Recent Progress and Current Challenges in the Care of the Child Around the World

Background: Global pediatric surgery has developed into a sophisticated system of teaching, training, sustaining, and serving, in order to equip low- and middle-income countries to offer the best possible care for their children. Methods: The American Academy of Pediatrics section on surgery presented a multidisciplinary symposium highlighting and educating the members on current practice models and various opportunities for engagement, presented by experts devoted to these principles. Results: Topics surrounding the history and development of global surgery, collaborative models for sustained service and education, faith-based surgical training opportunities, trainee engagement including barriers and challenges, and capacity building on a global scale were topic of discussion, and are highlighted in this manuscript. Conclusion: Providing equitable pediatric surgical care worldwide remains a challenge that mandates attention and is essential to achieving health equity and improving the quality of life for children and their families worldwide.