On the occasion of the launch of The University of Global Health Equity (UGHE)’s Center for Equity in Global Surgery, UGHE and the global non-profit Lifebox announce a new partnership to deliver impactful programs for safer anesthesia and surgical care.

UGHE and Lifebox share a common vision for improving the quality and safety of healthcare, specifically anesthesia and surgical care, through building the skills of healthcare professionals. The two organizations have collaborated for a number of years and are formalizing their partnership to maximize impact on patient safety. 

“UGHE is delighted to deepen our partnership with Lifebox – an organization that shares our commitment to health equity and evidence-based work,” Professor Abebe Bekele, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic and Research Affairs, and Dean of the School of Medicine, UGHE.

UGHE is a new university based in Rwanda that focuses on delivering equitable healthcare through a new generation of health professionals. Lifebox is a global non-profit that makes surgery and anesthesia safer through tools, training, and partnerships. Together, these two organizations will deliver evidence-based strategies for improving anesthesia and surgical care, teamwork, and training – starting this collaborative work in Rwanda. A joint UGHE-Lifebox Fellow is currently being recruited to spearhead the partnership’s work. 

“We are honored to partner with UGHE and committed to investing in and supporting health leadership in Africa. With the launch of the Center for Equity in Global Surgery, Lifebox will be working with UGHE to develop joint fellowship and research opportunities to improve the safety of surgery and anesthesia and is excited to see the impact this partnership will achieve.” Kris Torgeson, Global CEO, Lifebox. 

This partnership coincides with UGHE launching the Center for Equity in Global Surgery (CEGS) that will train African residents in high-quality residency programs to create equitable access to quality surgical, obstetric, and anesthesia care.

Lifebox is a global non-profit that saves lives through safer surgery and anesthesia. Lifebox works to increase anesthesia safety, reduce surgical infection rates, and strengthen operating room teamwork through tools, training, and partnerships. Since its founding in 2011, Lifebox has worked in over 116 countries, trained more than 11,000 healthcare providers, and distributed 30,000 essential medical devices. 

UGHE is a new university based in Rwanda that is developing the next generation of global health professionals into leaders and change-makers who strive to deliver more equitable, quality health services for all. UGHE is reimagining health education to ensure that quality healthcare reaches every individual in every corner of the globe.