Surgical Mission Trips as a Component of Medical Education and Residency Training

Global health care is becoming increasingly important in medical education and resident training. Medical students frequently mention their interest in international health care during their residency interviews and training programs are now beginning to offer exposure to medicine in foreign countries. Numerous medical schools and anesthesia residencies include students and residents in formal international health care missions as part of the structured curriculum. The exact role that each of these holds and should play on mission trips has yet to be determined. In the USA, the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) provides an application form for pre-approval of non-accredited electives. By contrast, the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) in the UK offers a more complete description of the resident’s aims and goals during a rotation in a low-income environment. Perhaps the most progressive program is offered by The Department of Anaesthesia at Oxford University that runs a 5-day program in Kampala, Uganda, entitled “Anaesthesia in Developing Countries” that serves to prepare clinicians for work in environments low in resources. Such programs provide exposure to clinical conditions and patient care, experiences that might not be available at home. It also exposes trainees to cultures and experiences foreign to their own.