Global Thoracic Surgery

The delivery of thoracic surgical care in less-resourced areas is explored in this landmark series of articles, hoping to engage the thoracic surgeon in global health equity. There is a notable diversity across the settings in which the authors work (South Asia, East Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Pacific Islands, South America). Common themes include the need for human resources to deliver care and train surgeons resourcefully, the importance of collaborations with radiology, pathology , anesthesia, and endoscopy services. Articles on benign conditions, including chest trauma, mycobacterial diseases, parasitic infections, pleural problems, and airway stenosis provide an outstanding review of management and technique and are a testament to the long history of thoracic surgeons’ leadership. Thoracic surgical oncology services for the high-burden conditions of lung cancer  and esophageal cancer  are the next priority in these settings. Finally, the potential of minimally invasive thoracic surgery to rapidly improve outcomes will serve as a cornerstone for future learning collaboratives between our professional societies across continents.