Shahrzad Joharifard MD, MPH, FRCSC

Dr. Shahrzad Joharifard is a pediatric surgeon with a passion for global health, particularly in conflict and post-conflict settings. She holds an AB in History cum laude from Princeton University, an MD from Duke University, and an MPH in Clinical Effectiveness from the Harvard School of Public Health. She completed her residency in General Surgery at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 2017, followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Surgery at CHU Sainte-Justine at the Université de Montréal in 2020.

Dr. Joharifard has extensive experience in sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to entering medicine, she spent two years working with the International Rescue Committee in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone. During her medical training, she worked as a clinician at Kolofata District Hospital in the Extreme North of Cameroon, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa, Mbingo Baptist Hospital in Northwest Cameroon, Gondor University Hospital in Gondor, Ethiopia, and Partners in Health affiliated hospitals in Rwinkwavu and Butaro, Rwanda. Immediately after completing general surgery residency at UBC, she began working as a surgeon for Partners in Health at JJ Dossen Memorial Hospital, a remote referral hospital in Harper, Liberia. There, she served as one of only 11 surgeons in the entire country of 4.7 million people — and only 1 of 3 outside the capital. Dr. Joharifard spends two months per year in the field with Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders. Her most recent assignments were in Aweil, South Sudan, and Rutshuru, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Dr. Joharifard is currently an attending Pediatric Surgeon at British Columbia Children’s Hospital and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at UBC. She is an Adjunct Professor at the UBC Branch for Global Surgery and co-founded the UBC Global Surgery Lab, a research and mentorship hub for undergraduate, medical, and graduate students interested in global surgery. Clinically, she practices full-spectrum pediatric surgery, with particular interests in neonatal and thoracic surgery, in addition to antenatal consultation and counseling. Her research interests lie in implementation science, innovation, quality improvement, outcomes, and global surgical education.