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Department of Neurosurgery Heersink School of Medicine

Education and Collaboration

We are committed to fostering a culture of collaboration and empowering the next generation of neurosurgeons with the skills and knowledge to excel in diverse global healthcare landscapes. By facilitating meaningful partnerships, interdisciplinary research initiatives and cross-cultural dialogue, we seek to amplify the collective impact of the global neurosurgical community. We also aim to shape compassionate, skilled neurosurgeons who can navigate and address the complexities of neurosurgical care on a global scale. 

InterSurgeon Program

This virtual mapping platform, co-founded by Global Neurosurgery Program Director James Johnston, M.D., plays a critical role in fostering connections within the global surgery community to advance clinical care, teaching, training, research and the provision and maintenance of surgical equipment. With the original aim to build partnerships between pediatric neurosurgery teams, InterSurgeon’s reach has expanded significantly through collaborations with organizations advocating for surgical, obstetrics, trauma and anesthesia care, such as the G4 Alliance. This evolution has broadened InterSurgeon’s focus, transforming this platform in a hub for fostering partnerships across all facets of global surgery. InterSurgeon provides insight into existing activities, gaps in services, and partnerships opportunities, while facilitating immediate connectivity and concrete action.

University Course Development of SP2024 GHM 680-QL Special Topic: Global Surgery

Global Neurosurgery Program Director James Johnston, M.D., and Program Manager Martina Gonzalez Gomez, M.D., MSc, established a global surgery course available to UAB School of Public Health Master of Science in Global Health students. This course, GHM 680 Special Topics in GHM - Global Surgery, will equip students with an understanding of the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, funding mechanisms, policy advocacy and equity in advancing surgical care worldwide. While students are enrolled in the course, they will experience lectures from global surgery elective course instructors in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine and the UAB School of Public Health Master of Science in Global Health (MSGH) program.

To participate as a lecturer in the course, please contact Martina Gonzalez Gomez at mgonzalezgomez@uabmc.edu.

UAB Global Health Symposium

The UAB Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health hosted the inaugural UAB Global Health Symposium in September 2023 to bring together healthcare advocates from across the globe. Members from the Global Neurosurgery Program had the opportunity to lead a panel focused on engaging with collaborators, discussing potential ways to bridge the gap in neurosurgical, surgical and oncological training and capacity.

Global Surgery Journal Club

Journal Club is an initiative held jointly by the UAB Departments of Neurosurgery and Surgery. This monthly meeting was established as a space for sharing various experiences in global surgery among surgeons, students, residents, other members of the UAB team, and visitors from partner hospitals around the world. Journal Club also facilitates opportunities to collaborate and share knowledge with experts across global surgery.

  • Past Global Surgery Journal Club Meetings
    • 1/17/2023: "The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery"
    • 03/15/2023: "Pediatric surgery in Sub-Saharan Africa" - Dr. Britney Grayson, pediatric surgeon 
    • 5/8/2023: "Plastic Surgery in Resource Limited Settings" - Dr. John Grant, UAB Plastic Surgery; Dr. Solomon Obiri Yeboah, Maxillofacial Surgery, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
    • 8/15/2023: "Epilepsy Surgery in the South-East Asian Region“ - Dr. Sage Rahm, UAB Department of Neurosurgery resident; participation by our partners from Vietnam 
    • 10/12/2024: “Surgical Systems in Egypt'' - Dr. Mohammad Murcy, UAB Division of Breast & Endocrine Surgery research fellow; Dr. Mohammed Sayed, UAB Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery research fellow
    • 01/17/2024  "Surgical Care in Rural India" - Dr. Phillip Alexander, Lady Willingdon Hospital medical superintendent
    • 03/19/2024  "Common pathologies encountered in South Africa" - Dr. Nathan English, UAB research resident

International Partnerships
  • Partner Hospitals
  • Global Fellows That Have Visited UAB/COA

    2023:

    • Francesca Chiu, Pediatric Surgery, Philippines

    2022:

    • Mohamed Sayed, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Egypt

    2019:

    • Joseph Theuri Macharia, Pediatric Orthopedics, Kenya
    • Dhruti Kanubhai Kalsaria, Pediatric Urology, India
    • Le Quang My, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Vietnam
    • Ta Huy Can, Pediatric Surgery, Vietnam
    • Nguyen Thi Cam Van, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Vietnam
    • Hoang Thi Thuy Linh, Pediatric Oncology, Vietnam
    • Le Van Ky, Pathology, Vietnam

    2018:

    • Chetan Gadekar, Pdiatric Urology, India
    • Nguyen Thai Hoc, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Vietnam
    • Trang Thi Vu, Nursing, Vietnam
    • Nguyen Thi Cam Van, Nursing, Vietnam
    • Nguyen Thi Thao, Pediatric Neurology, Vietnam
    • Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, Nursing, Vietnam
    • Uyen Thi Bich Nguyen, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Vietnam

    2017:

    • Ricardo de Amoreira Gepp, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Brazil
    • Pham Thi Viet Huong, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Vietnam
    • Pham Thi Han, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Vietnam
    • Nguyen Ngoc Pi Doanh, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Vietnam
    • Nguyen Thi Bich Van, Pediatric Neurology, Vietnam
    • Madina Ndoye, Pediatric Urology, Senegal

    2016:

    • Inocente Mayanda, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Angola
    • Grace Muthoni, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Kenya

    2015:

    • Lien Nguyen Duc, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Vietnam
    • Frank Boakye, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Ghana

    2010:

    • Can Dang Do Thanh, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Vietnam
  • UAB/COA Global Initiative Participants (Faculty, Fellows and Residents)

    UAB Neurosurgery Residents: 

    • Mathew Davis, Vietnam, Ghana
    • Jacob Lepard, Vietnam, Uganda
    • Trey McCluggage, Vietnam
    • Dagoberto Estevez, Egypt

    UAB Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellows: 

    • Brandon Rocque, Vietnam, Uganda
    • Elias Rizk, Vietnam
    • Casey Madura, Vietnam
    • Irene Kim, Vietnam
    • Zack Wright, Vietnam
    • Faizal Haji, Vietnam
    • Syed Hassan Akbari, Vietnam
    • Jonathan Pindrik, Vietnam
    • Ariana Barkley, Phillippines
    • Paige Lundy, Egypt

    UAB Faculty: 

    • James Markert, Neurosurgery, Vietnam
    • James Johnston, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Vietnam, Ghana, Egypt
    • Jeffrey Blount, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Vietnam
    • Brandon Rocque, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Vietnam Uganda
    • Peter Ray, Plastic Surgery, Vietnam
    • John Grant, Plastic Surgery, Vietnam
    • Pongkiat Kankirawatana, Neurology, Vietnam
    • Monisha Goyal, Neurology, Vietnam
    • Alyssa Reddy, Oncology, Vietnam
    • Girish Dhall, Oncology, Vietnam
    • Rong Li, Pathology, Vietnam
    • John Deveikis, Neurointerventional Radiology, Vietnam
    • Morgan Dew, Nursing, Vietnam

    Allied Health Professionals: 

    • Trei King, Neurophysiology, Vietnam
    • Kathrin Zimmerman, Medical Student, Vietnam