Matthijs Botman is a plastic surgeon with a broad focus on patients with conditions that need reconstructive surgery. His interest in and passion for global surgery started early in his career when he experienced first-hand the need to improve access to safe surgical care in the hospitals that he visited in Peru and Malawi. After specializing as a Global Health Doctor, he worked in the Republic of Congo and Tanzania. Based on his experiences in Africa, where he had been confronted by patients with complex wounds, nerve and tendon injuries, burns, burns scar contractures and open fractures, Matthijs was drawn to reconstructive surgery where he believed he could make the biggest impact.

His experiences in low and middle income countries showed Matthijs the need for more accessible training materials in these settings. His PhD, Beyond Short-term Medical Missions, led to the development of training materials in burns care that can be easily accessed online, as well as a course based on research in LMIC settings. He believes that education and collaboration are key to closing the surgical gap – and moving away from the traditional “medical mission” models of the past.

In addition to his work at Global Surgery Amsterdam, Matthijs advocates for global surgery as an active member of the Netherlands Society of International Surgery (NSIS) and the Netherlands Society for International Health and Tropical Medicine (NVTG) and is the GSA representative in the G4 Alliance. Within the Amsterdam University Medical Centres (AUMC), Matthijs participates in the working group for Global Health Education and he is a lecturer at universities in both Amsterdam and Leiden. When he can find the time, Matthijs enjoys spending time on his boat in the Amsterdam canals and traveling.