Dr. Robert (Bob) Taylor is a Canadian general surgeon, Clinical Professor Emeritus in the Department of Surgery at the University of British Columbia, and a pioneer in global surgery. Throughout his distinguished career, he has dedicated decades to improving access to safe surgical care through humanitarian service, surgical education, and capacity building in low-resource countries around the world.
A Member of the Order of Canada and recipient of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada’s Teasdale-Corti Humanitarian Award, Dr. Taylor has worked extensively with faith-based missions, universities and the International Committee of the Red Cross and has led surgical training initiatives across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
As a long-time collaborator with the Canadian Network for International Surgery (CNIS), Dr. Taylor has taught on CNIS Essential Surgical Skills (ESS) courses and has worked alongside Dr. Ronald Lett to advance surgical education in low-resource settings. CNIS has also partnered with the University of British Columbia’s Branch for Global Surgical Care on research initiatives, travel awards, and educational programs, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening surgical capacity through sustainable education, mentorship, and international collaboration.