Committee Updates and Workgroup Activities

Advocacy Subcommittee Supports Expanding Hands-On Clinical Experience

The 16th Annual Conference of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) was held in Atlanta, Georgia from February 20–23, 2025.  Global health medical professionals, researchers, and leaders from more than 60 countries attended sessions on various topics relating to the conference theme of “Innovating and Implementing in Global Health for a Sustainable Future.”

The first day of the conference opened with several parallel panel sessions including “Creating Equitable Partnerships Through Policy,” highlighting the work of the ACS H.O.P.E. Advocacy Committee and others to address barriers to short-term clinical educational experiences for foreign medical graduates (FMGs) at medical institutions within the US.

Tracy Rabin, MD (internal medicine, Yale University) described the current landscape of unidirectional global health partnerships that allow students, trainees, and faculty from the US to travel abroad and participate in short-term clinical rotations. Foreign trainees, on the other hand, and faculty from international partner institutions are limited to “observerships” and are not able to participate even in supervised clinical care.

Rondi Kauffmann, MD, FACS (surgical oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center) described the work of the ACS H.O.P.E. Advocacy Committee in creating Coalition BRIGHT (Coalition for Building Reciprocal Initiatives for Global Health Training, coalitionbright.org). This coalition seeks to address federal, state, and institutional policy barriers that limit hands-on clinical experiences for visiting FMGs, thus building a global health community where every physician has equal access to comprehensive clinical training opportunities.

Dr. Kauffmann also described her experience successfully advocating for a short-term training license for FMGs in Tennessee. Margaret Akey (medical student, UCSF) provided a description of pathways for bidirectional clinical exchanges in California, using the J-1 Research Scholar visa and the California Special Permit.

James Hudspeth, ND, FACP (internal medicine, Boston University) followed with a summary of current state medical boards that offer short-term clinical training licenses for FMGs, which was followed by a presentation by Michelle Arteaga, MS, MHA (program manager, Anesthiesia Division of Global Health Equity, Stanford University) who described Stanford’s program for bringing FMGs to the US for short-term clinical education rotations from the perspective of an administrator.

More than 70 people attended the meeting. Multiple stakeholders across sectors of healthcare (administrators, program managers, physicians, pharmacists, nurses) have expressed interest in partnering with ACS and CUGH by joining the work of Coalition BRIGHT.

Domestic Subcommittee Advances Mentoring Opportunities in Puerto Rico

The ACS-HMARIA (American College of Surgeon HOPE- Hurricane Maria Assistance & Relief Institutional Alliance, Inc.) NextGen in Medicine Cyber Speaker Series is a biweekly, national mentorship and networking initiative initially designed to connect medical students, residents, and fellows in Puerto Rico who attend one of the island archipelago’s four ACGME- and LCME-accredited medical schools.

These intuitions, including Universidad Central del Caribe, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Ponce Health Sciences University, and the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine,  connect mentees with experienced surgeons and leaders within the ACS.

The inaugural program was created in 2019 as Operation Giving Back Puerto Rico, a collaborative effort between ACS H.O.P.E. and HMARIA in partnership with local organizations, Secretary of Health Dr. Rafael Rodríguez Mercado, and ACS local champion Jorge Martínez-Trabal, MD.

The program was led by Girma Tefera, MD, FACS, Micheal Lekawa, MD, FACS, Richard Lynn, MD, FACS, Matthew Dolich, MD, FACS, and Jodie Roure, PhD, JD and was intended to provide free surgeries to uninsured patients in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

Recognizing the ongoing need to support Puerto Rico’s medical students who participated in this program beyond clinical care, the speaker series was launched to foster mentorship, national networking, and career development.

When the COVID-19 pandemic paused in-person programs, the series was adapted to a virtual format in 2020, expanding its reach and solidifying its role as a vital and sustained resource for students mentorship in surgery on the island led by Sandra Freiwald, MD, FACS, Chair of the ACS Domestic Volunteerism Sub-Committee and Jodie Roure, JD, PhD, CEO of HMARIA and ACS Domestic Volunteerism Sub-Committee Member. The program also received support from local medical students and surgeons, including Cayetana Lazcano Etchebarne (MS4), Francisco Gomez, MD, and local program participants. The series has expanded its impact to include CUNY School of Medicine students and the Sophie Davis Biomedical Education BS/MD Program students.

Each bi-weekly session features renowned surgeons and leaders in the field, including practicing surgeons, global surgery advocates, trauma specialists, and retired ACS Fellows, who share their personal and professional journeys and expertise while providing mentorship guidance. The series provides opportunities for participants to learn from and connect directly with national surgical leaders, gaining insight into various surgical specialties, research opportunities, and the residency application process.

Many participants have established lasting mentoring relationships, secured research collaborations and clinical opportunities, and obtained invaluable guidance on surgical career pathways.

Among the program’s many success stories, Priscilla Rodriguez, MD—the program’s first college student and medical school graduate who will practice in Puerto Rico—exemplifies the lasting impact of these mentorship opportunities and national connections to support the retention of local talent.

