Global Scalpels: A Global Surgery Podcast

In this episode, we’re joined by two powerhouse storytellers in the global development space, Meryl Westlake and Lucy Taylor. Together, they share their journeys into digital content creation for international development, offering insights into crafting compelling narratives for global health, humanitarian emergencies, and environmental causes. They dive into the ethics of storytelling in global development, exploring the fine line between advocacy and the “commercialization of suffering,” the importance of valid consent, and the power dynamics between creators and subjects. Plus, they discuss social media’s role in global health advocacy, with practical tips on using these platforms “for good.” Tune in for an eye-opening conversation on the transformative power—and responsibility—of impactful storytelling. 🌍✨

Each surgical subspecialty has unique sets of challenges when performing their specific procedures. In plastic surgery, procedures for complex burns, hand injuries, and congenital deformities can require tissue/skin graft preparation and microscopic reapproximation. These challenges are only exacerbated when resources are limited - both in terms of personnel and materials. Meet Dr. Metasebia Abebe, the first female plastic surgeon in Ethiopia and one of only a few specialists in her country where there are more than 1 million people per plastic surgeon! Join us as we discuss the complex care involved in treating hyena bites, the effects of climate change, and international fellowships for LMIC surgeons. This is one episode to remember!

​​The dawn of a new year brings new resolutions, new perspectives, and new hope. And what better way to kick off 2024 than with our latest episode – one that explores global surgical topics as well as life lessons. We are proud to present our guest, Dr Myron Rolle, a former American football (NFL) player turned neurosurgeon. In this episode, we will explore the finer nuances of positions of power within hierarchical structures, public health education models, neurosurgical access in the Caribbean, and racial disparities within medicine. Dr Rolle reminds us that each one of us possesses a unique and immeasurable value, and we must not allow anyone to diminish our worth. As we begin our journey into the new year, let us stand our ground, pursue our dreams, and remember that we are all capable of achieving greatness. Join us for our semi-centennial episode, as we celebrate 50 episodes of global surgeryl content! We hope this episode will help start your year the right way!

Leaving behind everything to escape war, persecution, or even natural disaster poses its own unique challenges. Forced relocation is difficult, creating a unique set of problems including housing, food, finances, and importantly, healthcare. Accessing these resources as a refugee is extremely difficult and uniquely convoluted. Refugee camps seek to be a safe haven for these underserved populations but pose their own unique challenges as well. With limited resources, experts like Dr Zachary Enumah are fighting to help provide essential healthcare in these settings, most recently in Tanzania. With over 500 live births per month, OBGYN services are vital to life, including c-sections and other emergency surgical services. Strategies to allocate funding, work with public health officials, and coordinate with medical boards to expand care are difficult but essential. Join us in this exciting episode with guest host Ashwin Reddy as we discuss the medical ethics behind care delivery in the camp, e-health to facilitate access, referral systems, and preventative strategies currently being deployed by Dr Enumah and his team!

As professionals working on a global scale, even the simplest of things must be challenged. Surgeons, lawyers, administrators, and many others, must adapt to become multifaceted individuals in this space. Surgery doesn’t just start and stop with the drapes. It involves supply chain, personnel management, legislation, advocacy, and so much more. In order to tackle these issues, it requires groundbreaking research to act as journalism to paint a picture of the story on the ground - the story of what is really happening. It is this research that helps to identify problems that can then be used to advocate for funding and innovation. Indeed, to challenge the current system. Our guest today exemplifies all of these attributes - a truly multifaceted and forward-thinking global surgeon. Dr Kiran Agarwal-Harding acts as the founder and president of multiple organizations including the Harvard Global Orthopaedics Collaborative and SONA Global, two organizations tackling both research and sustainability on a worldwide scale. Join us as we discuss GPS transportation barriers, shipping of implants, and even the invention process - conception of an idea, patents, and product testing, all the way to large-scale production of life-saving devices. You won’t want to miss it! For more information about these organizations, please see the following: HGOC: https://www.thehcorp.org/havard-global-orthopaedics-collaborative SONA GLOBAL: https://www.sonaglobal.org/

Delivery of surgical services in low-resource settings is extremely difficult. Supply chain issues, funding, shortages of supplies, and even lack of healthcare professionals are each enormous hurdles in and of themselves. What about when civil conflict arises and a war begins? Increases in different types of injuries start to plague the already fragile system. How does one get life-saving supplies via the already scarce supply chain when roads have been taken out by bombs or blocked by military personnel? Doctors, nurses, and support staff, all risking their lives each day just to show up and provide care. Join us with guest host Ala Magzoub as we talk with Dr. Shahrzad Joharifard about her work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during civil conflict and the unique challenges inherent to surgical delivery in this space. In this robust episode, we also learn about anti-racism and helping people to self-identify racist, sexist, or homophobic actions and comments. As a healthcare team, safe and conscientious spaces are vital to the delivery of surgical services and each of us can do our part to encourage these practices from ourselves and others.

