We are pleased to announce the Branch for Global Surgical Care (BGSC) Symposium Day, taking place on Friday, May 29, 2026, from 8:00 AM–3:00 PM PST.
This event will bring together global surgery practitioners, learners, faculty and partners from across British Columbia, Canada and the world.
Event Overview
The BGSC Global Surgery Symposium Day will:
- Showcase Masters and Students projects from our graduate educational programs
- Highlight Global Surgery Lab research and activities
- Feature global surgery initiatives from UBC, and from BC, Canada and globally
- Honour Dr. Robert Taylor, founder of the Branch and a pioneer in the field
This event welcomes:
- BC’s surgical, anesthesia, maternity care, and allied health providers engaged in global surgery
- Master’s and Certificate students and alumni of the Branch
- Global Surgery Lab members
- Partners in rural and remote BC, across Canada and in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)
Learning Goals
Participants will:
- Understand the scope, breadth, and impact of Master’s student projects
- Learn about current research, initiatives, and opportunities in global surgery at UBC and across BC
Highlights
- Presentations from Master’s students (10-minute talks + discussion)
- A Global Surgery Lab session led by Drs. Emilie Joos and Shahrzad Joharifard
- A special ceremony honouring Dr. Robert Taylor, including remarks, a guest speaker, and the formal naming of future symposia as the Dr. Robert Taylor Branch Symposium Day
- Afternoon short presentations (5–7 minutes) from BC and UBC partners, followed by a moderated panel on project setup, partnerships, funding, sustainability, ethics, and capacity building
Event Details
When: Friday, May 29, 2026 | 08:00 AM–3:00 PM PST
Where: In person at UBC Medical Student & Alumni Centre (MSAC), 2750 Heather St, Vancouver, BC, Canada and virtually via Zoom
Speaker Information: Coming soon!
Questions? For general inquiries, please contact global.surgery@ubc.ca
The Division of Continuing Professional Development, University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine (UBC CPD) is fully accredited by the Continuing Medical Education Accreditation Committee (CACME) to provide CPD credits for physicians. This activity is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and approved by UBC CPD. You may claim a maximum of 5.0 hours (credits are automatically calculated). Each physician should claim only those credits accrued through participation in the activity.