Global Initiative for Children's Surgery
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.
GICS Webinar 19-20 February 2022
In the face of COVID-19 that prevented us from holding an in-person meeting, GICS held a very successful webinar, with nearly 60 speakers over the 2 days.
Click here to download the full program.
Click here to view a recording of Day 1, and click here to view a recording of Day 2.
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.
Due to ongoing travel restrictions, we are planning our next meeting as a virtual gathering on 19-20 February 2022. More information will be coming soon.
What’s happening
GICS member Naomi Wright publishes landmark paper on outcomes of congenital anomalies
The Lancet has published the results of the Global PaedSurg multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of 7 congenital anomalies in LICs, MICs, and HICs, showing tremendous disparities in outcomes. Click here to read the article: ...
GICS member Lubna Samad presents at official launch of Pakistan’s Surgical Plan
Pediatric Surgeon Lubna Samad gave presentation on the National Vision for Surgical Care 2020-25, during which she gave a persuasive argument not only for the need of a surgical plan in Pakistan, but also for the importance of including children's surgical care in the...
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.
It's a great start to see inclusion of pediatric surgery in Ethiopia's health policy dialogues. Hopefully more emphasis will be given to surgical needs of children in the coming years. #pedsurg #globalhealth @MiliardD @gttefera @GICSurgery @KidsOperating @Smiletrain
It was an honor to serve with such wonderful co-panelists, including @PaedsSurgeon @AlizehAbbas16 and Dr. Hyman. Thank you to Prof Lakhoo and all at @GICSurgery for the opportunity to discuss such an important topic! #GICSWebinar2022 https://twitter.com/BCMGlobalSurg/status/1495511075969773573
.@BCM_Surgery #GlobalSurgery resident @SukritiBansalMD served as a panelist during #GICSWebinar2022 - discussing global surgery training programs & structuring collaborations to prioritize local #CapacityBuilding with partners.
@GICSurgery @DrRosengart @RachelWDavis @BCMGSRes
@SaferSurgery @GICSurgery @KrisTorgeson @MercyShips @Smiletrain @engineer4change Thanks a lot @KrisTorgeson for your terrific presentation and your efforts in providing Safe Surgery in LMICS.
We are grateful for all you do @Lifebox