GCCA Webinar: Sustainability in Global Surgery: Lessons Learned by Partnerships for Global Surgery (PGS)

Joshua Wiedermann, MD 
 

Learn about Joshua Wiedermann, MD 

Josh Wiedermann, MD, a board-certified pediatric otolaryngology head and neck surgeon, moved to Mekelle, Ethiopia, in 2018 after completing his pediatric otolaryngology fellowship. His decision to work abroad was deeply rooted in two pivotal experiences during medical school and residency. His passion for teaching blossomed during a formative summer in Botswana working with the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative between his first and second years of medical school. Then, in his 4th year of residency, a good friend joined a volunteer medical organization and moved to Liberia. Deeply inspired by these events, Wiedermann moved to Ethiopia with the primary mission of helping the local team establish an otolaryngology residency training program. Through this challenging experience, he developed a deep passion for global surgery, emphasizing the importance of clinical education, collaborative relationships, and sustainable partnerships. Following his time abroad, he earned a Master’s in Global Surgical Care, further expanding his passion for addressing healthcare challenges in underserved regions.

Myra Zaheer, MD Candidate
 

Learn about Myra Zaheer, MD Candidate

Myra Zaheer, originally from the Midwest, is a fourth-year medical student at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She is passionate about otolaryngology, with research interests in gender disparities in academic medicine, improving healthcare access for underserved populations, and developing innovative hearing care models in rural communities. She serves as Co-Director of Partnerships for Global Surgery, where she leads efforts to develop curricula that expand research and medical training in resource-limited settings and advance capacity-building through bidirectional partnerships in Ethiopia. 

Cody Messick, MD Candidate
 

Learn about Cody Messick, MD Candidate

Cody Messick, BS, is a third-year medical student at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine – Arizona Campus with interests in otolaryngology, global surgery, and medical innovation. He is involved in research aimed at expanding surgical training capacity and developing low-cost, high-fidelity procedural simulators for airway foreign body removal in low-resource settings. He is also completing a certification program in tissue engineering through Carnegie Mellon University, with a growing interest in regenerative approaches to airway pathology.

Evani Patel, MD Candidate

Learn about Evani Patel, MD Candidate

Evani Patel, BS, is a second-year medical student at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. She is originally from Atlanta, Georgia and attended the Georgia Institute of Technology for her undergraduate education. She is interested in otolaryngology with research interests in low costs medical devices in low-resource settings and host microbiology of the airway. She serves as the co-leader of the Otolaryngology Interest Group and has cultivated a community garden with the medical school to foster community and support food insecurity.