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Abstract Aim Recognizing the imperative need for sustainable healthcare education given only 2-5% of students have had exposure within their degree, Student MedAID London (SMAL) was established to promote global health awareness by redistributing excess medical supplies and fostering a platform for increasing insight into this field. Method Volunteers actively engage with local healthcare providers to secure excess medical equipment, employing a screening process to ensure responsible donations. Teaching series, such as "Learn with Med-Aid" and online seminars, delve into global health topics often overlooked in medical school curriculum. This methodology offers a unique opportunity to integrate sustainability principles into the education of future surgeons. Results Social media and seminar engagement increased by 62% respectively since establishment in 2021, attracting over 1000+ followers across social media channels. The demographic has expanded beyond London medical students to include young healthcare professionals from across the UK and the USA. Furthermore, SMAL has acquired substantial storage space for medical donations and made successful donations to Tripoli Hospital in Lebanon. Notably, 90% of seminar attendees expressed a strong desire for more events, alongside 50% reporting it increased their confidence in global health and sustainability. Conclusions As the future generation of healthcare professionals increasingly expresses a heightened interest in sustainable practice, SMAL's endeavours uniquely underscore the profound impact that sustainability can have on surgical education. By raising awareness and actively engaging in the redistribution of medical supplies, the organization sets the stage for a paradigm shift towards more environmentally conscious healthcare initiatives in surgery.
Sarela et al. (Mon,) studied this question.