Elisha Jindal1, Ludovica Farese2, Mahim Mahim1, Kajol Doshi3, Anindita Deb3
1University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 2Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 3University of Massachusetts School of Medicine
Objective:
Address gaps in global health training within neurology residency by establishing a regional consortium model facilitating collaboration, resource-sharing, and mentorship among geographically proximate institutions.
Background:
Research examining global health opportunities in neurology residency has only emerged over the past decade. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2014 survey reported only 53% of responding programs allowed residents to pursue global health electives. Only 11% had at least 1 trainee participate in humanitarian relief during training. One of the more comprehensive models, developed at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, includes structured didactics, local community engagement, and international electives –fostering collaborations that expose residents to diverse patient populations and international colleagues.
Results:
Shared interests in global standards of neurologic care and lack of a formal global neurology program has led residents from two different institutions to connect with a global health track director at a third institution, informally establishing our own regional consortium (University at Buffalo, Brown University, University of Massachusetts). The residents connected with the established program through different routes— some via program director referral, others through the AAN Global Synapse. This collaboration has facilitated participation in global health morning reports, initial engagement with international partner institutions for electives, and recognition of limited global exposure in residency training. Through shared institutional resources, we have begun to address prevalent barriers in global health including limited exposure to regionally uncommon clinical cases, mentorship gaps, limited funding opportunities, and lack of international partnerships.
Conclusions:
The current model has enabled participating residents to access established global health curricula and mentorship without requiring independent comprehensive institutional infrastructure. Proposed next steps include conducting a needs-assessment survey to evaluate the existing gaps in this current global health training landscape and developing a formal framework to guide the creation and sustainability of regional neurology global health consortiums.
Disclaimer: Abstracts were not reviewed by Neurology® and do not reflect the views of Neurology® editors or staff.