CGS STUDENTS & COLLABORATORS
The McGill Experimental Surgery programs offer graduate students the opportunity to focus on the area of Global Surgery, led by the Centre for Global Surgery (CGS).
The concentration in Global Surgery, emphasizes health care needs specifically within the surgical field in resource-limited settings. It comprises three main pillars: research, education, and mentorship.
Through extensive research work, students have participated in the design and implementation of innovative approaches in surgical care and injury surveillance, advancing the surgical capacities in low and middle-income countries.
Students have also participated in global surgical endeavors allowing professionals from partner countries and Canada to engage in a learning and knowledge transfer experience through training and courses. Students who have chosen this option have had the opportunity to engage in international research projects including injury epidemiology surveillance and assessment of surgical access through the study of databases.
Below some examples on how the CGS has supported undergraduate and graduate students who are leading the way on Global Surgery, to gain research experience in this field.
Kedar Mate
I am a health outcomes researcher with expertise in research methods and psychometrics, and a medical student at McGill University. My passion lies in global health.
In 2024, I joined the CGS to study the prehospital care system at Dhulikhel Hospital in Nepal. This project explored the community’s awareness, knowledge, trust, and reliability in accessing emergency services, with a focus on the willingness to pay for ambulance and related healthcare in case of emergencies. This work highlighted the importance of strengthening community health systems and prehospital care in resource-limited settings.
My experience in Nepal further solidified my commitment to global health and my desire to contribute to health equity on a global scale. CGS has provided a unique platform for collaboration among experts, scientists and clinicians, offering invaluable opportunities for students to engage in trauma research and make meaningful contributions to health outcomes. Through these projects, I aim to continue advocating for healthcare systems that prioritize equity, access and culturally competent care.
Lilly Groszman
Completing a global health elective in Saint-Louis, Senegal during my final year of medical school under the guidance of CGS Co-director Dr. Grushka has been one of the most transformative experiences of my training. Paired with my earlier research in Northern Quebec, this experience has solidified my commitment to global surgery and underscored the invaluable role of the CGS in my development. Both Dr. Grushka and Dr. Wong have been exceptional mentors, whose guidance I deeply appreciate and aspire to emulate in my future career.
My work in Senegal, particularly with the Amber project, has highlighted the realities of global health research—the unpredictable nature of implementing well-planned projects and the importance of learning from mistakes to inform decisions in the future.
These experiences, enabled by the CGS, have enriched my understanding of medical care in resource-limited settings and left me with cherished memories and deep gratitude toward the CGS team and its global partners, with whom I hope to continue working with in the future.
Cherinet Osebo
As a PhD candidate at the MUHC-CGS my project focused on implementing a novel electronic trauma and operating theatre system (Amber), as well as on supporting and assessing blended learning for the Trauma and Disaster Team Response (TDTR) course in Tanzania.
I implemented both initiatives at the Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute (MOI), under the supervision of Dr. Respicious Boniface and Dr. Victoria Munthali. Derived from this successful implementation, MOI leadership is now planning to expand Amber and TDTR to other hospitals across the country.
I gained valuable knowledge and expertise by collaborating with local health professionals; their full engagement and support enhanced my experience in building partnerships on global health.
I am thankful as well for Dr. Razek and Dr. Grushka’s guidance, and for the continued support from all CGS team members.
Hamza Ahmad
I first worked with CGS and Dr. Deckelbaum as an M.Sc. student exploring the implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program in Pakistan. I was tasked to: initiate a partnership between the CGS and surgeons in Pakistan, and conceptualize & implement ERAS in Pakistan.
This opportunity -an immense overtaking-, provided me with innumerable experiences that not only helped me reconnect with the cultures and traditions I grew up in, but also allowed me to reflect on the healthcare system in Canada and the immense resources available to us that are at times taken for granted. These experiences helped me grow as a person and take these valuable lessons with me during my own journey of pursuing Medicine at McGill.
I was fortunate enough to obtain the Global Health Research award through CGS in the summer of 2023 and continue collaborating with researchers and clinicians in Pakistan on the progression and implementation of ERAS.
Yasmine Chakib
Mon expérience au Sénégal a été enrichissante tant sur le plan professionnel que sur le plan humain.
J’ai assisté à la délivrance d’une formation en traumatologie et j’ai pu observer comment les professionnels de santé locaux et internationaux travaillent en équipe, en échangeant leurs connaissances et leurs compétences pour offrir des soins de qualité.
Cette première expérience m’a donné un aperçu des défis rencontrés dans la mise en place d’une formation dans un contexte à ressources limitées.
Par ailleurs, j’ai pu affiner mon projet de recherche qui portera sur la création d’une formation mixte sur la prise en charges des voies aériennes à destination des techniciens supérieurs en anesthésie de la région de Saint-Louis, Sénégal.
