Expanding Global Education through the SHARE Initiative: A Virtual Craniofacial Workshop

Background: Craniofacial anomalies such as craniosynostosis and cleft-related conditions pose a significant global surgical burden with profound functional and psychosocial consequences. The Plastic Surgery Foundation’s Surgeons in Humanitarian Alliance for Reconstruction, Research and Education (SHARE) program aims to strengthen surgical capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through mentorship, education, and training. This study describes the development of a virtual craniofacial workshop to assess educational needs, introduce core techniques, and evaluate the feasibility of virtual training platforms. Methods: A virtual workshop on craniosynostosis management and spring-assisted cranioplasty was launched under the SHARE initiative. Participants included plastic surgery trainees and early-career surgeons from Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and the U.S. Pre-workshop surveys evaluated baseline knowledge, perceived needs, and local challenges. Post-workshop surveys assessed changes in knowledge, confidence, and the training’s relevance to practice settings. Results: All 27 participants completed the pre-workshop survey; 17 (63%) completed the post-workshop survey. Most were affiliated with tertiary hospitals. Pre-workshop, 63% reported encountering 1–5 craniosynostosis cases annually; 11% saw over 10. Sagittal synostosis was most common (67%), lambdoid least (7%). Only 40% of participants reported performing operative interventions; 52% stated surgery was unavailable at their institutions. Barriers to care included lack of training (82%), limited equipment (48%), lack of ICU services (22%), cost to patients (29%), and lack of pediatric anesthesia (18%). Over half (56%) had no prior training in craniosynostosis surgery; others had informal (22%) or formal (22%) exposure. Confidence levels were low, particularly in surgical planning and operative performance. Post-workshop, 94% reported increased perception of craniosynostosis care feasibility. Improvements were noted in diagnosis (94%), imaging interpretation (76%), surgical planning (100%), and operative confidence (88%). Conclusions: The SHARE craniofacial workshop addresses critical gaps in global craniofacial surgical education, particularly in LMICs. Preliminary outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of virtual platforms in enhancing diagnostic, planning, and operative skills. Ongoing efforts will focus on longitudinal mentorship, hands-on training, and sustainable partnerships to support local craniofacial surgical capacity across Africa.