Global Health
The Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System has a long history of supporting international mission trips. Our department has a newly formed global health division to support the ASA’s vision of improving global anesthesia care and education. Our goal is to work towards healthcare equity by addressing health disparities through education, service, research, mentorship, and sponsorship. Residents can also participate in the University of Illinois’s Center of Global Health’s graduate education certificate program. Through fundraising for Lifebox, we support international perioperative safety as they invest in tools and training to save lives. The Global Humanitarian Outreach Committee in collaboration with ASA’s Charitable Foundation supports Lifebox by raising awareness about the need for pulse oximeters, and by providing education, training, and follow up throughout Latin America. Upon graduation, our residents are equipped to help patients navigate healthcare barriers abroad and at home.
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Our department is incredibly supportive of improving global anesthesia care and education. The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) allows residents to participate in global health experiences. Residents in good academic standing are granted a fully funded rotation in a low or middle-income country. Our department recognizes cross-cultural and collaborative learning opportunities afforded by this experience. Many residents report this as their most memorable experience from training and our department is dedicated to this work.
Opportunities
- Lifebox – The GHO Committee in collaboration with the ASA Charitable Foundation supports Lifebox by raising awareness about the need for pulse oximeters, and by providing education, training, and follow up throughout Latin America.
- The Society for Education in Anesthesia(SEA)/Health Volunteers Overseas(HVO) – sponsors a competitive fellowship program to send senior residents to HVO approved sites in developing countries to teach anesthesia to trainees.
- American Society of Anesthesiologist Global Humanitarian Outreach (GHO) Resident International Anesthesia Scholarship Program provides support for U.S. anesthesiology residents to spend a month in a resource-poor setting.
- Overseas Training Program (OTP) in collaboration with the Canadian Anesthesiologists Society International Education Foundation (CASIEF)
- Collaboration with Stanford’s Global Health Division’s International Education Program
- Collaboration with Vanderbilt’s Global Health Division’s Simulation Curriculum
Educational Topics
- Global anesthesiology needs, workforce deficiencies, and outcome disparities.
- What can we learn from our international colleagues in middle and low resourced countries?
- Exploring cultural sensitivity and cultural competency.
- Ethics and professionalism during international rotations
- Global opportunities to address workforce deficiencies
- Reviewing best practice guidelines for training experiences in global health
- Simulation-based Global Health preparation
- Global Health opportunities in the time of Covid-19
- Understanding the determinants of health and the power of advocacy
- UIC Center for Global Health Program – track selection
- Department of Anesthesiology Resident Global Health Education – track selection
Participation in the Global Health lectures, simulation, and Lifebox support is required to participate in an international rotation.
CA1 -GH Introductory Lectures (101, 102), GH Lecture Series, GH Journal Club
CA2- GH Introductory Lectures (103, 104), GH Lecture Series, GH Journal Club, GH Simulation
CA3- GH Introductory Lectures (105, 106), GH Lecture Series, GH Journal Club, GH Simulation
CA4- GH Introductory Lectures (107, 108), GH Lecture Series, GH Journal Club