Program Manager Specializing in Health Systems Strengthening, Workforce Development, and Quality Medical Education | Global Surgery Advocate
“For 80% of the outcomes come from 20% of causes (the "vital few"). “ The Pareto Principle The complexity and scale of global health issues require us to approach them with a clear purpose and determination. In the context of safe surgery, numerous factors, such as inadequate workforce, infrastructure, financing, and policies, limit service delivery. By focusing on the critical 20%, we can address the challenges that limit access to safe surgery more effectively. A system-based approach is essential to tackle these key issues without extending inequities in access to surgery. My takeaway from exploring the global surgery curriculum is the importance of understanding the intricacies of our working context. A deeper understanding of the local context will enable us to identify the “vital few” and develop interventions or scale best practices that yield the most impactful changes. One experience that brought this home was my work in global surgery, primarily focusing on the anesthesia workforce. Initially, our efforts centered on three major activities: pre-service training, building teaching capacity, and providing continuous medical education. However, as the program progressed, we realized that we would not achieve our goals without addressing challenges in the work environment—such as appropriate equipment and supplies, and essential policies like scope of practice — and promote the recruitment and retention of an adequate anesthesia workforce. While it was important to focus on education, creating a conducive work environment was essential to achieve 80% of our expected outcomes from a competent workforce. Going forward, I will apply the insights and skills I have gained in this course to improve the work I am engaged in and ensure that we address the vital few to ensure that we can not only achieve the desired outcomes but also create sustained impact #GlobalHealth #SafeSurgery #HealthEquity #MyGlobalSurgeryJourney
