According to the Lancet commission, 5 billion people do not have access to safe, affordable surgical and anesthesia care when needed. The urgent need for surgical care in the world’s poorest regions is still widely unrecognized today. Many of these people need plastic- reconstructive surgery. To improve medical care in a long lasting, durable way, new ways to deliver education and medical care should be found. Corstiaan Breugem is a Professor in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery with a special interest in pediatric plastic surgery. His research lines focus on cleft lip and palate, Robin Sequence, microtia reconstructive surgery and burn-care in the LMIC. Prof Breugem lived in Southern Africa for > than 20 years and has a strong interest in not only improving care for patients in the Netherlands but across the globe. He supervises several PhD students that perform research aiming to improve cleft care and surgical techniques, as well as enhancing education of cleft surgeons in low to middle income countries by using simulation based education as well as smart glasses. Next to his work in the Amsterdam UMC and being part of the Amsterdam Centre of Global Child Health group, he is also president of Interplast Holland. This organisation focusses to improve care of patients in LMIC by providing training, teaching and organising special meetings for health care professionals in LMIC. He subsequently initiated special weekly Zoom meetings . Teaching is an important part of his aim to improve care given by physicians in Amsterdam but also in low -income countries.
do not have access to safe, affordable surgical and anesthesia care when needed
Prof. Breugem supervises 3 PhD students
