People of the world need our help.

Access to surgical care is a global problem. It plagues the health of people around the world. In order to make a difference, we're going to have to work together.

The Global Burden of Surgical Disease 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.

What took form was the Global Burden of Surgical Disease working group. This group invites 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 also looks to evaluate barriers to access and delivery of surgery in low-resource settings.

Our group is comprised of 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.