A Devex event in partnership with United Surgeons for Children

Improving access to pediatric surgery:

Lessons learned from South-to-South collaboration

January 28, 2021

9 a.m. ET | 3 p.m. CET

Register

In partnership with

Watch

About the Event

On Thursday, Jan. 28, Devex and United Surgeons for Children hosted an event that looked at lessons learned from sustainable models of south-to-south capacity building and its role in improving access to pediatric surgery around the globe. Prior to the pandemic, an estimated 5 billion people were living without access to surgery. Yet improved access to surgery has the potential to save 10 million lives each year.

The event discussed how surgical experts can best train and transfer new knowledge and technologies to elevate local capacities in pediatric surgeries between countries in the global south, as well as highlight ways in which similar models could help expand access to care and surgery.

We encourage you to join the online conversation using #DevexEVENT, #PediatricSurgery, and #UnitedSurgeonsForChildren.

Schedule

9:00 a.m. ET

Opening remarks with Jenny Ravelo, Senior Reporter, Devex

9:05 a.m. ET

One-on-one conversation: “The state of access to surgery” with Prof. Dominique Jan

9:15 a.m. ET

Panel conversation

9:55 a.m. ET

Closing remarks with Dr. Eric Cheysson

Speakers

Prof. Emmanuel A. Ameh

Chief Consultant Pediatric Surgeon, Division of Pediatric Surgery, National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria

Emmanuel A. Ameh, MBBS, FWACS, FACS is a Professor of Pediatric Surgery and Chief Consultant Pediatric Surgeon at the National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria. He was formerly Professor of Surgery at the Ahmadu Bello University where he started the very first Smile Train cleft care programme in Nigeria.
His research focuses on global surgery, access to surgical care and children’s surgical care in low resource settings. In this regard, He has published over 200 papers in several peer reviewed journals around the world, edited 3 books and written several book chapters on various aspects of surgical care of children and global surgery.

Najeebullah Bina, MD, PhD

Clinical Professor, Chief Service Line of Cardiac Services, Head of Cardiac Surgery at the French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children

Dr. Najeebullah Bina, a cardiac surgeon graduated from Kabul Medical University and trained in France in this field, has been developing paediatric cardiac surgery at the French Medical Institute for Children in Kabul since its opening. In 2008, he performed the first cardiac surgical procedure with a team made up of only Afghan staff. He is currently Head of the cardiac programme and carries out about 300 surgeries every year on children and adults.

Mamta Carroll

Vice President & Regional Director, Asia, Smile Train

Mamta joined Smile Train in 2006 managing the largest program area in India. Currently she manages South Asia, Southeast Asia and MENA, comprising 19 countries. These are intricate, dissimilar and complex geographies with diverse socio-economic and cultural dynamics. Mamta has led Smile Train’s Asia team in extending both reach and impact besides creating sustainable programs, strategic partnerships and a deeper, broader integration of Smile Train’s engagements with multiple stakeholders.

Eric Cheysson, MD

President of La Chaîne de l’Espoir, Board Member of United Surgeons for Children, Head of the Vascular and Thoracic Surgery Department at the René Dubos Hospital, France

Dr. Eric Cheysson is an expert French surgeon specialized in vascular and thoracic surgery. Since 1989, Dr. Cheysson has served as of the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department at the Hospital René Dubos de Pontoise in France. In conjunction with his surgical career, Dr. Cheysson has been an active humanitarian. This story began when he joined “One Boat for Vietnam“ and “Island of Light” – two medical rescue missions for Vietnamese refugees. Dr. Cheysson went on to co-found Doctors of the World in 1980 – leading various missions in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe. In fact, he was one of the first humanitarian doctors to treat the civilian population and Mujahideen fighters in Afghanistan when it was invaded by the Soviet army.

Dominique Jan, MD, PhD

Division Chief of Pediatric Surgery and Director Pediatric Abdominal Transplantation at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. Professor of Surgery at Montefiore Einstein College Of Medicine in New York

Dominique received his medical degree from the Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie in Paris. He completed his internship and residency in general surgery with special training in pediatric surgery, urology, surgery of the digestive tract and vascular surgery at the Assistance publique – Hôpitaux de Paris. Dr. Jan is a member of numerous leading international professional societies and has published and presented more than 100 articles in the areas of pediatric transplantation of the small bowel, liver and kidney.

Jenny Lei Ravelo

Moderator

Senior Reporter, Devex

Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.

United Surgeons for Children operates holistic health programs, with particular expertise in surgery, that save lives and avert disability. United Surgeons for Children is dedicated to expanding access to surgery in developing countries – creating a world in which all children, regardless of wealth or nationality, can have the opportunity to thrive in health.