Transforming Obstetric Surgical Training: Building a Culture of Safety and Compassionate Care
Explore innovative approaches to Safe obstetric surgical training through global collaboration. The session will focus on the importance of team and patient communication for safe, effective, and respectful maternal care. We will discuss our experience using simulation-based virtual asynchronous training modules along with live simulation exercises in the context of informed consent for cesarean section in Ethiopia and Rwanda.
The session will explore how informed consent can be optimized using simple tenets of shared decision making in a way that is culturally appropriate, evidence-based, and context-specific. In addition, it will highlight how CGHSR's Global Women’s Health partnerships are creating meaningful opportunities for global health engagement for emerging health professionals while building educational resources that are easily accessible and scalable in large global contexts.
With a focus on interdisciplinary, team-based training, the discussion will examine the role of simulation and real-world clinical partnerships in preparing providers to deliver ethical, patient-centered care in diverse settings. Aligned with the 2026 International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain,” the session will emphasize how leveraging the wisdom of global communities can create a culture of safety, compassion, and effective maternal care.
Attendees will learn:
- Practical ways to strengthen informed consent through simulation-based education with a focus on team and patient communication
- How global collaboration and mentorship empower learners and build future leaders in women’s health
- How technology and academic/NGO partnerships can be used to standardize and scale up access to safe-surgery education
Speakers
Dr. Rahel Nardos | Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility
Dr. Rahel Nardos is a professor in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery and the Director of Global Women's Health at the Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility. She is an experienced and board-certified urogynecologist with a passion for women’s health and supporting underserved communities globally through interdisciplinary collaboration.
Dr. Tsega Gebremariam | Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital
Dr. Tsega Gebremariam is an Obstetrician and Gynecologist based in Mekelle, Ethiopia, currently practicing at Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, where she provides comprehensive care in women’s reproductive health, pregnancy, childbirth, and gynecologic services. In addition to her clinical work, she is actively engaged in clinical research and has co-authored studies focused on obstetric complications and maternal and neonatal outcomes in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
Dr. Hale Teka | Mekelle University
Dr. Hale Teka is a medical doctor with a specialty certificate in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He earned his undergraduate degree in 2014 and began his residency training in 2015, completing his specialization in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2019. Over the past five years, he has published more than 50 scientific articles in reputable, peer-reviewed journals. In 2018, he co-authored an award-winning scientific article recognized by the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO). Dr. Hale was promoted to associate professor on an accelerated basis, the only physician to achieve this distinction in Mekelle University, College of Health Sciences' history, and has received numerous medals and awards for his research, mentorship, and dedication to uplifting his students and junior colleagues.
Dr. Reid Gamble | University of Minnesota
Dr. Reid Gamble is a fourth-year resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Minnesota and an incoming fellow in urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery at Emory University. He holds a Master’s degree in Bioethics, and his interests include shared decision-making, reproductive health, and the integration of ethical frameworks into patient-centered care.