Master’s Degree

The Master of Global Surgical Care (MGSC) is an online 2-year, 30-credit specialized program designed to prepare surgical care professionals from many disciplines to address surgical challenges and contribute to solutions in low-resource settings globally.

The program provides a strong foundation for present and future global surgical care professionals by developing knowledge and skills in the interpretation and use of published experience and research, balanced with applied learning in low resource settings. Students complete a practicum, in which they conceptualize and design, at a graduate level, a surgical care project, either in a research or educational development format, for a low resource setting globally, producing practical “on-the-ground” skills. The location of the placement is determined by the student in consultation with a program advisor.

A blended model of practicum-based learning and on-line teaching methods facilitates the participation of candidates from across Canada and around the world.

Program Requirements

The Masters is comprised of eight core courses and one 3-credit elective.

  • SURG 510 – Surgical Care in International Health
  • SURG 512 – Global Disabilities: A Surgical Care Mandate
  • SURG 514 – Surgical Care in Humanitarian Disaster Response
  • SURG 516 – Program Planning and Evaluation in Surgical Care Low Resource Settings
  • SURG 517 – Clinical Research Methods for Surgical Procedures with Global Surgical Comparisons
  • SURG 518 – Surgical Care in Canada’s Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities with Global Comparisons
  • SURG 542 – Directed Study in Global Surgical Care
  • SURG 560 – Global Surgical Care Field Practicum (6 credits)
  • Elective – 3 credits approved by Program Director
Optional: Canadian Low Resource Settings Stream

The MGSC Canadian Low Resource Settings Stream is an interdisciplinary specialized stream. Students can choose to complete the MGSC with an intense focus on the unique issues affecting surgical care in rural and remote low-resource settings in Canada.

In order to complete this stream, students must declare their interest to the Program Director upon entry into the program and must complete the following requirements:

  • SURG 542 – Topic selected for Directed Study in Global Surgical Care must be closely connected to Canada and approved by the Program Director as such.
  • SURG 560 – Global Surgical Care Field Practicum must be completed in Canada.

Students with an interest in global surgical care but who do not wish to complete the MGSC can enroll in SURG 510 independently of the Master’s Degree.


MGSC Graduates

Michelle (Tran) Au, MD, MGSC, BHSc (Honours)

Michelle (Tran) Au

MICHELLE (TRAN) AU, MD, MGSC, BHSc (Honours)

Master in Global Surgical Care

General Surgery Resident, University of Manitoba

MD, University of Calgary 

BHSc in Biomedical Sciences and Piano Performance, University of Calgary

Kimberley Allan, MD, FRCSC, MGSC

Kimberley Allan

KIMBERLEY ALLAN MD, CCFP(ESS), MGSC

Master in Global Surgical Care

Family physician with enhanced surgical skills at Elk Valley Hospital in Fernie, BC

Family Practice Residency, University of Alberta

B.A., First Nations Studies and Bachelor of Human Kinetics, University of British Columbia

Maria Brinza, MD, RN

Maria Brinza

MARIA BRINZA, MD, RN

Master in Global Surgical Care

RN, Clinical Educator, Regional Perioperative Education Program, Vancouver Coastal Health

MD, University of Bucharest, Romania

Esther Chin, MD, MGSC, FRCSC

Esther Chin

Esther Chin, MD, MGSC, FRCSC

Master in Global Surgical Care (MGSC)

Obstetrician, Gynecologist

Assistant Professor (Adjunct), Global Health Lead, Department of Ob/Gyn, McMaster University

Anise Barton, MD, FRCSC, MGSC

ANISE BARTON, MD, FRCSC, MGSC

Master in Global Surgical Care

Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery, UBC

Chair, Global Surgery Committee, Canadian Association of General Surgeons

Ryan Falk, BSc, BA, MD, CCFP(ESS), FCFP, DTM&H

RYAN FALK, BSC, BA, MD, CCFP(ESS), FCFP, DTM&H, MGSC

Master in Global Surgical Care

Adjunct Professor, Department of Surgery, UBC

Clinical Instructor, Rural Family Medicine, UBC

Chair, Continuing Professional Development Committee for ESS at the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada

Member, Interest Group in ESS at the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)

