A qualitative evaluation of a global surgery course within the University of Cape Town’s master of public health curriculum: A cross-sectional study

Access to safe surgery is a critical, yet often neglected, component of Public Health for health systems strengthening. Despite its importance, Global Surgery education remains absent from Public Health curricula, which may lead Public Health specialists unprepared to address the unmet global burden of surgical disease. This study evaluated a novel Fundamentals in Global Surgery course within the University of Cape Town’s Master of Public Health (MPH) program, an initiative designed to bridge this educational gap. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using in-depth structured interviews with ten program alumni (2022–2025). Data were analyzed thematically to explore the course’s impact on participants’ knowledge, careers, and professional identity. Analysis revealed five central themes defined by the following key insights: 1) a notable paradigm shift from viewing surgery as a clinical discipline to understanding it as a Public Health imperative; 2) the critical role of a multidisciplinary learning environment in mirroring real-world health systems; 3) the effectiveness of applied pedagogical approaches like case-based learning and intervention design; 4) a significant professional impact, including direct career pivots, advancements, and the cultivation of a practitioner-advocate mindset; and 5) logistical challenges of balancing coursework with professional duties. UCT’s Fundamentals in Global Surgery course for MPH students demonstrates an effective model for integrating Global Surgery into Public Health education. By combining a systems-focused curriculum, an improvement science approach, and a multidisciplinary cohort, the course shows potentials to transform students into practice-ready change agents. The findings of this study inform a blueprint for curriculum development and strengthen the call to integrate Global Surgery into Public Health training.