TORG Global Surgery Essay Competition 2026

Theme

“Reimagining Global Surgery: The Role of Surgical & Perioperative Professionals in Building Safer Surgical Systems”

About the Competition

The TORG Global Surgery Essay Competition seeks to encourage critical thinking, scholarly engagement, innovation, and practical solutions that address challenges within global surgery and perioperative care.

As a global network committed to advancing safe surgical care, patient safety, research, education, advocacy, and professional development, TORG recognizes the importance of empowering members and leaders to contribute their voices, experiences, and expertise toward shaping the future of surgical systems worldwide.

The competition provides a platform for members to:

• Showcase knowledge and leadership
• Promote evidence-based perioperative practice
• Share innovative ideas and solutions
• Contribute to discussions on global surgical care
• Inspire collaboration and professional growth within the TORG community

Eligibility

This competition is open exclusively to:

• Active Registered TORG members
• Current TORG chapter executives and global leaders
• Members of TORG committees, working groups, and affiliated initiatives

Participants must provide:

• Proof of active TORG membership, or
• Evidence of active leadership/executive role within TORG

Acceptable proof may include:

• Membership confirmation email
• Membership certificate
• Official appointment letter
• Leadership appointment notification
• Evidence of active chapter executive role

Submissions without proof of membership or leadership affiliation may not be considered.

Essay Requirements

• Word count: 1,500-2,000 words
• Language: English
• Format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)
• Referencing Style: Harvard Style
• Original unpublished work only
• Essays should demonstrate critical thinking, originality, evidence-based discussion, and practical relevance to global surgery and perioperative care

Suggested Areas of Focus

Participants may explore topics including but not limited to:

• Surgical safety and quality improvement
• Leadership in surgical and perioperative practice
• Innovation and technology in global surgery
• Workforce strengthening and education
• Human factors and teamwork in the operating room
• Simulation and immersive learning
• Research and evidence-based practice
• Equity and access to surgical care
• Sustainable surgical system strengthening
• Advocacy and policy development in global surgery

Scoring Framework

Criteria	Weight
Relevance to Theme	20%
Alignment with TORG Mission and Vision	20%
Practical Relevance	15%
Innovation and Original Thinking	15%
Clarity and Structure	15%
Contribution to Patient Safety	15%

Alignment with the Mission and Vision of The Operating Room Global

Submissions should reflect the broader goals of TORG, including:

• Advancing safe surgical and perioperative care globally
• Promoting patient safety and quality improvement
• Strengthening perioperative education and professional development
• Encouraging innovation, leadership, and research
• Supporting collaboration across healthcare disciplines and countries
• Improving surgical outcomes through evidence-based practice
• Advocating for equitable access to safe surgical care worldwide

Essays that clearly demonstrate alignment with these principles will be scored favourably. View our Mission and Vision, CLICK HERE.

Academic Integrity and Use of AI Tools

Academic Integrity

TORG is committed to maintaining high standards of academic and professional integrity.

Plagiarism Policy

• All submissions must be the author’s original work.
• Essays will be screened using standard plagiarism detection tools.
• Submissions containing significant plagiarism will be automatically disqualified.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Participants may use AI tools only for:

• Language editing
• Grammar support
• Formatting assistance

However:

• AI tools must not generate the essay content itself.
• Authors remain fully responsible for the originality, authenticity, and accuracy of their submission.
• Submissions suspected to be primarily AI-generated may be excluded from the competition.

Submission Process

Participants must submit the following materials:

1. Essay Submission (Anonymous Document)

The essay should be submitted as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx) and must not contain any identifying information about the author.

To ensure a fair and unbiased review process, the essay document should include only:

• Essay title
• Abstract (maximum 150 words)
• Main essay text (1,500-2,000 words)
• In-text citations where applicable
• Reference list (Harvard Style)

The following must NOT appear anywhere in the essay document:

• Author name
• Institution
• Country
• Professional role
• Any identifying details

2. Cover Letter (Author Information)

A separate cover letter document must include:

• Full Name (First Name, Middle Name, Last Name)
• Professional Title(s)
• Professional Role
• Institution or Organisation
• Country of Practice
• Professional Qualifications
• Contact Email Address
• Essay Title
• Declaration of originality confirming that:
  • the work is the participant’s own original work
  • the essay has not been previously published

This document will be used for administrative purposes only and will not be shared with the evaluation panel during the review process.

3. Author Photograph Requirement

Participants are requested to include a professional headshot photograph as part of their submission materials.

This photograph may be used for publication, recognition, and promotional purposes if the participant is selected as a winner or receives an honourable mention.

Photo Guidelines

The photograph should meet the following criteria:

• Professional headshot or portrait
• Clear image with good lighting
• Neutral or professional background
• High resolution (minimum 800 × 800 pixels recommended)
• File format: JPEG or PNG

Examples of acceptable photographs include:

• Professional portrait
• Hospital or clinical setting portrait
• Formal profile photo used for professional publications

Participants should ensure the image is appropriate for professional publication on TORG platforms.

4. Proof of TORG membership or active TORG leadership/executive role

File Naming Format

The image file should be labelled as:

Surname_FirstName_Photo.jpg

Submission Email

All required documents should be submitted together via email.

Email Address: [email protected]

Subject Line

TORG Global Surgery Essay Competition 2026 – Full Name

Awards and Recognition

Selected winners will receive:

• Official TORG recognition certificates
• Recognition on TORG global platforms
• Opportunity for publication in The Operating Room Global Journals (TORGJ)
• Opportunity to present virtually during a TORG Global scientific or educational session

Important Dates

Important Dates

Activity	Date
Competition Announcement	19 May 2026
Submission Deadline	30 June 2026
Review and Evaluation	July 2026
Notification of Winners	Late July 2026
Publication of Winning Essays	Aug-Sept 2026

Final Note

At The Operating Room Global, we believe that ideas can transform surgical systems, strengthen healthcare teams, and improve patient outcomes globally.

This competition is an opportunity for TORG members and leaders to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of global surgery while showcasing professional excellence, innovation, and leadership.

We encourage all eligible TORG members and leaders to participate and share their vision for safer and stronger surgical systems worldwide.