ArticleWorld journal of surgery2013
Surgeon migration between developing countries and the United States: train, retain, and gain from brain drain.
Article in World journal of surgery, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 37 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
37 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Drivers of health workers' migration, intention to migrate and non-migration from low/middle-income countries, 1970-2022: a systematic review.BMJ global health · 2023Pooled it
- North-South surgical training partnerships: a systematic review.Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie · 2020Pooled it
- Preparing for International Cardiovascular Surgery Fellowships: Ten Key Recommendations.Annals of thoracic surgery short reports · 2026Article
- Building OHNS Capacity in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Insights From Global Training Programs.Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology · 2026Article
- Gender equity in neurosurgery requires structural reform.Frontiers in health services · 2026Article
- Perspective of Liberian surgical care providers on ethical issues in global surgical collaborations.PloS one · 2026Article
- The importance of neurosurgical nursing in low- and middle-income countries - a critical review.Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) · 2025Review
- A study on the demand for high-level talent recruitment in tertiary public hospitals in Chongqing based on the Kano model.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- [Access to surgical, obstetrical and anaesthesia care in Mali: an assessment for a national plan].The Pan African medical journal · 2025Article
- Exploring the impact of early exposure and mentorship on the neurosurgery career aspirations of medical students in low- and middle-income countries.Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) · 2024Review
- Achieving Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma, and Anesthesia (SOTA) care for all in South Asia.Frontiers in public health · 2024Review
- South Africa and the Surgical Diaspora-A Hub for Surgical Migration and Training.World journal of surgery · 2023Observational
- With equity in mind: Evaluating an interactive hybrid global surgery course for cross-site interdisciplinary learners.PLOS global public health · 2023Article
- Training low-middle-income (LMIC) pediatric surgeons in a high-income country (HIC) program.Pediatric surgery international · 2022Article
- Diaspora engagement: a scoping review of diaspora involvement with strengthening health systems of their origin country.Global health action · 2022Article
- Working in low- and middle-income countries: Learning from each other.Brain & spine · 2022Article
- Orthopaedic and trauma care in low-resource settings: the burden and its challenges.International orthopaedics · 2022Review
- Pediatric Surgery and Anesthesia in Low-Middle Income Countries: Current Situation and Ethical Challenges.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2022Review
- Ten Global Surgical Care Statements for Children: examining our commitment to the future.Pediatric surgery international · 2021Review
- Breaking Specialty Silos: Improving Global Child Health Through Essential Surgical Care.Global health, science and practice · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe critical shortage of surgeons in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) prevents adequate responses to surgical needs, but the factors that affect surgeon migration have remained incompletely understood. The goal of this study was to examine the importance of personal, professional, and infrastructural factors on surgeon migration from LMICs to the United States. We hypothesized that the main drivers of surgeon migration can be addressed by providing adequate domestic surgical infrastructure, surgical training programs, and viable surgical career paths.
methodsWe conducted an internet-based nationwide survey of surgeons living in the US who originated from LMICs.
results66 surgeons completed the survey. The most influential factors for primary migration were related to professional reasons (p ≤ 0.001). Nonprofessional factors, such as concern for remuneration, family, and security were significantly less important for the initial migration decisions, but adopted a more substantial role in deciding whether or not to return after training in the United States. Migration to the United States was initially considered temporary (44 %), and a majority of the surveyed surgeons have returned to their source countries in some capacity (56 %), often on multiple occasions (80 %), to contribute to clinical work, research, and education.
conclusionsThis study suggests that surgically oriented medical graduates from LMICs migrate primarily for professional reasons. Initiatives to improve specialist education and surgical infrastructure in LMICs have the potential to promote retention of the surgical workforce. There may be formal ways for LMICs to gain from the international pool of relocated surgeons.
Indexed as
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Registered trials
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