Sydney Girard, BSc

Sydney Girard

SYDNEY GIRARD, BSc

Master in Global Surgical Care

Radiation Therapist at Health Sciences North/Horizon Santé-Nord, Sudbury, Ontario

BSc, Radiation Therapy, Laurentian University

Advanced Diploma of Health Sciences in Radiation Therapy, Michener Institute

Certification from the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists 

Regan Guilfoyle, MD, FRCSC

REGAN GUILFOYLE, MD, FRCSC

Master in Global Surgical Care

Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Alberta

Associate Director of the Office of Global Surgery, University of Alberta

David Isa, MD, FRCSC

DAVID ISA, MD, FRCSC

Master in Global Surgical Care

Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Fellowship, University of Toronto

Fellow of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Doctor of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Rupinder Khotar, GenDN, PsychDN, BScN

RUPINDER KHOTAR, GenDN, PsychDN, BSCN

Master in Global Surgical Care

OR Nursing Supervisor at St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC

Former President of the Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada (ORNAC)

Former Secretary of the International Federation of Perioperative Nurses (IFPN)

Former Educator, Perioperative Nursing Program, Providence Health Care (PHC)

Kristi Lange, RN, BSCN

Kristi Lange

KRISTI LANGE, RN, BSCN

Master in Global Surgical Care

BScN, University of Victoria 

Perioperative Nurse, Lions Gate Hospital, North Vancouver 

Team Lead, Team Broken Earth Vancouver

Current Member of Board of Directors, Team Broken Earth

Karina Olivo, RN, MGSC, BSCN

Karina Olivo

KARINA OLIVO, RN, MGSC, BSCN

Registered Nurse

Bachelor of Nursing, University of Manitoba

Nurse Manager, Peri-operative Services, Montreal Children’s Hospital

Godfrey Sama Philipo, MD, MPH, MGSC

Godfrey Sama Philipo

GODFREY SAMA PHILIPO, MD, MPH, MGSC

Master in Global Surgical Care (MGSC)

Adjunct Professor, the Branch for Global Surgical Care, Department of Surgery, UBC

Global Surgery Fellowship, CHESA), University of California San Francisco (UCSF)

Master of Public Health (MPH), Southern Medical University (SMU), China

Doctor of Medicine (M.D), Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Tanzania

Co-Founder, International Student Surgical Network (InciSioN) 

Mercedes Pilkington, MD, FRCSC

Mercedes Pilkington

MERCEDES PILKINGTON, MD, FRCSC

Master in Global Surgical Care

Pediatric General Surgeon, Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto

General Surgery Residency, Queen’s University

Pediatric Surgery Fellowship at the University of Calgary

Cara Weessies, BSc, MD, MGSC

Cara Weessies

CARA WEESSIES, BSc, MD, MGSC

Master in Global Surgical Care

General Surgery Residency, University of Manitoba 

Doctor of Medicine, University of Alberta 

BSc in Biochemistry, University of Manitoba 

Josh Wiedermann, MD, FACS

Josh Wiedermann

JOSH WIEDERMANN, MD, FACS

Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Assistant Professor and Director of Global Surgery

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Faculty Advisor – Global Surgery Student Alliance, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine

May Yau, MGSC, BMRSc, MRT(R), CTIC

MAY YAU, MGSC, BMRSc, MRT(R), CTIC

Medical Radiation Technologist at Foothills Medical Centre, Alberta Health Services

Instructor, Diagnostic Imaging, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

Master in Global Surgical Care

Bachelor of Medical Radiation Sciences, McMaster University

Ontario College Advanced Diploma in Medical Radiation Sciences- Radiography, Mohawk College

Lorenz Yeung, BSc

LORENZ YEUNG, BSc

Master in Global Surgical Care

Clinical Research Coordinator, Princess Margaret Hospital

Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University

Andrew Zakhari, MDCM, FRCSC

Andrew Zakhari

ANDREW ZAKHARI, MDCM, FRCSC

Master in Global Surgical Care

OBGYN at McGill University Health Centre

Assistant Professor, McGill University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Montana Zaporzan, RN, MGSC

Montana Zaporzan

MONTANA ZAPORZAN, RN, MGSC

Master in Global Surgical Care

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN), University of British Columbia

Travel Nurse

Island Health Employee, Operating Room and Recovery Room

Canadian Red Cross, Acute Care RN