Society for Pediatric Anesthesia - Global Committee

Exciting publication highlight from members of our SPA Global group!

We are proud to share a recently published article, “From Short-Term Exchange to Long-Term Equity: The Impact of Global Anesthesia Scholarships,” authored by members of our global anesthesia community.

This piece highlights the lasting impact of global anesthesia scholarship programs, including the SPA Global Scholars Program, in advancing leadership, mentorship, education, and patient safety across low- and middle-income countries. Since 2015, the SPA Global Scholars Program has supported pediatric anesthesiologists through mentorship and participation in national scientific meetings, enabling scholars to translate their experiences into meaningful improvements in anesthesia education, clinical care, and healthcare systems in their home countries.

These stories remind us that global anesthesia equity is built through partnership, bidirectional learning, and long-term investment in people.

Congratulations to the authors and all who continue to support this important work!

As part of our SPA Global Committee Spotlight series, we are honored to highlight Dr. Yashoda Khadka, an early-career anesthesiologist serving in a rural district hospital in Nepal.

Dr. Khadka’s work exemplifies the heart of SPA Global’s mission — expanding safe pediatric anesthesia access in underserved communities. In just seven months, she has delivered over 600 anesthetics, including more than 100 pediatric cases, restoring surgical services where access had been interrupted.

Her commitment to mentorship, sustainable systems, and grassroots training reflects the future of global pediatric anesthesia.

Safe anesthesia should not depend on geography.

As part of our SPA Global Committee Spotlight series, we are honored to highlight Dr. Yashoda Khadka, an early-career anesthesiologist serving in a rural district hospital in Nepal.

Dr. Khadka’s work exemplifies the heart of SPA Global’s mission — expanding safe pediatric anesthesia access in underserved communities. In just seven months, she has delivered over 600 anesthetics, including more than 100 pediatric cases, restoring surgical services where access had been interrupted.

Her commitment to mentorship, sustainable systems, and grassroots training reflects the future of global pediatric anesthesia.

Safe anesthesia should not depend on geography.

Pediatric anesthesiologist Max Feinstein, MD shares his recent experiences on a mission trip to Mexico:

As a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist, I am acutely aware that where a child is born often determines whether they will survive a congenital heart defect. That reality is what makes the work of HeartCare International so vital, and why I was honored to join a recent medical mission to Chiapas, Mexico.
In many parts of the world, children born with congenital heart disease are never accurately diagnosed, placed on surgical waiting lists that stretch months to years, or simply lack access to the operations they need to live. During one intensive week in Chiapas, our volunteer team performed heart surgery on 18 children who otherwise had substantial barriers to receiving the care they needed.
Our group included pediatric cardiac surgeons, perfusionists, nurses, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, and social workers from both the United States and Latin America, all volunteering their time and expertise. Just as importantly, we worked side by side with local healthcare professionals, including anesthesiology residents who were exceptionally bright, motivated, and skilled. Teaching, mentoring, and learning together was a central part of the mission.
HeartCare International’s impact goes far beyond a single week of surgery. Their model focuses on building sustainable local capacity, supporting hospitals, training teams, and facilitating long-term cardiac care throughout Latin America. Their work is not just about saving lives today, but about creating systems that can continue saving lives long into the future.

I also created a video from the trip, featuring an inside-the-OR look at a Tetralogy of Fallot repair, along with an interview with a former patient who had surgery years ago (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnBdagIThr0)

If you’d like to get involved with HeartCare International or support their work, I encourage you to visit https://heartcareintl.org/

Monday Member Spotlight!

Dr. David Liston is a pediatric anesthesiologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital. His interest in global health started in college during a clinical research trip to Nigeria as part of Dr. Robert Glew’s biochemistry lab at the University of New Mexico. He was inspired by Dr. Glew’s mentorship and passion for global health. After completing medical school at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Liston pursued an MPH with a focus in global health from Yale School of Public Health. He then returned to medicine, completing residencies in both Pediatrics and Anesthesiology at the University of Texas Southwestern. His final move was to the Pacific Northwest for a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology at the University of Washington, where he has remained as faculty.

Dr. Liston currently serves as the vice chair of SPA Global. In this role he’s had the privilege to co-host and mentor ASA global scholars (and colleagues) from Rwanda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Nepal with the generous support of his chair and department. He enjoys teaching and creating global health educational materials; most recently a pediatric sedation module for the Pediatric Anesthesia Training in Africa (PATA) initiative. He is also a member of the steering group for the University of Washington - Global Anesthesia INitiative (UW-GAIN), where he co-leads the advocacy subcommittee. His current challenge is learning the art of fundraising for global health initiatives. When not busy with academic teaching and clinical duties, his family life revolves around his supportive wife and three teenage children (spanning middle school, high school, and college).

Monday Member Spotlight!

Please welcome again Dr. Utsav Acharya, this time sharing details about his time as a Global Scholar:
My time at Seattle Children's Hospital was truly amazing. I received a warm welcome from Dr. David Liston and Dr. Aruna Kamath, who guided me and ensured that I gained exposure across various clinics and operating rooms. The other staff members I encountered were also very welcoming. The atmosphere was friendly, allowing me to share my experiences, work methods, and strategies for managing situations with limited resources while also learning and observing their approaches. After spending two weeks in Seattle, l attended the SPA Annual Meeting and ASA Annual Conference in San Francisco, where I had the chance to meet fellow scholars from around the world and establish connections with them. Additionally, I had the privilege of meeting prominent figures in anesthesiology and exchanging experiences with them. In summary, my journey as a SPA Global scholar involved a blend of learning, sharing experiences, forming
new connections, and creating many wonderful memories.