Global climate change directly affects every person on the earth today. Whether this is a simple temperature rise or abnormal weather patterns to complete displacement of one's living situation due to rising ocean waters, climate change is happening all around us. Many industries have sought to do their part to slow the progression including the migration to renewable energy resources, home solar panels, electric vehicles, or even recyclable cutlery. In medicine, we often discuss saving lives but this can come at a cost of not saving our planet. Join us as we speak with Dr Cliff Ewbank and guest host Vennela Avula as we discuss the impact of medicine on the climate and the effect that small things can have on our overall carbon footprint such as changing anesthetics, turning off operating room lights, migration from disposable instruments, or even restricting traveling to academic conferences. The question becomes how to save a life while not simultaneously putting all lives in danger…

When we discuss global surgery, we often focus on the physical workforce that it takes to support a patient through their surgical needs. The other side of this process is the digital or mechanical support that makes surgery all possible. It is easy to take for granted the countless computers, x-ray machines, ventilators, and more. We often don’t recognize the biomedical engineering that takes place to make all those tools function - we just know it works (but often not how it works). Acquiring these machines in low-resource settings is important, however, understanding how the machine works and how to maintain it is equally as important for its longevity as a surgical tool. In an effort to help, there has historically been a flow of second-hand or cheaper machines from high-resource environments to low-resource environments however often without the needed tech support, product manuals, or training to upkeep them. End-of-life equipment can be common and its utility is limited. Donations are vital to the progression of surgery in these settings but can sometimes create more of a burden than a support. Join us as we speak with Tom Monahan, the prior director of Biomedical Engineering at Health Equity International and previous Master Biomedical Technician at Massachusetts General Hospital about the engineering challenges of surgical equipment and strategies for tackling this problem at the grassroots through apprenticeship and training models.

New year, new episode! After a brief pause, we are excited to be back to share with you more about the amazing initiatives happening around the world and major concepts within the field of global surgery. The episode today is focused on a topic relevant to every listener because we all have one - mothers! Women’s health is at the very core of medicine with the unique overlap of the creation of life with also the prevention of death. Our guest host specializes in several unique aspects of this cornerstone of healthcare, namely support for access and dissemination of contraceptive postpartum (the PPIUD project) as well as advocacy and education about the practice and effects of female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C). Working to create safe, culturally competent change around this practice is extremely charged - politically, culturally, and even religiously. With more than 200 million women subjected to FGM/C worldwide, there is a great need for education on harm reduction, teaching about women’s health/menstrual health, and so much more. Join us as we speak with Dr Anita Makins about advocacy at all levels with bidirectional teaching and education for the prevention of harm.

In commemoration of Pride month this month, we wanted to highlight a population within society, but particularly in the field of global surgery, that is often left behind. The LGBTQ+ community has experienced high rates of discrimination and ostracization resulting in higher rates of mental illness, suicide, and even drug use. Further, LGBTQ+ patients encounter a very unique set of barriers within healthcare globally. For example, in many countries, significant others/partners of LGBTQ+ are not recognized as legal unions. This lack of legally legitimate status can pose issues when healthcare proxy decisions need to be made. Further, LGBTQ+ may have decreased number of children due to society and logistical pressures not experienced by heterosexual counterparts. This leads to a lack of access to needed elder care in regions where children and offspring predominantly handle elder care. Lastly, access to “luxury treatments” such as hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgery is extremely limited around the world leaving many transgender patients without access to potentially life-saving medications and surgeries. It is the job of clinicians to treat all patients fairly and with respect. Fair, does not necessarily mean the same, however. Recognizing how to interact with, respect, and support people of all backgrounds is essential as human beings. Putting ourselves in the shoes of other people brings new perspectives and insights. Join us in this special episode with Dr. Steven Orr as we highlight implicit bias within the surgical realm, the promotion of diversity and inclusion in surgery, and how to encourage the health and safety of all patients - regardless of sexual orientation or gender.