The Transformational Dialogues coalition has launched a Global Survey to identify the prevalence and types of neocolonialism impacting individuals involved in surgery and anesthesia in both low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs)—and possible solutions to address this. The survey has been developed as an anonymous way for individuals— including non-clinicians—to be able to share their experiences.

Recognizing the power imbalances and structures prevalent within the global surgery community, the Transformational Dialogues group wanted to create a space for individuals to be able to share their experiences in an anonymous and safe space.

The survey –  titled “Transformational Dialogues in Neocolonialism in Global Surgery: A Survey to Evaluate the Burden of Inequities, Solutions and Barriers to Implementations of Solutions” aims to ascertain the prevalence and different types of neocolonialism in global surgery as well understanding the impacts of neocolonialism and possible solutions. The survey is available in Arabic, English, French, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Spanish. 

The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete and can be saved and returned to at a later time. Please complete the survey or share it to your networks using the link below. https://bit.ly/3xWKUQR

Thank you to Dr. Justina O. Seyi-Olajide for leading this work

More about Transformational Dialogues:

Transformational Dialogues is a broad coalition of individuals and organizations from the global surgery community working to identify and address issues of neocolonialism and inequities in global surgery. Through dialogue, events, and research we are – together – working to find ways to decolonize global surgery. Find out more and join us at www.decolonizingglobalsurgery.org

Identifying and Addressing Barriers to Training for LMIC Surgery and Anesthesia Clinicians

Chaired by Dr. Ambereen Sleemi, this event fostered a discussion to identify – and seek to find strategies to address – the main barriers for LMIC based perioperative clinicians in accessing training opportunities.

This video is available to view in English / French / Spanish.

CHAIR: Dr. Ambereen Sleemi

Dr. Sleemi is a female pelvic medicine reconstructive surgeon (Urogynecologist), trained obstetric fistula surgeon and Executive Director and Surgical Director of International Medical Response (IMR). IMR works to train surgeons in pelvic reconstruction and fistula repair. Dr. Sleemi holds an MD/MPH from George Washington University School of Medicine, and is currently pursuing her M.S. in Epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. She trained Ob/Gyn at Louisiana State University in New Orleans, LA, in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery and obstetric fistula surgery in Northern Nigeria. Dr. Sleemi spent six years on the Executive Committee of the International Society for Obstetric Fistula Surgeons (ISOFS) and is an active member.

Dr. Sedera Arimino

Dr. Sedera Arimino is a general surgeon in Madagascar. Dr. Arimino studied medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of Antananarivo, Madagascar with a surgery internship at the University Hospital Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona (CHU-JRA) in Madagascar, the Hospital Center of Gonesse in France, and the University Hospital Analankinina Toamasina in Madagascar. Currently Dr. Arimino works as a general surgeon at the Regional Hospital of Reference of Vakinankaratra Antsirabe as well as working as a joint Surgical Fellow for Operation Smile and Lifebox.

Professor Abebe Bekele

Professor Abebe Bekele is the Dean of Health Sciences at the University of Global Health Equity. He is a General and Thoracic Surgeon and a Professor of Surgery at Addis Ababa University, School of Medicine in Ethiopia. Professor Bekele is a fellow of the College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS). He also serves as a Member of Council and Chairman of the Examinations and Credentials Committee at COSECSA. Professor Bekele has fellowships from the American College of Surgeons, the University of Washington, and the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER).

Dr. Carolina Haylock Loor

Dr. Carolina Haylock-Loor is an anesthesiologist, intensivist, and interventional pain physician in San Pedro Sula, Honduras and is Director of Programs of the World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists (WFSA). Dr. Haylock-Loor is past President of the Honduran Anesthesia Society and has represented the Latin American region as a council member of WFSA, as well as Chair of the WFSA Gender Balance committee. She is particularly passionate about education and has taught trainees on the Honduran Anesthesiology Residency Program in Pain Management.

Professor Salome Maswime

Professor Salome Maswime is an associate Professor and the Head of the Global Surgery Division at the University of Cape Town; an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist; a World Economic Forum Young Scientist; Next Einstein Fellow; and President of the South African Clinician Scientists Society. She is a former research fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and former lecturer at the Wits University. She is a trustee of the South African Health Systems Trust, and associate editor of the South African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; and a member of UNITARs’ Global Surgery Foundation leadership team.

