1 / 12

Building a Successful Global Health Career: Insights from Dr. Stephen Bickler

Dr. Stephen Bickler, Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego, shares invaluable tips for developing a successful career in global health. With experience in pediatric surgery in The Gambia, he emphasizes the importance of addressing surgical needs in developing countries. He advises aspiring global health professionals to travel widely, seek overseas work experience, learn foreign languages, and publish research. Establishing mentorships and pursuing innovation despite traditional barriers are crucial steps toward making a meaningful impact.

marie
Download Presentation

Building a Successful Global Health Career: Insights from Dr. Stephen Bickler

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Tips for developing a successful global health career Stephen Bickler, MD Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics University of California, San Diego

  2. Pediatric surgery in The Gambia Main government referral hospital • All children aged <15 years treated for surgical problems during 29 months • Inpatient (n=1726) -34,625 total inpatient days -Average census = 40 pts • Outpatient (n=6606) • Operations (n=1347)

  3. Spectrum of surgical conditions Bickler et al, WHO 2000

  4. Estimated Need for Surgical Care Bickler,et al, Trop Doct, 2003

  5. Risk factors for surgical deaths • Analysis of pediatric surgical deaths (n=88) • Univariate and logistic regression • Highest in-hospital mortality • Children aged < 1 year (OR 2.9, p= .0005) • Burn diagnosis (OR 5.2, p <.0001) • Residence outside the Greater Banjul Area (OR 6.6, p =.01) • Female sex was associated with an increased risk of death (P=.065). PAPSA, 2005

  6. Incidence of common conditions Bickler, et al, Ped J Gastro Nutrition 2000

  7. Surgery in settings of limited resources

  8. Strategies for improving care …the challenges for pediatric surgery in developing countries are those of definition, policy and delivery. Bickler & Rode, Bull WHO, 2003 • The role of pediatric surgery in developing countries remains poorly defined • Health care policy does not reflect the surgical needs of children • Major problems with delivery of care • Long distances • Limited facilities, equipment, human resources • Shortage of qualified pediatric surgeons

  9. Strategies for improving care • Focusing our efforts • Demonstrate the need for pediatric surgical care • Define a cost-effective package of pediatric surgical care • Improve pediatric surgical care at the community level • Strengthen pediatric surgical education Bickler & Rode, Bull WHO, 2002

  10. Career tips • Travel as much as possible • Always go for the best opportunity, even though it might not be the most direct route to your eventual goal • Get as much overseas work experience as possible

  11. Career tips • Learn a foreign language • Acquire formal training in tropical medicine • Publish, publish, publish! • Create your own foundation

  12. Career tips • Identify mentors • Get yourself into a position where you can influence the bigger picture • Don’t be discouraged by traditional thinkers • Take risks in your career • Have fun!

More Related