Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has a rich history of caring for, and engaging, patient populations that otherwise face neglect and disparities in access to quality healthcare. This is particularly true of the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine. In recent years, the department has made great strides in developing and implementing a strategy to engage with the global health community and actively work toward more equitable and just medical care around the world. This strategy involves collaborative research projects, training of trainers programs and efforts to drive innovation and develop technology. The division of global health within the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine strive to benefit from the collaborative inputs of our students, trainees and long-terms members of the department. The Division uses the following vision and core values to guide our efforts.
Vision:
To contribute to the equitable provision of high-quality perioperative and critical care for patients the world over, especially in low-resource and human capacity settings.
Core Values:
That access to essential, lifesaving anesthesia care is a human right.
That the practice of medicine is fundamentally a moral undertaking, and it must be done with an understanding of social, scientific, political, financial and personal factors that impact patient care.
That education is key to disseminating knowledge and understanding between healthcare partners for the benefit of medical providers, patients and their families.
That research helps to elevate care as it is provided around the globe and must be undertaken in the spirit of partnership and with a strong understanding of social, moral and equitable standards.
Equitable health delivery and maintenance is of paramount importance in striving for a global health environment in which, where a person lives does not define the quality of care that they receive.
Making an Impact:
MEET OUR TEAM
Team India
Under the leadership of Dr. Shweta Yemul Golhar, we conducted a needs assessment to evaluate the capacity for perioperative ultrasound education among anesthesia providers in India. In response, we launched a pilot virtual distance-learning curriculum in Pune, now in its second cohort. The structured program includes modules on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), gastric ultrasound, lung ultrasound, the FAST exam, and the RUSH protocol. The curriculum features live online Zoom sessions and incorporates image submissions by participants for quality assurance and feedback. This initiative aims to strengthen POCUS competency and build sustainable capacity through accessible, high-quality virtual education.
Team Pakistan
The team in Pakistan, led by Dr. Robina Matyal, is actively working on the Recognize, Evaluate, and Resuscitate (RER) project. This initiative focuses on enhancing clinical skills in early recognition and management of critical cases through interactive case scenarios, training videos, and standardized protocols, aiming to improve patient outcomes and resuscitation practices in resource-limited settings.
Team Liberia
The Boston-Africa Anesthesia Collaborative (BAAC) is a partnership of anesthesia providers in Liberia and the United States committed to building sustainable, high-quality, and accessible anesthesia care in Africa. Since its inception in 2017, BAAC has focused on strengthening nurse anesthesia education, supporting faculty development, and advancing clinical practice through transnational collaboration.
- Certificate in Advanced Nurse Anesthesia Education
- Boston–Liberia Visiting Anesthesia Scholar Program
- Transnational Anesthesia Grand Rounds
- Continuing Professional Development Modules
- Support for the Phebe Esther-Bacon College of Health Sciences, Nurse Anesthesia Program
Team Botswana
The Botswana Global Health Program in Anesthesia and Critical Care, launched in 2017, partners with the Botswana Ministry of Health and the Botswana–Harvard Partnership to support anesthesia education and service delivery at Princess Marina Hospital (PMH), Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital (SKMT), and Scottish Livingstone Hospital (SLH).
MEETINGS
Boston Global Anesthesia Initiative
On Thursday, October 24th, the Boston Global Anesthesia Initiative (BGAI) meeting brought together physicians, researchers, and trainees from Boston-area anesthesia programs to discuss global health and promote collaborative efforts.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Global Health Program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) has developed a distance education curriculum and certification program to equip physicians with basic point of care ultrasound skills.