The Global Surgery Advocacy and Policy Fellowship is a collaborative effort that combines global surgery education resources from Baylor College of Medicine with the policy education resources at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. The fellowship helps the postdoc gain a deeper understanding of developing global health and global surgery policy. The fellow studies current policies in Texas, the United States and in other countries around the world and then identifies potential policies that could be adapted to improve access to healthcare. Through the fellowship, they develop global health diplomacy skills while advocating for policies to improve access to surgical healthcare.
The program is focused on policy education and research three days each week and global surgery didactics and clinical efforts two days a week. The fellow receives regular mentorship from both Baylor College of Medicine faculty as well as faculty and experts at the Baker Institute. By the end of the fellowship, the fellow presents and publishes a policy brief.
With this fellowship, I have the unique opportunity to learn how healthcare policies are developed on local, national and international levels and to research on a global surgery topic of my interest. My research includes learning about day-to-day delivery of healthcare locally and the disparities that are yet to be overcome. Working with the Baker Institute has opened doors to a deeper learning in healthcare policy that will be invaluable in my future work as an academic global surgeon.
