Global Initiative for Children's Surgery
Nearly 150 people joined us on 4 June for an interesting discussion about what issues are facing our colleagues worldwide, and what GICS might do to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on children’s surgery. Click here to download the slide deck. Click here to watch a video of the session.
On 2 July we gathered again to discuss specific interventions in the areas of educational resources, guidelines, backlog of patients, and research. Click here to download the slide deck, and click here to view a video of the session.
We are working hard to address points raised in the discussions to meet the needs of our LMIC colleagues as they address implications of the pandemic.
We are working to build safe and effective surgical care for all of the
world’s children, no exceptions.
GICS passionately believes that every child must have access to safe surgical care.
Our mission is to define and promote optimal resources for children’s surgery in resource-poor regions.
We do this by engaging with providers of all disciplines of children’s surgical care around the world.
Learn more about us.
The fourth meeting of the Global Initiative for Children’s Surgery was a resounding success! Click here to read an account of the meeting.
Also read Dr Dominique Veervoort’s followup account in Johns Hopkins Global NOW, Saving the Future through the Art of the Knife.

What’s happening
COVID-19 Resources for GICS members
New resources have been added to the GICS website to aid members during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to learn about diagnosis, treatment, infrastructure, surgery during the pandemic, care of the health care provider, wellness, return to work, social distancing,...
GICS session at WOFAPS World Congress of Pediatric Surgery
GICS Chair Kokila Lakhoo led an inspiring session at WOFAPS, including the following: 1.Introduction--Kokila Lakhoo 2. OReCS--Haitham Dagash on behalf of Emmanual Ameh 3. OXPLORE on OReCS--Kathryn Ford 4. CMC-RCS--Vellore project Vrisha Madhuri 5. Nicaragua--Kokila...
GICS Treasurer Dr Doruk Ozgediz named Inaugural Director of Global Surgery and Health Equity at UCSF
Doruk Ozgediz, MD, MSc, FACS, FAAP, will be returning to UCSF to become the inaugural Director of Global Surgery and Health Equity in the Department of Surgery starting March 1, 2020. He will also be a member of the Institute for Global Health Sciences, where he will...
GICS Secretary Neema Kaseja named Lead of WHO Global Initiative for Emergency and Essential Surgical Care
Dr Kaseje will take over the position that Walter Johnson MD has held since 2016. We are grateful for the support that Dr Johnson has shown GICS during his leadership, and we look forward working closely with Dr Kaseja at the WHO to further the efforts he began. ...
1.7 billion children lack access to safe, timely, affordable surgical care
Article published in the WHO Bulletin estimates gaps in surgical services for children worldwide, particularly in LMICs. Authors include GICS members Emmanuel Ameh, Doruk Ozgediz, and Stephen Bickler. Click here to read the article.
New GICS website launched!
Merging the old GICS website with that of the Global Paediatric Surgery Network, our new website includes the following new features: Leadership biographies GICS partnerships Publications Past newsletters Events calendar and more With the merging of GICS with the...
Optimal Resources for Children’s Surgery paper published
Steve Bickler and colleagues have published an executive summary of the OReCS document that was refined by all GICS members, defining optimal manpower and equipment resources for the provision of children's surgery at each level of the health care system. Click here...
GICS paper published
Naomi Wright and other GICS members have published an article in the World Journal of Surgery article, summarizing the history and aspirations of GICS. Click here to read the open source article.
GICS IV: January 17-18, 2020 Johannesburg, South Africa
The fourth meeting of the Global Initiative for Children's Surgery has been announced. Note change from original dates. For details, see GICS IV page on the website.