The Center for Health Equity in Surgery and Anesthesia aims to advance equity in surgery, anesthesia, and perioperative care worldwide through ethical and innovative academic engagement.

Our research includes implementation, translational and basic science, with priorities driven by our partners and the communities we serve. Our educational programs train emerging leaders in health equity and support perioperative workforce training in resource-denied settings. We expand our impact through grassroots and high-level advocacy and policy engagement to ensure successful and sustainable implementation.

We also co-lead the WHO Collaborating Centre for Emergency, Critical and Operative Care with the UCSF Department of Emergency Medicine. The WHO Collaborating Centre provides medical and technical expertise and support for WHO emergency, critical and operative care projects, and leverage our policy and healthcare partnerships around the world to help support this vital work.

Current Work

The Open Oximetry Project

The Open Oximetry Project improves access to safe pulse oximeters worldwide by sharing data and creating new standards and technologies for oximeter validation that better account for skin color. The project brings together a diverse community of oximetry experts, including engineers, academic researchers, clinicians, community members, manufacturers, and regulatory bodies, to partner to tackle these issues.

The CHESA Perioperative Health Equity Fellowship

The CHESA Fellowship is a one-year, part-time, non-ACGME fellowship for individuals committed to building careers focused on advancing health equity in perioperative care. The program leverages UCSF resources and expertise to foster the next generation of global surgery and anesthesia leaders who use research, education and advocacy to address disparities in perioperative care.

Expansion of the Kampala Advanced Trauma Course

The Kampala Advanced Trauma Course decreases trauma-related mortality and morbidity by training health care workers in resource-limited settings with evidence-based, context-specific trauma resuscitation skills. We support partner-led expansion through training delivery, curriculum enhancement, and integration with initiatives like developing Uganda’s inaugural trauma fellowship.