Oxford's Global Surgery Short Course at Kellogg
Oxford’s Global Surgery Short Course: a commitment to healthcare equity
The Global Surgery Short Course is a pioneering initiative aimed at addressing global disparities in surgical care. The course took place in September at Kellogg College and is run by the Oxford University Global Surgery Group. With participants from over 35 countries, including surgeons, anaesthetists, policymakers, students, and charity workers, the course emphasises the importance of healthcare equity and the exchange of global perspectives. Led by Professor Kokila Lakhoo, the course not only delivers practical knowledge but also fosters collaboration, networking, and a deeper understanding of healthcare systems across the world.
Kellogg College is proud to have funded two alumni, Harmit Guattara, a Fellow in Paediatric Urology (Birmingham, Bristol, Southampton) and Somy Samuel Charuvila, a general surgery registrar, to attend this course. We spoke to Harmit, Somy and Kokila about their work and how this course has changed their thinking about global healthcare.
A unique approach to global health challenges
Professor Lakhoo, Fellow of Kellogg College, paediatric surgeon and Chair of the Global Surgery Short Course Executive Committee, explains that the course is grounded in a vision of creating global healthcare systems that deliver equitable care regardless of location. She states, “Our aim is to ensure that wherever we are in the world, healthcare is the same. We focus on understanding how we can achieve this goal, and that is what this course is all about.”
The course’s multidisciplinary approach is key to its success. Participants come from diverse backgrounds, sharing their unique experiences in low- and middle-income countries, creating a learning environment that prioritises practical solutions and real-world impacts.
This course offers a collaborative approach, where we hear the voices of people from every walk of life and their experiences. It focuses on the practical solutions of what’s worked for people, what hasn’t worked, and this is incredibly valuable.– Somy Samuel Charuvila
Bridging gaps in global healthcare
A recurring theme throughout the course is the emphasis on understanding the distinct needs of healthcare systems in low- and middle-income countries. Harmit observed, “In the UK, we mostly deal with elective services where operations are planned. In low-income countries, 90% of care is emergencies. This requires bespoke care solutions tailored to their geography and specific needs.”
The course also highlights the importance of understanding the cultural and systemic challenges in these regions. “We’ve had case studies from various regions, and unless you understand the local context, you can’t affect real change,” Harmit added. One such case study involved the stark contrast in how blood is sourced for surgeries. Professor Lakhoo recounted how, in some countries, when a child needs surgery, the entire family may donate blood because blood banks are unavailable. Hospital staff, including anaesthetists and even cleaners, sometimes step in to donate blood to save a child’s life.
Real-world impact and bilateral learning
The Global Surgery Short Course goes beyond theoretical knowledge—it equips participants with the tools to create real-world change. Somy Samuel’s work in Bangladesh is a prime example. Under Professor Lakhoo’s mentorship, Somy introduced point-of-care blood testing devices in paediatric surgery units, vastly improving the availability and speed of blood tests for emergency surgeries. “Something as simple as a blood test, which we take for granted in the UK, can be a huge barrier in countries like Bangladesh,” Somy explained. This project resulted in 90% of children receiving blood tests before surgery, compared to just a third before the initiative.
Somy also emphasises the importance of bilateral learning, where both high- and low-income countries can learn from each other. “Working in resource-limited environments teaches you skills and approaches that you can take back to where you work. It’s a sort of lifelong bilateral learning, and on the way, you influence and make positive differences on both sides.”
Fostering Humanitarianism and Collaboration
The spirit of collaboration is at the heart of the Global Surgery Short Course. Participants are encouraged to work together across disciplines, learning from public health specialists, nurses, and researchers. This multidisciplinary approach fosters resilience and innovative problem-solving, qualities that can be applied in any healthcare setting. As Somy put it, “This style of working is something that you can really learn from, and these skills are transferable to the NHS and beyond.”
Harmit also touched on the humanitarian aspect of the course, sharing his personal motivation: “When I applied for medical school, I always said I’d use my skills to provide free treatment in the places my parents came from—India and East Africa. This course has reignited that purpose. It’s shown me how to give back in the most respectful way, working with the people already in those settings.”
A global perspective on healthcare provision
The Global Surgery Short Course provides a transformative experience, offering participants the opportunity to see the world’s healthcare challenges through a new lens. Gratitude for the healthcare systems in high-income countries is a recurring sentiment. As Harmit reflected, “There’s a whole part of the world that needs us and our expertise. It’s easy to stay within the NHS, but the course has reminded me of the bigger picture.”
Through this course, participants are equipped not only with the technical skills needed to improve surgical outcomes but also with the empathy and understanding required to effect meaningful change. By fostering collaboration, humanitarianism, and lifelong learning, the Global Surgery Short Course at Kellogg College is creating the next generation of global health leaders.
Before starting a career in global research, you need a deep understanding, and that’s what this course has given me. The complexities involved have been highlighted, and now if I was to undertake a project, I would approach it from a completely different viewpoint. – Harmit Ghattaura
Kellogg College: the ideal venue
The choice of Kellogg College as the venue for this transformative course is not coincidental. Kellogg’s community is rich with academics, students, and alumni engaged in global health initiatives, making it an ideal setting for fostering international dialogue on healthcare. Professor Lakhoo told us “This is our ninth year running this course, and it’s the best yet in terms of the venue, food, and location. I’ve already booked Kellogg again for next year. The vibrant international community at Kellogg further enriches the course, creating an atmosphere conducive to collaboration and innovation.”
Find out more about the Global Surgery Short Course.
Professor Kokila Lakhoo is a paediatric surgeon at the Children’s Hospital in Oxford and the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, with research interests in global surgery, fetal counselling, neonatal necrotising enterocolitis surgery and paediatric thoracic surgery. She is chair of the international forum for the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons and is personally developing paediatric surgery through a link in Tanzania. She is the director of the Global Initiative for Children’s Surgery (GICS) which has followed on from the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery. She is the editor of four books, including a recent joint venture with her African colleagues as editor to a textbook namely ‘Paediatric Surgery: a comprehensive text for Africa’. She has to date contributed to 70 chapters to paediatric surgical textbooks and has over 300 peer-reviewed publications.
Dr Somy Charuvila is a general surgery-themed core surgical trainee and a research fellow at Oxford University Global Surgery Group (OUGSG). She graduated in 2018 from Barts and The London School of Medicine and was an academic foundation trainee in Oxford where she developed her research interest in global surgery with OUGSG. She has worked on international projects under the mentorship of Professor Kokila Lakhoo at OUGSG and other mentors at partner organisations in Bangladesh and Tanzania. Somy recently undertook the University of Oxford MSc in Surgical Sciences and Practice as a part-time student. As a surgical trainee, she is also actively involved in undergraduate surgical teaching and peer MRCS teaching.
Dr Harmit Ghattaura completed his Master’s in Surgical Science and Practice and is currently a Fellow in Paediatric Urology (Birmingham, Bristol, Southampton).