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Geographical Considerations in Training Pediatric Surgeons for Low- and Middle-Income Countries

  • Surgical Education (K. Terhune, R. Antiel and A. Parker, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Surgical education in and for low- and middle-income countries is expanding in recent years. An increase in training programs corresponds to an increase in graduates and the stakes are high for these graduates to be successful.

Recent Findings

Specialty pediatric surgical training on the continent of Africa has expanded significantly in the last 5 years. The authors work or were trained in a Kenyan pediatric surgery training program founded in 2007. Literature is sparse on best practices in candidate selection, and we seek to share lessons learned from the success of our graduates.

Summary

We propose geography be a significant factor not only in development of new training programs but also in trainee selection to ensure success of the graduate surgeon and that their efforts can reach the underserved.

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Funding

No funding was received.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Paediatric Surgery Department, Tenwek Hospital, Bomet, Kenya

    Eric Irungu

  2. BethanyKids Children’s Hospital at AIC Kijabe Hospital, PO Box 20, Kijabe, 00220, Kenya

    Jason Axt & Britney L. Grayson

  3. Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Britney L. Grayson

Authors
  1. Eric Irungu
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  2. Jason Axt
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  3. Britney L. Grayson
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Contributions

EI, JA, and BG wrote the main manuscript text and BG prepared figure 1. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Britney L. Grayson.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest with respect to authorship or publication of this manuscript.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Irungu, E., Axt, J. & Grayson, B.L. Geographical Considerations in Training Pediatric Surgeons for Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Curr Surg Rep (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40137-024-00401-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40137-024-00401-3

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