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Faculty of MedicineBranch for Global Surgical Care
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  • Congratulations Fall 2025 Graduates!

    Congratulations to Mathilde Billau and Huiyu Anne Li for graduating from the Master of Global Surgical Care in November 2025! BGSC is very excited to see where they will take their newfound skills and learnings and how they will apply them to a career in global surgical care in the future. They will be empowered […] Read More

  • Applications Now Open! September 2026 Intake for GCGSC and MGSC – Deadline is April 1, 2026

    Our online programs are for interdisciplinary surgical care professionals focused on addressing challenges and contributing to solutions in low-resource settings. Apply here to start in Sept 2026! The application deadline is April 1, 2026. For more information on how to apply, please visit here. Read More

  • Student Spotlight: Haley Shade

    Dr. Haley Shade is a second-year General Surgery Resident and medical school graduate from the University of Calgary. She is in her first year as a student in the Master of Global Surgical Care program. Read on to find out more about Haley, her experiences, what led her to the MGSC, and more! What are some […] Read More

  • BGSC & GSL Presentations at Chung Day 2025

    The Chung Research Day is a highlight of the year for the UBC Department of Surgery. It is a celebration of innovation, inquiry, and collaboration in surgical science. This annual academic event showcases groundbreaking research across basic, clinical, and educational domains. Named in honour of the W.B. and M.H. Chung Lectureship, established through their generous […] Read More

  • Student Spotlight: Ala Magzoub

    Ala Magzoub is a medical graduate from University of Gezira, Sudan, who is currently completing her internship in University of Beni-Suef, Egypt. She is in her first year as a student in the Master of Global Surgical Care program. Read on to find out more about Ala, her experiences, what led her to the MGSC, and […] Read More

  • Alumni Spotlight: Karina Olivo

    We are proud to share an exciting career update from Karina Olivo, alumna of the Master of Global Surgical Care (MGSC) program at UBC. Karina recently transitioned from her role as Manager of Peri-operative Services at the Montreal Children’s Hospital to become the Senior Manager for Global Programs at Operation Smile, a leading international nonprofit […] Read More

  • Global Surgery Elective – Available for UBC 4th Year MD Students

    Are you a 4th year UBC medical student interested in learning more about global surgical care? In this 2-week global surgery elective course, you will have the opportunity to explore global surgery with the support of an experienced BGSC faculty member as a preceptor. Register today! Read More

  • SURG 512: Global Disability– A Surgical Care Mandate

    In this online graduate course, students will critique current models of addressing the fact that globally, one billion people live with a disability of whom 80% live in resource limited settings which further compounds the family and public burden and discuss frameworks for moving forward. Read More

  • SURG 517: Clinical Research Methods for Surgical Procedures with Global Surgical Comparisons

    This course is intended to introduce learners in surgical care to surgical clinical research methods and emphasize approaches to clinical research that are different for surgical research compared to medical research. Read More

  • SURG 560: Global Surgical Care Field Practicum

    In the field practicum, students will design and implement a global surgical care project, “grounding” their knowledge and skills attained in the other courses of the program. Read More


Advancing surgical care globally

Global surgery is an emerging discipline that aims to build capacity in surgical care in the areas of the world where it is most needed. Global surgical care delivery projects, international partnerships focused on surgical care education and research, and global disasters either man-made or natural requiring a surgical care response all highlight the opportunities and necessity for appropriately trained health professionals.

Since 2009, the graduate-level programs at Branch for Global Surgical Care (BGSC) have been meeting the learning needs of surgical care clinicians, residents in training and health professionals from many disciplines who wish to incorporate international surgical care into their careers.

In 2021, the Global Surgery Lab was created and designed to be an interdisciplinary, inclusive, and diverse group that aims to improve knowledge of and access to surgical care in underserved communities through innovative, anti-colonialist, and equitable educational platforms and research projects.

As our Graduate Courses and Programs continue to shape new surgical leaders in the field, in parallel, the Lab focuses on grassroots efforts to improve surgical
care on the ground. The existing synergies between the two further allow the Department of Surgery to promote Global Surgical Care and fulfill its strategic
priorities in the areas of research and innovation, education, faculty engagement and development, and the creation of sustainable partnerships at the provincial,
national and global levels.


Education Programs

Delivered fully online and accessible internationally, our programs are available to students all around the world.

Interdisciplinary in nature. Join a diverse classroom of surgeons and allied health professionals from different disciplines and regional settings.

Flexible with both full-time and part-time options. Our programs can be integrated at a comfortable pace by working professionals.


Master of Global Surgical Care

Online 2-year, 30-credit specialized program designed to prepare surgical care professionals from many disciplines to address surgical challenges and contribute to solutions in low-resource settings globally.


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International Surgery

Graduate Certificate in Global Surgical Care

Online 12-credit certificate program designed to meet the growing need for professional development in global surgical care.


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MD Undergraduate Elective

Online 2-week global surgery elective course that provides MD undergraduate students the opportunity to explore global surgery with the support of an experienced BGSC faculty member as a preceptor.


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News & Events

Congratulations Fall 2025 Graduates!

November 24, 2025

Applications Now Open! September 2026 Intake for GCGSC and MGSC – Deadline is April 1, 2026

November 20, 2025


BGSC Student Spotlight: Haley Shade

November 5, 2025

BGSC & GSL Presentations at Chung Day 2025

November 4, 2025

MGSC Student Spotlight: Ala Magzoub

October 14, 2025

MGSC Alumni Spotlight: Karina Olivo

October 8, 2025



Our Community

Meet the Team

Community Spotlights

Meet some of our inspiring faculty, staff, and trainees, and learn more about their interests and accomplishments.


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Research Projects

Engage with BGSC

Find out more about the Branch and how to engage with us including subscribing to our newsletter, reading about our Strategic Priorities, and more!


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Essential Surgical Skills Curriculum

Global Surgery Lab

The GSL is an interdisciplinary, inclusive, and diverse group that aims to improve knowledge of and access to surgical care in underserved communities through innovative, anti-colonialistic, and equitable educational platforms and research projects.


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Support BGSC

Support the education of future global surgical care leaders by giving to our educational programs or our bursary award fund for low resource surgeons.


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Branch for Global Surgical Care
Faculty of Medicine
Room 11135
2775 Laurel Street
Vancouver, BC Canada V5Z 1M9
Tel 604 875 4111 (ext. 23110)
Fax 604 675 3663
Website globalsurgery.med.ubc.ca/
Email global.surgery@ubc.ca
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