WASHINGTON (May 18, 2016) – This week more than one hundred doctors and residents from around the world will simultaneously gather at four universities across the nation, including the George Washington University (GW), to enhance participant’s existing medical skills and learn new surgical techniques, creating a platform for skill sharing across cultures. Participants are members of Operation Smile’s international network of credentialed surgical volunteers.
The international pediatric anesthesiology training will be led by faculty from the Office of International Medicine Programs and the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at the GW School of Medicine and Health sciences. Training will take place 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, May 19 and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, May 20.
The trainings will be led by nine faculty members of GW, notably the Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Anna Katharine Hindle, M.D.; Associate Dean of International Medicine and Executive Director of the Office of International Medicine Programs Huda M. Ayas, M.H.S.A, M.B.A., Ed.D.; and Clinical Professor of Surgery and Medical Director of the Office of International Medicine Programs Stanley M. Knoll, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Participants will benefit from 15.5 total hours of surgical instruction and simulation. This training is unique because it will take place, in part, at the Clinical Learning and Simulation Skills (CLASS) Center. The CLASS Center enables the creation of highly realistic scenarios for real-time training, utilizing mock operating rooms to offer hands-on practice of essential skills, procedures and critical care. The primary goal of the training is to enhance participant’s understanding of the administration of anesthesia to infants and children.
Operation Smile’s Co-Founder and CEO Bill Magee, D.D.S., M.D., attended GW as a medical student and created lasting connections with many GW faculty and alumni. The Office of International Medicine Programs became long-time partners of Operation Smile and have coordinated conferences and medical missions since 1997. Approximately 30 GW students, faculty and residents have participated in missions in the last decade. The partnership between GW and Operation Smile demonstrates both organizations’ long-lasting commitment to helping fill the global gap in access to safe, well-timed surgeries by providing training to local medical personnel in low and middle income countries.
