Global Health
Our mission:
About Us:
The UC Davis Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine has a longstanding commitment to global health and international outreach. Over several decades, our faculty, residents, CRNAs, and alumni have participated in global initiatives across numerous countries, reflecting a deep dedication to service, education, and collaboration. Our department has partnered closely with organizations such as Orbis International and Rotaplast International, contributing to both clinical care and sustainable capacity-building efforts. Orbis International, through its Flying Eye Hospital, has facilitated international training programs focused on developing long-term, self-sustaining healthcare systems.
Our faculty have participated in multidisciplinary teaching and simulation programs, including collaborative efforts hosted at UC Davis that emphasize critical care, teamwork, and perioperative safety. In parallel, our long-standing involvement with Rotaplast International has supported over 115 humanitarian surgical missions across more than 20 countries since 1999, providing reconstructive care for patients with cleft lip, cleft palate, and other conditions. These experiences have not only delivered essential surgical services but have also fostered meaningful educational exchange and professional development for our trainees.
Building on this foundation, our department is evolving toward a more structured and sustainable global health model centered on education, partnership, and health equity. We aim to develop longitudinal collaborations that prioritize bidirectional learning, local capacity building, and improved access to safe anesthesia and perioperative care worldwide. Through these efforts, we continue to support our mission of advancing patient care, education, and global engagement in a thoughtful and impactful way.
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News & Announcements Sabina Kangakan, M.D. has been selected as an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Global Scholar for the upcoming Anesthesiology Annual Meeting in San Diego. This prestigious recognition reflects both her outstanding achievements and the growing impact of international partnerships in anesthesiology. She is the first anesthesiology resident in The Gambia, marking a historic milestone in expanding access to specialty training in the region. Her selection as an ASA Global Scholar underscores the importance of supporting emerging physician leaders who are advancing perioperative care in low-resource settings around the world. As part of the Global Scholar program, Sabina Kangakan, M.D. will visit UC Davis Health and the University of Utah, where she will participate in academic exchange, clinical observation, and mentorship opportunities. These visits highlight UC Davis Health's commitment to fostering sustainable, bidirectional global partnerships that strengthen anesthesiology education and capacity building. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to expanding equitable access to safe anesthesia care through education, partnership, and innovation. Her visit provides an opportunity to celebrate the progress of global anesthesiology initiatives while strengthening long-term institutional partnerships that support the development of specialty training in The Gambia. We are honored to welcome Sabina Kangakan, M.D. to UC Davis Health and to celebrate this important milestone in global health and medical education.
“What excites me most is the shift toward sustainable, longitudinal global health—building systems, education, and partnerships that extend far beyond episodic care to create lasting impact.”
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