Have You Faced Any Challenges in Global Surgery?

Embarking on the path of medicine has really been an eye-opening, mind-opening and transformative experience for me as an individual. But surgery has taught me how a bunch of skilful hands and powerful minds operating the sophisticated surgical equipment can make life-and-death decisions, similar to how life works.

While sitting to write it down, I am being teleported to the year 2023, when I witnessed my first surgery in the orthopedics and traumatology department, and how it evoked so many emotions in me, it was educational, fascinating and scary all at once. Coming from an Asian country and studying in a European country is definitely difficult considering the cultural and linguistic changes.

Engaging with diverse communities across the globe demands a nuanced understanding of cultural nuances. Language barriers often pose hurdles, requiring adaptability and innovative communication strategies to ensure effective patient care and collaboration with local medical professionals. I still remember the excitement I had while going to attend my first surgery and how much I wanted to be a part of each and everything but wasn't able to be because I couldn't understand all the bits, and it's not just from the educational point of view it's from the emotional point as well. You don't relate to the songs played by Doctors during long surgeries, or the educational discussions they do in between. Though it does come with its own pros of teaching you to be flexible and adaptable yet it does make you feel " not at the place" at times.

The resource disparities, the stark difference between areas with scarce resources and well-equipped regions is definitely disheartening. For how I remember one of my professors had to live for 3 months in a different country for the surgical procedures her child wants which were not available in her home country. I see people coming to my city all the way from their states and living in a completely different environment and region, sleeping on floors and roads just so their loved ones can have the medical facility that is not provided in their region. The emotional toll of witnessing the extent of surgical needs in underserved regions can be profound. Coping with the emotional strain requires a resilient mindset and a supportive network to prevent burnout and maintain a sustainable commitment to global surgical efforts.

It is overwhelming when you first experience it, it is hard, but it is motivational, fascinating and scary all at the same time. But we need to remember with determination and a collaborative spirit, transformative experiences will make path, fostering a deeper understanding of the global surgical landscape.

Inderpreet Kaur

BAU International University, Batumi, Georgia

Inderpreet began training. in Kharkiv, Ukraine until war broke out but transferred to BAU International University to continue medical training.