The Need for Health Policy Training for Surgeons

Abrar Ahmed; Rudra Pandya; Chris Zajner; Helen Jingshu Jin; Anser Daud; David R Urbach

doi:10.1016/j.jsurg.2024.03.013

The Need for Health Policy Training for Surgeons

J Surg Educ. 2024 May 13:S1931-7204(24)00160-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2024.03.013. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Abrar Ahmed¹, Rudra Pandya², Chris Zajner², Helen Jingshu Jin², Anser Daud³, David R Urbach⁴

Affiliations

¹ Schulich School of Medicine, Western University, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 5C1; Reach Alliance, Munk school of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto, 1 Devonshire Pl, Toronto, ON M5S 3K7.
² Schulich School of Medicine, Western University, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 5C1.
³ Department of Surgery, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 6 Queen's Park Crescent West, Third Floor Toronto, ON M5S 3H2.
⁴ Department of Surgery, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 6 Queen's Park Crescent West, Third Floor Toronto, ON M5S 3H2; Head, Department of Surgery, Women's College Hospital, 76 Grenville St, Toronto ON M5S 1B2; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Suite 425 Toronto, ON M5T 3M6. Electronic address: david.urbach@wchospital.ca.

PMID: 38744644
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2024.03.013

Abstract

Background: Improvements in surgery at a systems level can be mediated by effective health policy.

Methods: We reviewed three contemporary challenges in surgical care to understand the potential role of health policy.

Results: The pandemic-related backlog, and international economic and logistical challenges to surgical care may be improved through policy change and advocacy by surgeons.

Conclusions: A surgeon-policy expert training pathway and professional role will ensure surgeons contribute meaningfully to health policy development.

Keywords: access to surgical care; health policy; healthcare economics; medical education; surgical backlog; surgical care.