Frequently Asked Questions

The Global Paediatric Surgery Network is an organization that was formed in order to serve as a clearinghouse for volunteer work performed by pediatric surgeons around the world.  The goal of the GPSN is to maintain a current listing of all volunteer work that is being done, so that pediatric surgeoons who are interested in volunteering can easily join planned trips, or they can build upon previous work that has been performed in an area by contacting others who are currently working there or have worked there in the recent past.

You may use the GPSN website to learn of volunteer work that is currently being done by pediatric surgeons around the world, by searching geographically by region.  You may also learn of work that has been done in the past, or help that is needed.

If you are a pediatric surgeon working in an area of limited medical resources, you may use the Resources page to learn of on-line journals, texts, or videos available to you, as well as information about funding that is available to you.  

If you are planning on volunteering, you can use our For Volunteers page to learn about relevant issues, such as visas, malpractice, and the like, as well as ethical and cultural considerations.  We have also included a page on the global perspective on pediatric surgery as a public health issue and the disparities of health care delivery worldwide.

If you are interested in learning about upcoming meetings, you may use our Meetings page, and if you are interested in learning about upcoming courses and workshops, you may use our Courses and Workshops page.

And if you are interested in connecting with the local pediatric surgeons in a particular area, you can use our Paediatric Surgery Organizations page. 

Go to the Add a Listing page, and choose one of the following categories:  Past Work (work in the recent past, where information might still be relevant for pediatric surgeons volunteering there), Present Work (work of an ongoing nature, including trips every year or so), or Help Needed (future trips that need volunteers, or requests for assistance from pediatric surgeons in low- and middle-income countries).

Go the the Add a Listing page, and choose "Past Work."  We are hoping that information about work in the recent past will still be relevant, so we have arbitrarily chosen 5 years as a limit, but if you feel the information in the more distant past would still be helpful, please feel free to use your judgment.  

The goal is to help pediatric surgeons who are returning to the same region, so that they might build upon prior experience. 

If your work is ongoing, meaning that you work permanently in an area, or you visit the same area on a regular basis, then go to the Add a Listing page and choose "Present Work."  The goal is to help pediatric surgeons who might also be planning a visit to the same area, so that they might be able to build upon previous work already performed in that area, or they might be able to join forces with the people already volunteering there.  In the end, the hope is that there would not be duplication of work already done, and there might be the opportunity to work with the local pediatric surgeons on long-range planning.

Go to the Add a Listing page, and choose "Help Needed."  The goal is that pediatric surgeons who wish to volunteer might be able to connect with surgeons who have already assessed the needs of the local pediatric surgeons and have already connected with these surgeons to find out what skills they wish to learn.  For the volunteer pediatric surgeon who has not already done any work in low- and middle-income countries, this might be the easiest way to begin.

Go to the Add a LIsting page, and choose "Help Needed."  The idea is that pediatric surgeons who are interested in volunteering could view these listings and decide whether they might be able to meet the needs of the local pediatric surgeons, by learning what they wish to learn and what skills and equipment are available. 

You may click on "Register to Volunteer" and enter your information about your level of experience and your interests.  Your name will appear on the "Volunteers Available" page so that others may contact you if they need assistance.

Click on "Register to Volunteer," and there will be an option at the bottom of the form to indicate your willingness to work during times of disasters.

Go to "Sign up for GPSN News" which is on the right side of every page, and we will add you to our email list.

If you would like to contribute content to the Resources pages, please contact Marilyn Butler (mbutler@globalpaediatricsurgery.org).

Email Marilyn Butler (mbutler@globalpaediatricsurgery.org), and the meeting will be added to the Meetings page or the Courses and Workshops page.

The Global Paediatric Surgery Network does not sponsor volunteer trips; it merely describes the trips so that people wishing to volunteer may link with those organizations or individuals who are planning such trips.  The GPSN also lists trips within the past 5 years, hoping that conditions and contacts may still be relevant, and so that a potential volunteer may benefit from the experience of others and build upon the previous work that has been done.

The primary focus of the Global Paediatric Surgery Network is pediatric general surgery, although there might be instances when the local paediatric surgeons wish to learn about some urologic procedures that pediatric general surgeons also perform.

At the current time, the GPSN website is only available in English.  We hope in the future to be able to translate the content on the website into other languages as well.

Unfortunately the Global Paediatric Surgery Network cannot take responsibility for the accuracy of the information on the website.  We make all efforts to review the information submitted and insure that the sources are reliable before posting it on the website.

Please feel free to use our Contact Us form, or you may email Marilyn Butler (mbutler@globalpaediatricsurgery.org) if you find errors in the content on the website.

Please email Marilyn Butler (mbutler@globalpaediatricsurgery.org), and she will provide information on how to donate money to the GPSN.

Email Marilyn Butler (mbutler@globalpaediatricsurgery.org), and she will be happy to contact you.