Meeting of professionals interested in understanding the role of surgical care in improving the health of people in developing countries.

The Burden of Surgical Disease and Assess working group seeks to promote collaboration, improved data collection and analysis as well as publications in peer reviewed journals. The group met for the first time in Seattle, Washington April 16, 17, 2008 with support from the University of Washington and Operation Smile. Conference participants invite global participation to develop consensus on key definitions, explore effective coverage for surgical and perioperative services, and promote improved data collection in low- and middle-income countries and counterpart humanitarian organizations providing surgical services. This group will also evaluate barriers to access and delivery of surgery in low -resource settings. The working group includes surgeons, including many plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, public health and metrics specialists, epidemiologists, economists and other physician and doctoral scholars. The meeting has catalyzed the beginning of a dialogue exploring the role of surgery in public health, and advocating for sustainable support of global surgical programs, including life changing facial plastic surgery, among international donors, the WHO and national health systems in all countries.