title: Teaching emergency and essential surgical care in Sierra Leone: a model for low income countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgeons OverSeas (SOS), a New York-based organization with a mission to save lives in developing countries, conducted a surgical needs assessment in Sierra Leone in 2008 which identified a large gap in surgical knowledge. We hypothesized that knowledge transfer could be improved by conducting workshops with significant local faculty participation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Description of emergency and essential surgical care workshops (EESC) workshops and follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Freetown and Bo, Sierra Leone.
  
  
  METHODS
  International and local health providers in Sierra Leone.
  
  
  METHODS
  SOS organized EESC workshops in collaboration with significant local surgeons' support. Data on subsequent workshops were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen instructors were identified and assisted with teaching. Nine of the instructors were specialists from Sierra Leone. Each workshop lasted 3 days. Feedback was gathered after these workshops Subsequent to the SOS workshops, 8 other workshops were undertaken by local surgeons in Sierra Leone, 5 of which were organized and taught solely by local surgeons working for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation. Three other workshops were organized with external support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EESC workshops organized with significant local input are useful for knowledge transfer and empower local surgeons to conduct subsequent workshops on their own.
authors.affiliation: Surgeons OverSeas (SOS), New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Leow
authors.forename: Reinou S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Groen
authors.forename: Thaim B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Kamara
authors.forename: Sheiku S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Dumbuya
authors.forename: T Peter
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Kingham
authors.forename: Kisito S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Daoh
authors.forename: Adam L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Kushner
mesh_terms: D057191:Capacity Building; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003906:Developing Countries; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004493:Education; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012807:Sierra Leone