ReSurge May Newsletter

Welcome to our ReSurge Newsletter.

At ReSurge, we care about strengthening entire surgical teams and ecosystems to ensure sustainable access to life-changing reconstructive surgical care.

In May, we celebrated the diverse heroes making our work possible, including the heroic nurses supporting some of our most transformative cases and the pioneering surgeons scaling in-country access to surgical care. At significant events, including the World Health Assembly and board trips to Nepal and India, we witnessed first-hand the impact of policy, discourse, and direct care on patients' lives.

We thank you for helping ReSurge strengthen global reconstructive surgical ecosystems, exponentially increasing access for those who most need it.

The ReSurge Team

ReSurge at the World Health Assembly in Geneva

ReSurge was honored to be represented by our Chief Program Officer, Natalie Meyers, MPH at the World Health Assembly in Geneva. On behalf of ReSurge, Natalie had the opportunity to connect and engage with partners, stakeholders, and country representatives on pressing challenges in global health, including surgically treatable conditions, gender inequality in global health, and breast cancer care. At the conference, representatives advocated for access to reconstructive surgical care to be at the forefront of global health policy, dialogue, and action.

Training a New Generation of African Surgeons 

We are training a new generation of African surgeons. By supporting in-country capacity building in Ethiopia and through the recent incorporation of Proximie 's Innovation Hub, we are advancing interregional surgical training, exchange, and collaboration on the continent. Today, the Africa Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Rehabilitation and Training (ALERT) Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is on track to become the first microsurgery training center in Africa –– while training local and visiting surgeons throughout the region. Learn more about our recent milestones in improving access to surgical care within Ethiopia and across Africa on our blog.

Board Trip to Nepal and India

ReSurge facilitated a board trip to Nepal and India. On the trip, ReSurge leadership and board members had the opportunity to connect with patients and surgical outreach partners at our local sites, including Kirtipur Hospital in Kathmandu, Fishtail Hospital in Pokhara, and a Speech Therapy camp for cleft lip and palate patients. They had the honor of meeting with the Ministry of Health to discuss the national strategy to improve access to care around the country.

The team visited current and former patients and heard their stories. For example, one such former patient was Pitam, a man who once felt defined by his cleft lip and cleft palate. After ReSurge Country Director Dr. Shankar Rai showed him kindness and offered Pitam free surgery, Pitam realized his worth, which prompted him to learn Taekwondo and reclaim his inner power. For the past 15 years, Pitam has given free self-defense classes to women and children in low-income communities, impacting almost 5,000 people.

Read Pitam's story on our blog.

New Trailer on ReSurge and SkinCeuticals Award-Winning Documentary

We are honored to partner with SkinCeuticals on the Award Winning Documentary, “A Place at the Operating Table” showcasing the inspiring story of Dr. Thandi Munaiwa and the other remarkable women surgeons in the Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery (PWRS) Program. In anticipation of the film's public debut, we jointly launched a trailer that you can watch on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

Stay tuned for the film's debut. Watch the full trailer here.

Interview With ReSurge Medical Volunteer, Susan Smith

At ReSurge, we believe that training and supporting the entire surgical team is essential to patient safety. For National Nurses Week, we interviewed Susan Smith, a ReSurge Medical Volunteer and nurse educator. She took us through a series of dynamic moments and insights she’s discovered as a nurse practitioner providing burn care in low and middle-income countries, including witnessing local surgical teams creatively make the most of what’s available, adapting her nursing practice to global events like the pandemic, experiencing diverse cultures — all while leaving something unique and lasting through the impact of surgical training. 

Read more on our blog.

International Nurses Day: Sandra González

Overall, ReSurge’s work is powered by teams of dedicated nurses worldwide, throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America. As part of our Spring Campaign, we had the honor of spotlighting Sandra González on International Nurses Day. A critical member of Dr. Terrazas’ team, she played a key role in facilitating Luz Dariana’s life-changing hand surgery. Through your generosity, ReSurge has empowered nurses like her to transform lives and improve patient outcomes. If you have not already made a gift this spring, please consider donating today to empower reconstructive surgical teams across the globe.