Global Health Engagement, Humanitarian Assistance, and Disaster Response

This chapter delves into the critical role of global health engagement (GHE) for military surgeons, providing an insightful exploration into its historical evolution from the Spanish-American War to Iraq and Afghanistan and current operations across the combatant commands. Emphasizing strategic coordination, continuity, and local collaboration, the chapter underscores the importance of lessons learned from past military medical initiatives. Additionally, it navigates the expanding field of global surgery, emphasizing its convergence with civilian humanitarian efforts to address the burden of 5 billion people who do not have access to surgical care. The collaborative strengthening of surgical systems emerges as a pivotal space for both military and civilian entities, offering a cooperative approach that not only enhances health outcomes but also contributes to bolstering military medical readiness worldwide.