HISTORY

2018

A course in Mombasa held emphasizing education throughout the Sub-Saharan East African region is held and also established one of the early graduates of the Nairobi program as the first academic neurosurgeon in Mombasa

2018

2017

Another Boot Camp was held in Yangon, Myanmar. Hardware support for sites in the developing world, such as I-Pads for combined and ongoing rounds and electronic consultations is provided.

2017

2016

The second Boot Camp took place in Africa, hosted by the program in Cape Town.  Standardized FIENS curriculum for education is modifiable to local sites throughout the world and available on our website

2016

2015

Expanded electronic communication and dyads between programs continue in Uganda, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Nicaragua, and Myanmar.  New facilities have been built in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. A scholarship program for trainees has been developed allowing them to finish certain aspects of training, increase their connection to the dyad developed program, and in some cases support them in training in their native continent.  A program for secure shipment and maintenance of necessary equipment has been instituted.  The first neurosurgical “Boot Camp” training was held in South America with hopes to expand this to consistent curriculum in Asia and Africa. 

2015

2014

Board of Directors expands to include Community Board Members and also expanded curriculum and electronic offerings. New collaborations in China, Tanzania, Zanzibar and Zimbabwe have been developed.

2014

2013

Partnering begins with major national and international societies to establish and maintain global neurosurgical education.

2013

2013

Recognition of Continental Association of African Neurosurgical Societies ( CAANS). This replaced the Pan African Association of Neurological Sciences (PAANS), as the continent’s representative at the WFNS

2013

2012

Foundation of Neurosurgical dyads linking training program in the developed and developing world

2012

2010

Simultaneous electronic course developed with residents in North America and Africa

2010

2009

Establishment of neurosurgical residency in Ecuador

2009

2007

Establishment of 1st Pan-African Neurosurgical Society

2007

2005

Establishment of East Africa neurosurgical training program involving Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

2005

2001

The first neuro-vascular workshop established in India.

2001

2000

Microsurgery lab established at the Hospital Escuela, Honduras.

2000

1995

Development of a neurosurgical unit in Kathmandu, Nepal.

1995

1992

First volunteer sent to Honduras.

1992

1989

First volunteer sent to Ghana.

1989

1984

Standardized neurosurgical training established in Indonesia.

1984

1979

Neurosurgical training program established in Taiwan by David Fairholm.

1979

1969

The start of the FIENS organization. 

1969

A narrated timeline

The Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery (FIENS) was established in 1969 for the purpose of promoting neurosurgical education and patient care in the developing world. The sites initially developed were in Central America, South America, and Asia.

20 years later FIENS’ turned its attention to Africa. There, the first site was at Korle Bu Hospital, Accra, Ghana and was adopted in 1989. The next site was the neurosurgical unit established by Dr. F. Laurence Levy at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe. Dr. Levy had trained with Dr. Wilder Penfield and, at the time he began to work in Zimbabwe in 1956, he determined that he was the only neurosurgeon between Johannesburg and Cairo.

In 2005 a neurosurgical training program was developed for Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in East Africa and the College of Surgeons of Central, East, and Southern Africa (COSECSA) approved the curriculum.

About the beginning of the twenty-first century, Dr. Paul H. Young began to travel to Nairobi, Kenya, and thus the evolution of the Neurosurgical Training Program of East Africa. Neurosurgeons from St. Louis, Missouri, rendered assistance to the neurosurgeons in Nairobi and by 2003 requested the help of FIENS.

Two neurosurgical residents, who are qualified in general surgery as well, have completed their training in Ethiopia and will be taking the COSECSA examination this year. The other countries have residents in the earlier years of residency. In addition, Ethiopia has nine other residents in either 3- or 5-year programs depending upon whether or not they have qualified as general surgeons prior to entering neurosurgical training.

Through the tenacious efforts of the involved neurosurgeons to overcome the obstacles of diversity, each of the African nations has maintained its distinct individuality. What was once a dream has become a reality!

During the next 2 years, a neurosurgical residency curriculum was created by a joint task force involving neurosurgeons from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. In 2005 the curriculum was presented to the College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA). Ethiopia joined just before the submission of the curriculum to COSECSA and indicated that their residents first would have to pass an examination by Addis Ababa University before they could take the COSECSA examination. COSECSA did approve the residency curriculum.