A guide on how to get involved in Global Surgery
"Obvious this is from someone who has been on the ground." - Theophilus TK Anyomih, NIHR Clinical and RCS-Eng Research Fellow
"Full of pragmatism and common sense." - Rachel Hargest, RCS England-LSE Global Surgery Policy Unit
"Candid, practical advice ... a highly readable overview of global surgery." - From the foreword by Nobhojit Roy
"A wonderful and highly insightful guide that we wish we'd had setting out for the first time." - Helen Sinabulya, vascular surgeon, Karolinska Institutet and Hampus Holmer, global health diplomat, Addis Ababa
GASOC is delighted to announce the launch of Global Surgery and Anaesthesia: A Short Guide to Meaningful Involvement, an accessible and practical introduction for anyone interested in becoming involved in global surgery.
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Across the world, more than five billion people lack access to safe, timely, and affordable surgical and anaesthesia care. Addressing this unmet need requires collaboration, ethical engagement, and a new generation of healthcare professionals committed to equitable surgical care.
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Many students, resident doctors, and early-career professionals may have the desire to contribute to global health; however, it can be challenging to know where to start. Questions often arise: How can I get involved responsibly? What skills do I need? How can I contribute in a way that supports sustainable, locally driven change?
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Global Surgery and Anaesthesia: A Short Guide to Meaningful Involvement provides a useful and insightful starting point. Written with an emphasis on readability and understanding, the book demystifies complex concepts and statistics while providing concise, practical, ethical, and thoughtful guidance on how individuals can engage meaningfully in global surgery.
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Through a combination of evidence, lived experience, and pragmatic advice, the book explores the global burden of surgical disease, the principles underpinning equitable surgical systems, and the practical realities of working in low-resource settings. It also highlights common pitfalls and emphasises the importance of partnership, sustainability, and quality of care.
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This guide is designed to help you move from curiosity to understanding, and from understanding to meaningful action in global surgery and anaesthesia.
Key topics include:
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The global burden of disease and inequities in surgical care
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The three tenets of global surgery: need, access, and quality
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Steps toward effective and sustainable solutions
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Assessing readiness, motivations, and developing key skills for involvement
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Navigating ethical issues, responsible engagement, and common pitfalls
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Emphasising quality, safety, and locally driven change
Lesley Hunt has 25 years' experience as a UK consultant surgeon and trainer. Since 2013, she has been training African surgeons - mainly in Sierra Leone, but also Ghana, Malawi and Tanzania. An advocate of high-quality tuition and achieving competency, her experience over several organisations has given her an understanding of what worthwhile training looks like: long term relationships, mentorship and empowerment of local faculty. She maintains close relationships with many of those she trained, supporting them in practice and furthering their on-going careers.
