Surgical volunteerism as a collaborative teaching activity can benefit surgical residents in low-middle income countries.

Surgical care is desperately needed in low-middle income countries (LMIC). Due to small numbers of faculty in local training programs, residents have limited exposure to subspecialists. We describe a teaching activity between visiting surgeons from the U.S. and a residency program in Malawi as an example for how surgeons in high income countries can meaningfully contribute. A short-term education activity was developed where residents participated in a pre-test on pediatric surgical management, lectures, intra-operative instruction, bedside rounds and a post-test. Five residents participated and all intend to practice in sub-Saharan Africa. All residents improved their scores from the pre-test to post-test (mean 44%-91%). The residency program performs approximately 1200 major surgical cases and 800 minor surgical procedures each year, representing a broad range of general surgery. Additionally, the residents encounter a broad range of pathology. Short-term mentorship activities in partnership with an established training program can enhance surgical resident education in LMIC, particularly for subspecialty care.

Duke Scholars

Author Tamara Noel Fitzgerald Surgery, Pediatric General Surgery