The ACS-HMARIA NextGen in Medicine Cyber Speaker Series has benefited hundreds of medical students, residents, and fellows in Puerto Rico and continues to grow. Medical students, early-career professionals, and ACS members interested in giving back as mentors are encouraged to join us in advancing this impactful initiative.

Learn more about the lecture series.

International Subcommittee Champions Women Scholars

A feature in the ACS Bulletin spotlights the growing impact of the ACS/COSECSA Women Scholars Program, a partnership between the ACS and the College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA). This pioneering initiative is focused on expanding access to surgical training for women across sub-Saharan Africa—where gender disparities in surgical education and practice remain a significant challenge.

Since its launch, the program has supported more than 40 women with scholarships covering exam fees, training costs, and professional development. Beyond financial support, the program provides mentorship, networking opportunities, and platforms for leadership development—empowering recipients to become not just surgeons, but leaders and change-makers in their home countries.

The article shares powerful firsthand accounts from current and former scholars who reflect on their journeys—from navigating barriers in access to training to achieving milestones such as fellowships, advanced certifications, and leadership roles. Their stories illustrate the transformational impact of sustained, intentional support and the ripple effect it can have on communities and health systems.

The 2024 recipients of the ACS/COSECSA Women Scholars Awards represent a diverse and inspiring cohort of surgical leaders from across the region:

• Hetal Rajnikant Gohil, Pediatric Surgery, Kenya
• Nardos Mulu Admasu, Pediatric Surgery, Ethiopia
• Nyembezi Thandi Moyo, Pediatric Surgery, Zambia
• Nakavizya Janet Nshinka, Urologic Surgery, Zambia
• Lily Deneke Lemessa, General Surgery, Ethiopia
• Tabitha Wanjiku Njuguna, General Surgery, Kenya
• Nyail Chol Obuonyo,General Surgery, Kenya
• Sophy Awuor Opiyo, General Surgery, Kenya

Each of these women have demonstrated exceptional dedication to advancing surgical care and training in their communities, exemplifying the mission and impact of the program. Leaders from both ACS and COSECSA emphasize that while progress has been made, continued commitment and investment are essential to growing the pipeline of women in surgery. The program serves as a model for how global partnerships can be leveraged to promote equity and build a more diverse and inclusive global surgical workforce.

Read the full article.

International Subcommittee Initiates Global Expert Lecture Series

In December 2024, the ACS Committee on Global Engagement – International Subcommittee launched a new monthly lecture series, officially named the “Global Surgery Expert Lecture Series.” This educational initiative aims to connect renowned surgical experts with participants from our surgical collaborative hubs in Hawassa, Ethiopia; Lusaka, Zambia; and Kigali, Rwanda, and beyond, fostering knowledge exchange that seeks to advance surgical care worldwide.

The International Subcommittee’s Inter-Hub Education Workgroup, led by Melany C. Hughes, MD, MPH, FACS, worked directly with our hub partners to identify 12 topics to prioritize for the educational program for the first 12 months of the series.

Topics range from specialized areas like complex abdominal wall closure, surgical nutrition, ventilator management, and burn care to broader themes such as principles of trauma surgery and palliative care for surgeons. Each lecture aims to leverage the expertise of renowned surgeons and educators who will engage in thoughtful discussions, share cutting-edge practices, and explore innovative solutions to challenges faced by healthcare providers in resource-limited environments.

With this initiative, we seek to foster knowledge sharing across not just our three ACS H.O.P.E. surgical collaborative hubs, but also to hopefully serve as a platform for global discourse on surgical best practices and collaborative learning worldwide. The series is initially planned to occur during the next 24 months, featuring a diverse roster of speakers with rich international experience.

During the first three months of the ACS Global Surgery Expert Lecture Series, there have been presentations on burn care (initial stabilization and management) by Raphael Lee, MD, ScD, FACS, updates in colon cancer by Nader Hanna, MD, FACS, and a discussion of trauma surgery as a specialty by Marcela Ramirez, MD, FACS.

Audience participation during the live Q&A portion of the sessions allowed for targeted feedback that helped guide the sessions to meet audience needs. There has been an overwhelmingly positive response to the series so far, with participants joining not just from the three hubs but from Kenya, Mozambique, Ghana, Ecuador, rural US, and more.

To ensure the ongoing success of this lecture series, we will continue to contact and invite expert surgeons and healthcare professionals with specialized knowledge in relevant fields from around the world to volunteer as lecturers. Your expertise, insights, and experiences can make a profound impact on the global surgical community, fostering a culture of learning and improvement. Each session features a 1-hour lecture (40-minute lecture, 20-minute Q&A) via Zoom, which provides a valuable opportunity for interdisciplinary learning and collaboration among surgical professionals worldwide. Join us in our mission to elevate surgical care and education on a global scale. Together, we can create a robust platform for exchange, collaboration, and innovation. The lectures are scheduled for the third Thursday of each month, starting at 8:00 am ET/4:00 pm EAT. Registration (free) for the series is required.

Next webinar:

Surgical Nutrition: Modern Approach to Optimize Surgical Patient Outcomes – May 15
Hosted by Rifat Latifi, MD, FACS, FICS, FKCS

Register today.