected Global Health Crisis" with conference co-Chairs Dr. Jan Christilaw and Dr. Faizal Haji. The conference will host a wide range of speakers from around the world, giving us the opportunity discuss the often-overlooked challenges in global surgical care, addressing issues from care inequalities to the impact of education and training on building surgical capacity, and exploring how these factors specifically affect the care of children and women worldwide.
How to Register: Registration is free! Head over to our website to register and secure your spot: https://bit.ly/ghc24
Coffee and a catered lunch will be provided to all in-person attendees.
Click here to watch the recording from last years SOLD OUT conference.
Are you conducting research in global health? We are currently accepting submissions to share your work at the conference! [Please note that your work does not need to be related to surgery]
The 2024 Global Health Conference will use 2-minute pre-recorded videos to showcase at the conference. We welcome presentations by all - including clinicians, researchers, and industry professionals. However, only trainees will be eligible for an award.
Learn more and submit your application: https://bit.ly/GHC24Trainee
The submission deadline is 11:59 PM PDT on March 26th, 2024
Salome Maswime
Dr. Salome Maswime is a Professor and the Head of Global Surgery at the University of Cape Town, an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, and the President of the South African Clinician Scientists Society. She was the Discovery MGH research fellow in 2018 at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and a former lecturer at the Wits University. She is recognized as a global surgery expert, because of her research contributions on caesarean sections. She is an advocate for women’s health rights, and equity in surgical and maternal care. She is an advisor and consultant to several institutions, including the World Health Organization. She has received numerous awards for her tenacity and commitment to maternal health, and for ongoing research in maternal health.
Surgery is an indispensable, indivisible part of basic health care provision and a pressing challenge in the field of global health. A staggering five billion people lack access to safe and affordable surgical and anesthesia care with nine out of ten people in low and middle income (LMIC’s) lacking access to basic surgical care. Deaths due to surgically treatable conditions outweigh those from HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria combined, and a third of the global burden of disease can be cured through surgical care.
While there has been significant progress in improving access to surgical care, the global burden of disease amenable to surgical intervention, such as trauma, cancer, and complications from childbirth, continues to grow. Access to safe, high-quality surgical and anesthesia care with financial protection when needed is a crucial component of global health and is essential to building a more equitable and sustainable healthcare landscape globally.
Global surgery encompasses all fields related to surgical care, including surgical sub-specialties, obstetrics and gynaecology, anaesthesia, perioperative care, emergency medicine, rehabilitation, palliative care, nursing and the allied health fields, among others. Improving access to timely, quality, and affordable surgical care for all requires a multifaceted approach that includes strengthening healthcare systems, training and deploying skilled surgical providers, and mobilizing resources to expand access to essential surgical services.
