UAB Department of Surgery Assistant Professor and Associate Vice Chair of Global Surgery Lily Gutnik, M.D., recently delivered the keynote speech for the physicians’ oath ceremony at her alma mater, the Medical School for International Health (MSIH) at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Be'er Sheva, Israel. 

“The world is not as big as we think, and what happens in one village, in one country, can and does impact what happens in your own backyards. If we want to truly make an impact in global health and really adopt the philosophy of 'global is local,' then cultural competency is a key requisite,” said Gutnik in her speech. 

While at the university, Gutnik spoke with the student cohort of the MSIH on the ethics of global surgery and breast cancer treatment on an international scale. 

“It was an honor to be nominated and selected to be a part of this special day at an institution that means so much to me,” said Gutnik in her speech. “The last time I was on campus I was a student myself and returning to a warm welcome was a great way to commemorate the occasion.”