Reflections from our Fellows

Growing up in Korea, I developed an early understanding of how culture profoundly influences healthcare practices and patient decisions. This sparked my interest in learning how different populations respond to disease and its treatments. I entered medical school driven by a desire to acquire skills that would make me versatile in providing care during crises such as disaster relief and humanitarian aid.

As I pursued this path, I learned that essential surgical procedures are among the most cost-effective health interventions, capable of preventing approximately 1.5 million deaths annually in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). More lives are lost from a lack of access to surgical

care than from HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria combined, according to The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery. This realization shifted my focus toward global surgery, but I was unsure how to take my first steps. Concerns about sustainability, partner exclusion, and unmet needs loomed large, leaving me uncertain about how to build on my interests effectively.

My involvement in the first Colorectal Surgery Fellowship in Ghana provided a unique chance to learn from a mentor whose dedication to her community was evident in all aspects of her work. The fellowship’s success in integrating clinical, educational, and research efforts into sustainable practices was a valuable lesson in addressing the complexities of global surgery. I had the privilege of accompanying the team to one of the site visits to Kumasi, Ghana, during

which we piloted a smart headset for intraoperative teaching, enabling remote instruction from the operating room to learners around the world. This project aimed to bridge educational disparities and create a sustainable system where specialized surgical education went beyond operating room doors. Having the opportunity to troubleshoot the technology directly with the first fellowship-trained Colorectal Surgeon in Ghana, Dr. Kwabena Agbedinu, and learn the

systemic barriers from his point of view was incredibly special.

My broader commitment to global health has been shaped by experiences such as my Global Health Policy Internship, where I conducted a qualitative analysis of tuberculosis infection control in Tanzania, and previous projects pursued at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), when I investigated gaps in the referral system. These experiences underscored that while technology can be transformative, the humanistic values that underpin uptake of new surgical skills—empathy and cultural understanding—are equally important. The fellowship reaffirmed my commitment to a career in surgery and to fostering collaborations that promote health equity. By empowering one surgical trainee at a time, we can move closer to a world where everyone has access to the care they need, no matter where they live.

BIOGRAPHY

Erin Kim is an MD/MPH candidate at the University of Michigan. Erin is passionate for global surgery, surgical oncology, and physician mental wellbeing. Her research interests include leveraging innovation to overcome challenges in surgical education in LMICs and surgical outcomes research for patients with cancer. Previously, Erin obtained a Bachelor of Science in

Human Biology, Health, and Society from Cornell University, with minors in Global and Public Health and Inequality studies. Erin served as a Global Health Policy Intern at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College in Tanzania and worked in Division of Pharmacoepidemiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital before medical school.