Dr. Sam Bugis began his position as the new Medical Director of the Branch for Global Surgical Care on July 1, 2023.
We took this opportunity to ask him to share his perspective on global surgery, future directions for the Branch and its programs, and more!
Read on to learn more about Dr. Bugis.
Read his bio here.
- What inspired you to get involved in the field of global surgery?
At about the same time that the Bethune Round Table Conference was held in Vancouver in 2013 and that I was learning about the Canadian Network for International Surgery (CNIS), I attended an evening with Dr. Robert Taylor talking about his experience in and devotion to global surgery. The inspiration gathered from all of that sent me to Halifax to take an Instructor’s Course in the CNIS Essential Surgical Skills and a few months later I was in Africa supporting 2 ESS courses in Moshi, Tanzania.
- What were the challenges you faced in your global surgical career from first getting involved to now leading the Branch for Global Surgical Care at UBC?
Learning what global surgery is all about when I first became interested was a challenge. It is so much more than volunteering to do surgery in a low or middle income country. Continuing to learn what it’s all about remains critically important as the field has expanded dramatically over the last decade with the publication of the Lancet Report and the multiple groups, organizations and academic centres that are now involved. How do you decide to learn about and contribute to the work – surgery, teaching, research, system improvement, building capacity and advocacy are all options.
- Can you share your work experiences in global surgery and how the experiences have changed you and your perspectives.
I have been very fortunate now to have visited many East African Countries and South America. Those visits have involved teaching various surgical skills in low technology simulation settings to Medical Officers, Medical Students and Non Physician Providers like Clinical Officers and Associate Medical Officers. I have also taken part in Member and Fellowship Exams for the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) and enjoyed Resident teaching in a Surgical Training Program supported by the Canadian Association of General Surgeons. I have learned that there are many expert providers in all of those places who are limited by their numbers compared to the populations they serve and by their unpredictable and very limited access to basic resources and basic technology that we take for granted. This has helped me understand where and how I may want to contribute. It also gives me a valuable perspective on the system we have here at home.
- As the new Director of BGSC, what future direction do you plan to take for the Branch?
The Branch is already in very good hands with Dr. Emilie Joos as Associate Medical Director who has a wealth of global surgical experience and runs an innovation and research oriented Global Surgery Lab. The Masters and Graduate Certificate programs comprised of a variety of graduate courses related to global surgery are in equally good hands with Dr. Faizal Haji as Graduate Program Advisor. MY role is supporting them as their programs mature and expand consistent with the recently adopted BGSC Strategic Plan 2022 – 27. I also see a role for identifying, communicating with and engaging surgeons and physicians in British Columbia who are participating in global surgery or would like to be doing so. I see a similar role in engaging other Canadian academic centres, groups and organizations so that we are helping to build capacity in the best way possible, always listening to the needs of the local providers and their communities. We have some existing relationships with partners overseas. I would like to see those mature and come to fruition.
- What qualities and skills are important for those interested in participating in global surgical care? Can you share any advice to the individuals who aspire to contribute to global surgical care?
Be interested and prepared to learn about the many facets of global surgery. Take time to speak to people with experience who can help direct you. Recognize that surgical skills are important but so is understanding the people that are learning the skills. Their backgrounds, values and culture may differ from what we are used to. Remember to appreciate the opportunity you have to understand and learn from that.
- Can you please tell us more about the programs offered by BGSC for anyone who is interested in getting involved in the Branch either as a student, volunteer, or faculty member?
The Branch offers graduate educational courses that can be taken as a Masters, as a Certificate or in individual courses. The Global Surgery Lab is a centre for research, innovation and capacity building. As I have mentioned above, we want to engage interested folks, hear about what they are doing and how we may be able to support it. The best thing I can do here is refer you to contact Education Manager Cecilia Gruber who will help answer any questions at global.surgery@ubc.ca