The Master of Global Surgical Care (MGSC) is an 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.
The program provides a strong foundation for present and future global surgical care professionals by developing knowledge and skills in the interpretation and use of published experience and research, balanced with applied learning in low resource settings. Students will spend four to eight weeks in an underserved location globally, producing practical “on-the-ground” skills. The location of the placement is determined by the student in consultation with a program advisor.
A blended model of practicum-based learning and on-line teaching methods facilitates the participation of candidates from across Canada and around the world.
Program Requirements
The Masters is comprised of eight core courses and one 3-credit elective.
- SURG 510 – Surgical Care in International Health
- SURG 512 – Global Disabilities: A Surgical Care Mandate
- SURG 514 – Surgical Care in Humanitarian Disaster Response
- SURG 516 – Program Planning and Evaluation in Surgical Care Low Resource Settings
- SURG 517 – Clinical Research Methods for Surgical Procedures with Global Surgical Comparisons
- SURG 518 – Surgical Care in Canada’s Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities with Global Comparisons
- SURG 542 – Directed Study in Global Surgical Care
- SURG 560 – Global Surgical Care Field Practicum (6 credits)
- Elective – 3 credits approved by Program Director
Optional: Canadian Low Resource Settings Stream
The MGSC Canadian Low Resource Settings Stream is an interdisciplinary specialized stream. Students can choose to complete the MGSC with an intense focus on the unique issues affecting surgical care in rural and remote low-resource settings in Canada.
In order to complete this stream, students must declare their interest to the Program Director upon entry into the program and must complete the following requirements:
- SURG 542 – Topic selected for Directed Study in Global Surgical Care must be closely connected to Canada and approved by the Program Director as such.
- SURG 560 – Global Surgical Care Field Practicum must be completed in Canada.
Students with an interest in global surgical care but who do not wish to complete the MGSC can enroll in SURG 510 independently of the Master’s Degree.
MGSC Graduates
Karina Olivo, RN, MGSC, BSCN
Registered Nurse
Bachelor of Nursing, University of Manitoba
Nurse Manager, Peri-operative Services, Montreal Children's Hospital
Michelle (Tran) Au, MD, MGSC, BHSc (Honours)
Master in Global Surgical Care
General Surgery Resident, University of Manitoba
MD, University of Calgary
BHSc in Biomedical Sciences and Piano Performance, University of Calgary
KIMBERLEY ALLAN MD, CCFP(ESS), MGSC
Master in Global Surgical Care
Family physician with enhanced surgical skills at Elk Valley Hospital in Fernie, BC
Family Practice Residency, University of Alberta
B.A., First Nations Studies and Bachelor of Human Kinetics, University of British Columbia
MARIA BRINZA, MD, RN
Master in Global Surgical Care
RN, Clinical Educator, Regional Perioperative Education Program, Vancouver Coastal Health
MD, University of Bucharest, Romania
ANISE BARTON, MD, FRCSC, MGSC
Master in Global Surgical Care
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery, UBC
Chair, Global Surgery Committee, Canadian Association of General Surgeons
RYAN FALK, BSC, BA, MD, CCFP(ESS), FCFP, DTM&H, MGSC
Master in Global Surgical Care
Adjunct Professor, Department of Surgery, UBC
Clinical Instructor, Rural Family Medicine, UBC
Chair, Continuing Professional Development Committee for ESS at the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada
Member, Interest Group in ESS at the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)
SYDNEY GIRARD, BSc
Master in Global Surgical Care
Radiation Therapist at Health Sciences North/Horizon Santé-Nord, Sudbury, Ontario
BSc, Radiation Therapy, Laruentian University
Advanced Diploma of Health Sciences in Radiation Therapy, Michener Institute
Certification from the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists
REGAN GUILFOYLE, MD, FRCSC
Master in Global Surgical Care
Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Alberta
Associate Director of the Office of Global Surgery, University of Alberta
DAVID ISA, MD, FRCSC
Master in Global Surgical Care
Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Fellowship, University of Toronto
Fellow of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Doctor of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland
RUPINDER KHOTAR, GenDN, PsychDN, BSCN
Master in Global Surgical Care
OR Nursing Supervisor at St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC
Former President of the Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada (ORNAC)
Former Secretary of the International Federation of Perioperative Nurses (IFPN)
Former Educator, Perioperative Nursing Program, Providence Health Care (PHC)
KRISTI LANGE, RN, BSCN
Master in Global Surgical Care
BScN, University of Victoria
Perioperative Nurse, Lions Gate Hospital, North Vancouver
Team Lead, Team Broken Earth Vancouver
Current Member of Board of Directors, Team Broken Earth
Mercedes Pilkington, MD, FRCSC
Master in Global Surgical Care
Pediatric General Surgeon, Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto
General Surgery Residency, Queen's University
Pediatric Surgery Fellowship at the University of Calgary
Cara Weessies, BSc, MD, MGSC
Master in Global Surgical Care
General Surgery Residency, University of Manitoba
Doctor of Medicine, University of Alberta
BSc in Biochemistry, University of Manitoba
LORENZ YEUNG, BSc
Master in Global Surgical Care
Clinical Research Coordinator, Princess Margaret Hospital
Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University
ANDREW ZAKHARI, MDCM, FRCSC
Master in Global Surgical Care
OBGYN at McGill University Health Centre
Assistant Professor, McGill University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology