Trauma injury kills more people every year than HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis (TB) combined. Despite this, it often takes a backseat when receiving research support, clinical funding, and policy change. Trauma disproportionally affects low- and middle-income countries with its far reaching effects beyond the walls of the hospital. In fact, in some countries like Colombia, severe traumatic injuries are sustained from many mechanisms including landmines, guerrilla and paramilitary warfare, homicide, and vehicular accidents.

As a member of the Global Initiative for Essential and Emergency Surgical Care at the World Health Organization, our guest today has worked extensively with partners from around the world to tackle multiple goals for trauma care system building such as addressing shortage of staff, lack of clinical management, and insufficient funding. His passion for neurotrauma has led him to work with both local and international supporters to promote advocacy and good communication through avenues such as social media. Join us as we talk with Dr Andres Rubiano, about his home country of Colombia, the intersection between politics and health, as well as the MEDITECH foundation which is working to create a coordinated and proactive network of responders to enact integral trauma care across the country.