FIENS Expands Post-Graduate Education and Fellowship Opportunities
The Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery (FIENS) has moved in recent years to greatly expand its support of neurosurgical training worldwide, especially in regions that previously had no neurosurgical facilities. As more and more training programs are being established, often in the capitals of the countries, an ongoing need exists for post-graduate education of the trainees after they complete their residency. Many of the principles of this are founded on the same principles which we see worldwide in post-graduate education and are dedicated to the firm understanding that the goal is to have equal quality of neurosurgical care for all peoples worldwide and equal training. While the residencies have more and more come under modern certifications and standardization of curriculum, the post-graduate education has continued to evolve as well.
A major emphasis of FIENS over the past few years has been two major types of fellowships. The first, the Bassett Fellowships, support the travelling of young neurosurgeons from their home country to a hosted country and hospital where they participate in post-graduate training, including observership, simulation laboratories, academic investigations, and familiarization with major modern techniques. The second, the Clack Family Scholarships, support young neurosurgeons to complete their neurosurgical training so that they may return to their country or region or need. These fellowship programs are under the direction of David Sandberg and Robert Dempsey.
FIENS Fellow Dr. Simon Mukuye from Uganda (left) and Chair of FIENS Dr. Robert Dempsey (right)
To date, FIENS has awarded 56 young neurosurgeons with travelling fellowships and scholarships, with the intention of building future sites of service and increasing neurosurgical capacity globally. In 2024 FIENS supported 12 awards to young neurosurgeons in the following countries: Benin, Cameroon, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Armenia, and Uzbekistan. Additional countries which have been supported over the past years include Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Paraguay, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Zambia. The funding of these fellowships has expanded to include named fellowships to support particular countries of need. Pakistan is presently the beneficiary of two such fellowships, the Mukhtar A. Sheikh Family Scholarship and the Kassam Family Fellowship, particularly focused on furthering the education of graduate neurosurgeons who return to further the care of Pakistani patients.
FIENS fellows and scholars have come from a diverse range of countries, reflecting the organization’s global impact on neurosurgical education and training. The wide-ranging participation and countries served underscores FIENS commitment to advancing neurosurgical expertise in regions with limited access to specialized training and resources.
Additional emphasis in education has been post-graduate courses and boot camps. Under the direction of Dr. Jack Rock, the post-graduate education program of FIENS has developed or supported numerous boot camps throughout the world, in Africa, South America and Asia. These educational offerings are only possible by FIENS partnering with numerous organizations, including WFNS, the Society of Neurological Surgeons, Solidarity Bridge, CAANS, COSECSA and numerous national neurosurgical organizations and governments. The next planned offering will take place May 7th and 8th in Ethiopia. Organized by Dr. Sarah Woodrow, the emphasis will be on modern spine techniques and hopes to draw international representation and participants. A special honored guest will be one of the great leaders of spinal neurosurgery, Dr. Ed Benzel.
FIENS’ commitment to advancing neurosurgical expertise to provide only the best in neurosurgical care to patients worldwide is ongoing and is only possible through the support of neurosurgeons, governments, medical societies and organizations throughout the world. We thank you for your support of this exciting objective. To learn more about FIENS fellowships, scholarships or to help support these programs, please visit the website www.FIENS.org.
Robert J. Dempsey, MD Chairman and Manucher J. Javid Professor of Neurological Surgery Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin SMPH Chairman, Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery
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