Committee on Global Engagement Advocacy Subcommittee

Meeting the medical needs of underserved populations in the United States and abroad requires significant financial investments and changes in governmental policies. The Advocacy Subcommittee collaborates with the ACS Division of Advocacy and Health Policy to address global surgical disparities and to promote equitable partnerships in surgical education.

This subcommittee aims to:

• Achieve equality in bilateral surgical educational exchanges through grassroots engagement and consensus-building with partners.
• Elevate surgery as a priority in the international global health advocacy space.
• Mobilize funding for neglected surgical conditions at the congressional level through USAID.

Activities

The Advocacy Subcommittee works with the ACS Division of Advocacy and Health Policy to address disparities in surgical care. This subcommittee advocates at the US congressional level for funds to support surgical systems strengthening and improve care for neglected surgical conditions by co-signing letters, drafting correspondence to congressional leaders, and participating in Capitol Hill visits during the Leadership and Advocacy Summit.

A workgroup of this subcommittee has been working diligently to identify a pathway to allow foreign physicians to come to the US and participate in short-term, hands-on clinical education experiences.

This workgroup has met with the State Department and plans to engage with other offices and academic institutions to achieve its goals.

Other subcommittee members represent the ACS on the Global Health Council to ensure that global surgical needs are prioritized by key leaders in the international health policy space (World Health Organization, UNDP, etc.).

Committee on Global Engagement Advocacy Subcommittee Roster

Contact

If you have questions or comments, contact the Committee Staff Liaison, Miranda Melone, at mmelone@facs.org.