Je suis reconnaissante du soutien du centre pour la chirurgie mondiale et de l’équipe de l’hôpital Saint-Louis dans la concrétisation de ce projet !
Christian Vlcek
I joined the CGS team to work primarily on the beta testing and implementation of the Amber trauma registry database. Since beta testing began at the Montreal General Hospital, I was been able to gain insight into how trauma systems and registries are managed in Montreal which has provided a helpful reference when it comes to deploying a trauma registry in a different context, such as Tanzania, Ethiopia, or Ukraine.
Working with our international partners has helped me better understand how each new context needs to be approached with humility and an open mind ready to prioritize the needs and insights offered by local experts.
Both the Amber and TDTR projects have provided an invaluable opportunity for me to explore interests in trauma and emergency management, and to gain invaluable insight into the practice of global health.
Ali Fazlollahi
"…I had the formative experience of working with the MUHC Centre for Global Surgery (CGS) and their partner, Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute, in Tanzania. My project involved the piloting and evaluation of a novel trauma registry, known as Amber, in Dar es Salaam and Morogoro. I was responsible for introducing the system and testing its functionality for the first time in a local setting outside Canada with the goal of nurturing collaboration and enhancing Amber’s utility for the unique research priorities of a CGS partner.
… By working with the CGS and their local partner, I acquired valuable interpersonal skills and contextual knowledge that have enriched my medical training. This experience solidified my passion for global surgery and has motivated me to get more involved in helping LMICs build the capacity to provide high-quality care to their population.
I am thankful for the warm hospitality of Drs. Boniface and Munthali, grateful for the guidance of my supervisor Dr. Razek and the entire CGS team…”
Omaid Tanoli
I traveled to Northwestern Pakistan to pilot a trauma registry at the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan. This was both an incredibly difficult and rewarding experience.
I was able to gain a better general understanding of trauma systems and how they function, while working alongside stakeholders motivated to improve the conditions of local trauma care. Through creating strong partnerships I have continued to keep in touch with the local healthcare team and hope to work with them on implementing some of the changes which we believe will improve care for the local population.
To be able to use the knowledge I gained through my research and augment the care of low-income populations has been a truly fulfilling endeavor. I look forward to using the tools provided to me by the CGS and to continue working in the field throughout my career.
Leen Makki
I am a medical graduate from the University of Aleppo and currently a Family Medicine resident at McGill University. My interest in improving access to care in disaster settings made me very interested in the Global Surgery program. The program has helped me tailor my thesis to exactly the area I wanted to work on.
The discussion with multidisciplinary teams involved in global health as well as the opportunity to participate in conferences and workshops broadened my knowledge beyond the theories to advocacy and problem-solving. Because of the collaboration of the CGS with different organizations, I was able to work closely with the Canadian Red Cross to attain the objectives of my research project. I am grateful for all the opportunities this program has given me.
Prachi Patel
CGS has presented a unique opportunity to pursue my passion for surgery and learn from the exceptional collogues across the world.
Dr. Deckelbaum has been a great mentor; he provided invaluable assistance in introducing the trauma registry as an effective tool in my home country India. In a collaboration between SMIMER hospital, India and the CGS, we completed a successful pilot project of implementing a trauma registry and collecting hospital-based injury epidemiology to create a trauma database. This project will be a foundation for future efforts in creating awareness, advancing injury prevention and decrease the gap in trauma care.
CGS has been instrumental for me to pave a path towards my goal in the field of global surgery. I am grateful to the CGS team and hope to continue this collaboration.
Darya Naumova
I am a medical student at McGill with passion for global health. I strongly believe in the importance of equal and sustainable partnerships in global health. I was born and raised in Ukraine and have always been involved in the Ukrainian community since I arrived to Canada.
Since 2012, GSC team has played a key role in advancement of trauma care delivery in Ukraine by delivering the Trauma and Disaster Team Response (TDTR) course at regional and major trauma centers in Kyiv, Odessa, and Ternopil.
I joined the GSC team in 2018 to work on the Ukrainian Trauma Registry in collaboration with the Kyiv Hospital for Emergency Medicine. I have analyzed data to describe the landscape of trauma epidemiology in the Ukrainian capital; this initiative has been key for designing interventions and improving the system. I am eager to continue supporting the Ukrainian team in the development of emergency medicine as a specialty in the country.
I believe that collaborating with the CGS offers me a unique perspective on medical care delivery in a limited-resource setting, knowledge that will be vital for my future medical practice.
Kamil Michalski
I had the exceptional opportunity to work with the CGS in two different countries.
In Senegal, I got to explore and analyze the prehospital system across the country, looking for ways to improve access to care. In Nepal, I helped implement a trauma registry in a few areas; I combined this project with a clinical elective in the emergency department.
These international experiences allowed me not only to gain invaluable knowledge from the local experts I worked with and to develop new skills, but also to create meaningful memories and lifelong friends.
See my published article on Senegal here.