From the Executive Director
At Global Surgical Expedition (GSE), we are breaking down barriers to life-changing surgical care by training surgical teams, strengthening local healthcare systems, and providing free surgeries and equipment in some of the world’s most underserved communities. Beginning as a small, surgeon-led initiative, GSE has grown into a far-reaching movement, driven by the belief that everyone deserves access to safe and essential surgery.
This 2024 Impact Report is more than just numbers and statistics—it is a testament to the power of compassionate care, dedicated volunteers, and supporters like you. Every surgery performed, every provider trained, and every piece of equipment donated represents a life changed, a family supported, and a community strengthened.
This year, we took bold steps forward to expand our reach, deepen our impact, and build a future where no one suffers needlessly from lack of surgical care. Our Impact Report describes all of these many steps we were able to take in 2024 because of your generosity.
At GSE, our first responsibility is to our patients. We are also resposible to you—our donors, volunteers, and advocates—who make this work possible. We take pride in providing the highest-quality care and impact, while simultaenously ensuring that every dollar donated is used as efficiently and effectively as possible. In 2024, our cost per surgery remained below $600 and shows the incredible value GSE has been able to achieve.
Every number in this report represents a story of hope and transformation. Take Ruth, for example. When she arrived at a hospital in Botswana, she was suffering from severe bleeding caused by a precancerous condition. She was told she would need a high-risk, open surgery that carried a long and difficult recovery. Thanks to GSE’s team and collaboration with local surgeons, Ruth instead received a minimally invasive hysterectomy, allowing her to recover quickly and avoid life-threatening complications. Today, she is cancer-free and thriving.
This is why we do what we do. This is what your support makes possible. Together, we are not just providing surgeries—we are restoring dignity, independence, and opportunity to people who need it most.
Thank you for being part of this mission. The impact we make today is only the beginning of what we will accomplish together tomorrow.
With gratitude,
David E. Rapp, MD
Founder and Executive Director
