The Canadian Network for International Surgery

"The Canadian Network for International Surgery is a non-profit organization that promotes the delivery of essential surgical care to the underprivileged. Our vision is to empower low-income countries to create an environment where the risk of injuries is minimal and all people receive adequate surgical care."
http://www.cnis.ca/

The Office of International Surgery is supported by the CNIS program: "Maternal Health, Surgical Access, Injury control and Safety Promotion" which is supported by CIDA.

The CNIS was federally incorporated in August of 1995 and is managed by a nine-member board of directors with representation from all over Canada. It has a nationwide membership of physicians, surgeons, and other concerned citizens who share a commitment to improving the health of people in low-income countries.

The CNIS office is based in Vancouver.

The Office of International Surgery and the Canadian Newtwork for International Surgery partner in many different areas, including:

The Ptolemy Project
OIS is supporting the work of the CNIS and CNIS partners in Africa through its electronic library (Ptolemy). This is supplement to, and extension of, the support that the CNIS has previously provided to various surgical and training partners. Ptolemy will be a vehicle for the Injury, Safety, Surgical and Obstetrical Information component of the CNIS program. OIS will specifically contribute to the Uganda traffic injury control activities.

Surgery in Africa
The objective of Surgery in Africa is to provide a self-directed online, journal-based course for surgical trainees who are undertaking the Fellowship of the College of Surgery (FCS). As a result, Surgery in Africa is guided by the FCS syllabus, but we aim at all times to make the material relevant to the African experience. The format is of monthly reviews, which will discuss topics of surgical interest, referenced with appropriate full-text books and articles.

Bethune Round Table Workshops:
The Bethune Round Table on International Surgery is held annually in Canada, and hosted by the University of Toronto, Office of International Surgery. At the 2007 Bethune Round Table meeting was run as a joint project by OIS/CNIS. This collaboration included the provision of scholarships to visiting surgeons from low income countries who are program participants (presenters) by invitation or by having a scientific abstract presented following peer review.

The 2009 Bethune Round Table is scheduled to be held in Toronto.

Telehealth
A workshop on telehealth applications in international surgical education was held at the 2007 Bethune Round Table with a more comprehensive one planned for the 2008 meeting.