In 2007, Drs. Peter O’Brien, Piotr Blachut and Trevor Stone, three orthopaedic surgeons from the UBC Department of Orthopaedics, were invited to visit Uganda to investigate the emerging health crisis of traumatic injuries. A year later, the UBC Faculty of Medicine and Makerere University established a formal partnership call the Uganda Sustainable Trauma Orthopaedic Program (USTOP) to reduce the human suffering, disability and poverty caused by traumatic injuries in Uganda.
Mulago Hospital is the national referral and training hospital for Uganda, a country of over 36 million people. As one of the oldest and largest training centres in East Africa, the hospital receives a huge number of severely injured people of poor economic status. Untreated injuries can have a devastating long-term effect on the individual and their families. USTOP aligns with the mandate of our Ugandan colleagues in the Ministry of Health, Makerere University and Mulago Hospital to improve the education of surgical trainees, nurses and paramedical personnel in the care of individuals with traumatic injury, from entry to full rehabilitation.
During the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic, USTOP still prioritized maintaining its relationships with Mulago Hospital and our Ugandan colleagues through virtual collaboration and remote support. When USTOP resumed its in-person activities in 2024, Dr. Jeffery Potter stepped into the role of program lead. Dr. Potter has been a dedicated member of USTOP since his days as a resident, participating in trips to Uganda consistently over the years. With his extensive experience and commitment to global health, Dr. Potter now serves as the main point person for USTOP, leading the program’s efforts to continue to provide impactful education, training, and sustainable orthopaedic care in Uganda.
Dr. Jeffery Potter
