UBC Branch for Global Surgical Care

09/08/2026

Welcome back new and returning students of the GCGSC and MGSC programs to the first day of a new academic year! We wish you all the best as you get started on your learning journey.

Check the links for resources to help you prepare for your academic journey at UBC!

https://buff.ly/HpqkIev https://buff.ly/jkjfFUD

09/04/2026

🔎 Have a global surgical care topic you want to explore further?

SURG 542: Directed Study in Global Surgical Care gives you the opportunity to choose a topic of interest and take a deeper look at the current research and knowledge in that area.

In this 3-credit graduate course, you’ll:
• Conduct an in-depth search of the world literature
• Identify gaps and challenges in surgical care
• Work with a faculty advisor to develop your area of study
• Explore potential solutions to challenges in low-resource settings

💬 Here’s another testimony from a past student:

“Stepwise introduction, introduced the course, took time to hear the topic ideas from students and gave feedback before students could go deep into the learning and assignment preparation. The course is a great foundation for other courses in understanding deeply areas of students global surgery interests.”

‼️ Learn more about SURG 542 and our Graduate Certificate and Master’s in Global Surgical Care at https://buff.ly/EU9lPtC

08/28/2026

📖 What does surgical care look like in Canada’s rural and remote Indigenous communities?

SURG 518: Surgical Care in Canada’s Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities with Global Comparisons explores the current and historical provision of surgical care to Indigenous communities in Canada and globally.

In this 3-credit graduate course, you’ll explore:
• Historical factors influencing surgical care in Indigenous communities
• Indigenous voices and experiences in remote communities
• Challenges and opportunities in surgical care delivery
• How Canada compares with other countries
• Strategies to address disparities in surgical care between remote and urban communities

💬 Here’s what past students have shared:

“I think the course was excellent. [The course] was detailed, relevant, and interesting.”

“It has stimulated thinking in a different perspective taking into consideration the inherent and indirect causes that are strongly causing poor access to surgical care in Canada and other HICs.”

‼️ Learn more about SURG 518 and our Graduate Certificate and Master’s in Global Surgical Care at https://buff.ly/E55t6us

08/21/2026

📖 How do you approach surgical clinical research?

SURG 517: Clinical Research Methods for Surgical Procedures with Global Surgical Comparisons covers the research process in surgical care, from developing research proposals and analyzing data to writing grants and evaluating research approaches.

In this 3-credit ONLINE graduate course, you’ll explore:
• Clinical research methods in surgical care
• Research proposals, data analysis, statistics, and grant writing
• Systematic reviews, quality improvement, and technology evaluation

💬 Here’s what past students have shared:

“The instructor was effective in delivering the comments and suggestions to the students especially in the discussion forums which were really helpful.”

“Really enjoyed the course overall, thought it was very valuable for this Master's degree and felt I learned a lot going through the modules and readings.”

‼️ Learn more about SURG 517 and our Graduate Certificate and Master’s in Global Surgical Care at globalsurgery.med.ubc.ca

08/19/2026

08/19/2026

🌍 World Humanitarian Day | 19 August

Humanitarian workers play an essential role in responding to crises, often working in conflict zones and other settings where access to health care and basic services is limited.

But delivering aid can come with significant risks. In 2025, 1,187 humanitarian workers were victims of attacks, including 350 who were killed. Most humanitarian workers affected by violence are national staff working in their own communities.

For those working in humanitarian and medical response, safety is not separate from the delivery of care. When humanitarian workers are attacked or denied access, communities can lose access to essential services, including health care.

This World Humanitarian Day, we recognize the people who continue to provide care and assistance in crisis settings and reaffirm the importance of protecting humanitarian and medical personnel.

08/14/2026

🤔 How do you turn a surgical care idea into a program that works in low-resource settings?

SURG 516: Program Planning and Evaluation in Surgical Care in Low-Resource Settings focuses on the practical skills needed to plan and evaluate surgical care programs. You’ll learn how program planning connects with implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, and how different evaluation approaches can be applied in local and global settings.

In this 3-credit ONLINE graduate course, you’ll explore:
• Program planning and evaluation in surgical care
• Developing program logic models and assessment plans
• Ethical approaches and community and stakeholder involvement

💬 Here’s what past students have shared:

"The instructor was exceptionally engaging and thoughtful in their weekly module discussion. They are passionate and very knowledgeable in the course content and was always helpful."

“The practical experience of working with club foot project was something practical and inspiring to me especially considering that have a lot is happening in similar projects but the testimony of how it become sustainable was great. The materials were also really helpful”

‼️ Learn more about SURG 516 and our Graduate Certificate and Master’s in Global Surgical Care at https://buff.ly/EaQdUTu

08/07/2026

🌍 What does it take to deliver surgical care when disaster strikes?

SURG 514: Surgical Care in Humanitarian Disaster Response explores how surgical teams respond to humanitarian emergencies caused by natural disasters and armed conflict. Through real-world case studies and expert-led discussions, you'll examine the challenges of delivering safe, effective surgical care in crisis settings.

In this 3-credit ONLINE graduate course, you'll explore:
• The global burden and trends of humanitarian disasters
• The phases of humanitarian disaster response
• How to evaluate humanitarian disaster responses
• The essentials of surgical care in disaster response

💬 Here's what past students have shared:

“The detailed descriptions of field camps, training sessions in complex and natural disasters were excellent. They were all clear and useful.”

“The instructor’s discussion posts always help me think about the subject beyond our readings and understand humanitarian disasters we read about in the news from a different perspective.”

“The instructor was an excellent and engaged facilitator in the course. They always encouraged thoughtful discussions and actively shared their experience and expertise with the student.”

‼️ Learn more about SURG 514 and our Graduate Certificate and Master's in Global Surgical Care at https://buff.ly/nm4d2qi

07/31/2026

🌎 The UBC Global Surgery Lab is expanding access to surgical training by creating free instructional videos that support healthcare providers around the world.

Designed to teach essential surgical skills and reinforce learning before procedures, these resources help make high-quality education more accessible regardless of location.

These videos are part of the Vital Surgery Training Program (VitalSurg), an initiative developed in partnership with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to equip non-surgeon physicians with the knowledge and skills to manage urgent and life-threatening surgical conditions. Since its launch, VitalSurg has trained three cohorts of physicians in South Sudan and is expanding to the Central African Republic in 2026.

The Global Surgery Lab continues to grow this library of educational resources, helping advance surgical education and support equitable access to surgical care worldwide.

🔗 Interested in contributing to these initiatives? Visit our website to learn more
https://buff.ly/Ykb95cx

07/28/2026

💫 WE ARE HIRING! 💫

Are you a UBC student interested in an exciting Work Learn opportunity to apply and build your communications and administration skills? BGSC is recruiting a student position for the 2026 Winter academic term.

Apply at UBC CareersOnline by August 12th!

🔗 Apply here: https://buff.ly/Ad5Ju78

(Position ID: 1006328)