Dr. Percy Rossell Perry

Dr. Percy Rossell Perry is a plastic surgeon working at the Edgardo Rebagliatti Martins Hospital of ESSALUD, Lima, Peru where he performs pediatric reconstructive plastic surgery. He trained at the Kirschbaum Institute in Peru and the Militar Central Hospital in Argentina. Dr. Rossel completed a visiting Fellowship at Emory University, Atlanta, UCLA, and New York University. He is Professor of the postgraduate studies of the Faculty of Human Medicine of the San Martin de Porres University in Lima, Peru and holds a M

Dr. Omolara Modupe Williams

Dr. Omolara Modupe Williams is a Consultant Pediatric Surgeon at Lagos State University College of Medicine, Nigeria. Dr. Williams has an MSc in Global Health with Global Surgery from King’s College London. She is keen on addressing access barriers to surgical care, improving surgical outcomes, and advocacy for children’s surgery. Dr. Williams’ research interests include neonatal and paediatric surgery, pediatric urology, and global surgery and epidemiology.

REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT.

Chaired by Professor Kokila Lakhoo, this open online event discussed the main barriers to research for LMIC based academic perioperative clinicians, and the strategies best suited to addressing and reducing them. Watch a recording in English, French, or Spanish.

CHAIR: Professor Kokila Lakhoo

Kokila Lakhoo is a consultant paediatric surgeon at the Children’s Hospital in Oxford and the University of Oxford, chair of the international forum for the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons and former chair of Global Initiative for Children’s Surgery (GICS).
Professor Lakhoo has special interests in global health, fetal counselling, neonatal surgery, pediatric tumour surgery, pediatric thoracic surgery and specialist gastrointestinal surgery.
She has to date contributed many chapters to pediatric surgical textbooks and has over 300 peer reviewed publications. She is also editor of several books including a joint publication with African colleagues entitled “Paediatric Surgery: A Comprehensive Text for Africa.”

Dr. Fabio Botelho

Fabio Botelho is a Brazilian pediatric surgeon who graduated from the Federal University of Minas Gerais. In Brazil, he pursued a Master of Sciences degree in surgery from the Federal University São Paulo and the following surgical training programs: general surgery, trauma surgery, and pediatric surgery. Currently, he lives in Montreal, Canada, where he is doing the Jean-Martin Laberge Global Pediatric Surgery Fellowship program and working as a research assistant at the Research Insitute of the McGill University Health Centre. Dr. Botelho is also a collaborator of the Program in Global Surgery and Social Change from Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Kathryn Chu

Kathryn Chu is a colorectal surgeon and has been based in Africa since 2007 when she joined Médecins Sans Frontières as a surgeon and advisor. She is currently the Director for the Centre for Global Surgery and Professor of Global Surgery in the Department of Global Health at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. She is the global surgery representative to the executive council of The Association of Surgeons of South Africa. She is the founding member of AfroSurg, a Southern African initiative to improve surgical access in the region; a member of the Southern African Development Community NSOAP Task Team and the South African NSOAP Task Team.

Dr. Rodrigo Lopez

Rodrigo López is a cardiac anesthesiologist from Santiago de Chile, and works at the Catholic University Teaching Hospital. Dr. Lopez has a PhD in biomedical ethics at the University of Zurich, focusing on health inequalities, and a Master in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He now leads the Global Health Program at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and organizes a number of collaborative educational and research initiatives.

Professor Nobhojit Roy 

Nobhojit Roy is a  General and Trauma surgeon in Mumbai, India and the U.K. and is currently a Health Systems Advisor to the Government. He holds a MPH from John Hopkins University and a PhD from the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Professor Nobhojit was a Lancet commissioner for Global Surgery (2013-2015) and is currently a Lancet commissioner for NCD and Injuries in the poorest billion and sits on the Lifebox Global Governance Council.rengthening, and international relations. He is currently working as a trauma officer in peripheral rural districts of Bihar.

Dr. Lubna Samad

Lubna Samad is based at the Indus Hospital and Health Network (IH&HN) in Karachi, Pakistan, where she is Director of the Center on Essential Surgical & Acute Care at the Global Health Directorate. Dr. Samad leads a team working to improve surgical care delivery platforms and patient outcomes. She has led the National Vision for Surgical Care in collaboration with Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, aimed at incorporating surgical care delivery within the country’s health plan. She is an active champion of the global movement to provide care to neglected surgical patients.

Dr. Justina Seyi-Olajide

Justina Seyi-Olajide is a Consultant Pediatric Surgeon and currently works at the Department of Surgery, Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. Dr. Seyi-Olajide’s research is focused on pediatric general surgery, pediatric urology, global surgery, neonatal surgery, and medical education. Dr. Seyi-Olajide is leading a research study to identify the issues and barriers that are faced by LMIC based perioperative clinicians within the global surgery and anesthesia community.