Engaging academic surgery in global health: challenges and opportunities in the development of an academic track in global surgery.

SURGERY is not thought of typically as a component of public health, especially in resource-poor countries in which much of the medical attention is placed on prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. Current avenues of financial support for research and health initiatives in lowand middle-income countries often focus on health issues targeted by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and maternal and child health. It has been estimated that $85 in research dollars are spent per disability-adjusted-life-year (DALY) caused by HIV, whereas $0.83 in research dollars are spent per DALY caused by road traffic accidents. This marked discrepancy is true despite the reality that operatively treatable disease accounts for at least 11% of the global burden of disease and greater than 25 million DALYs. In the United States and elsewhere, it is well understood that injuries are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children and young adults. As global health has increasingly become a funding priority for governments and aid organizations, participation in international development (by academic surgeons) has been stimulated (and challenged). Simultaneous with