Global Outreach and Surgical Education - Rotaplast International

Global Outreach and Surgical Education

Rotaplast International, founded in 1992 by Angelo Capozzi M.D. and Peter Lagarias as a humanitarian initiative of the Rotary Club of San Francisco, is dedicated to providing reconstructive surgical care and training worldwide.

Under the leadership of Neal Fleming, Professor Emeritus of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, UC Davis has built a longstanding partnership with Rotaplast. Since 1999, faculty, residents, CRNAs, and alumni have participated in more than 115 missions across 21 countries, reflecting a deep institutional commitment to global service and education.

Over nearly three decades, departmental teams have contributed to surgical missions in various regions including Mexico, China, Venezuela, India, Bangladesh, and Brazil. These missions not only provide essential surgical services, but also foster interdisciplinary collaboration and shared learning across surgical, anesthesia, and nursing teams. Over the last 5years, 7 faculty members and 18 residents have participated in trips which have served as a central pillar of residents’ global health education, offering immersive, hands-on experience in delivering care in resource-limited settings while reinforcing principles of adaptability, teamwork, and culturally responsive practice.

This commitment to global engagement extends to academic scholarship. In April 2026, a UC Davis anesthesiology resident attended the World Congress of Anesthesiologists in Marrakech, presenting a 10-year retrospective review on craniosynostosis outcomes and a project on the digitalization of paper records used during Rotaplast missions. Both efforts highlight a growing focus on data systems, outcomes tracking, and the role of informatics in building sustainable global health initiatives.

Aligned with the department’s broader global health vision, this work continues to evolve toward models that emphasize longitudinal engagement, education, and systems strengthening—ensuring that the impact extends beyond individual missions to support sustainable improvements in perioperative care worldwide.