Meet Our Fellows
Every year young aspiring neurosurgeons are supported by FIENS fellowships and scholarships in the pursuit of building neurosurgical capacity in their home countries. Upon completion of their programs, they complete reports about their experiences and share their plans for the future. Click on their profiles to learn more about some of their experiences and stories!
Fawaz Eljili M. Abdelradi
Bassett Fellow
2025
🇸🇩 Sudan
Fawaz Eljili M. Abdelradi
2025 Bassett Fellow
Khartoum, Sudan → Madison, USA
Dr. Fawaz Eljili M. Abdelradi is a neurosurgery registrar at the National Center for Neurological Sciences (NCNS) in Khartoum, Sudan. His fellowship is aimed at gaining specialized training in skull base and cerebrovascular surgery—areas still underdeveloped in Sudan due to a lack of subspecialized surgeons. Having completed his training in 2023, Dr. Abdelradi seeks this opportunity to build advanced surgical expertise and contribute to the development of high-complexity neurosurgical care in Sudan, especially in the aftermath of the ongoing conflict. He will undertake this fellowship under the mentorship of Professor Mustafa Baskaya at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, where he will observe neurosurgical services, participate in surgical neuroanatomy training at the microsurgery laboratory, and be actively involved in neurosurgical education and research.
Peniel Abera
TRAVELING FELLOW
2025
🇬🇪 Georgia
Peniel Abera
2025 Traveling Fellow
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia → Rome, Italy
Dr. Peniel Abera is a Chief Neurosurgery Resident at Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and is set to graduate in February 2026.
Dr. Peniel Abera is a Chief Neurosurgery Resident at Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and is set to graduate in February 2026.
Dr. Abera will undertake an observership at San Filippo Neri Hospital in Rome from May to July 2026 under the mentorship of Professor Luciano Mastronardi.
During this fellowship, he will focus on advanced microsurgical dissection and endoscopic skull base techniques, observe multidisciplinary clinical workflows, and develop quality improvement strategies tailored to his home institution. His training will also emphasize research, leadership development, and the establishment of a cost-effective surgical skills laboratory to strengthen neurosurgical training in Ethiopia. Dr. Abera is committed to returning to Ethiopia to help build sustainable, high-quality neurosurgical services that serve the country’s population of more than 130 million people and contribute to neurosurgical advancement across Africa.
Adefisayo Ayoade Adekanmbi
Bassett FELLOW
2019
🇳🇬 Nigeria
Adefisayo Ayoade Adekanmbi
2019 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Nigeria
Fellowship Hospital: University of Wisconsin
Training Program: University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
Fellowship Hosts: Dr. Robert Dempsey, Dr. Mustafa Baskaya
Dr. Adefisayo Adekanmbi completed his fellowship at the University of Wisconsin under the guidance of trainers Dr. Robert Dempey and Dr. Mustafa Baskaya. Dr. Adekanmbi’s fellowship allowed him to participate in an advanced microvascular bypass training curriculum. Activities of the curriculum included gaining exposure to the execution and performance of several convexity and skull base neurosurgical approaches; participation in observership opportunities in the operation room for complex neurosurgical procedures, and the opportunity to lead and contribute to neurosurgery-related research activities. Dr. Adekanmbi will bring this new knowledge and experience back to his home country of Nigeria.
We had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Adefisayo Adekanmbi. Here are some highlights from what he shared:
The training provided during my fellowship will enable me to be able to safely operate on complex cranial neurosurgery cases. I will be able to apply some of the technical nuances and approaches in my operations and will also be able to share the knowledge with colleagues and other junior neurosurgeons.
In closing Dr. Adekanmbi wished to acknowledge and thank those that supported his FIENS- Basset Fellowship journey.
I would like to thank my mentors, Professor R Dempsey and Professor M. K Baskaya for giving me this golden opportunity.
Yunus Kuntawi Aji
Bassett FELLOW
2023
🇮🇩 Indonesia
Yunus Kuntawi Aji
2023 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Indonesia
Fellowship Hosts: Professor Yukoh Ohara, Dr. Takeshi Hara, Dr. Eiji Abe, Dr. Daichi Kawamura, Dr. Takeshi Umebayashi, Dr. Naoko Kikuchi, Dr. Kiyoshi Ito, Dr. Hisashi Koga, Dr. Kento Takebayashi, Dr. Mutsuhiro Tamura, Dr. Yota Toshi, Professor Hidetoshi Nojiri
Fellowship Training Hospital: Jutendo University Hospital
Yunus Kuntawi Aji completed his fellowship in February 2024. Dr. Yunus Kuntawi Aji is a neurosurgeon at the Indonesia National Brain Center Hospital.
Fellowship Overview
At Jutendo University Hospital in Tokyo, Japan, under the guidance of neurosurgeons, Professor Yukoh Ohara, Dr. Takeshi Hara, Dr. Eiji Abe, Dr. Daichi Kawamura, Dr. Takeshi Umebayashi, Dr. Naoko Kikuchi, Dr. Kiyoshi Ito, Dr. Hisashi Koga, Dr. Kento Takebayashi, Dr. Mutsuhiro Tamura, Dr. Yota Toshi, Professor Hidetoshi Nojiri, Dr. Kuntawi Aji was able to attend weekly spine case discussion between neurosurgery and orthopaedic spine teams; attend OR activities and attend rotation daily to several hospitals. The hospitals were Juntendo University Hospital, Aizawa Hospital, Iwai Orthopaedic Hospital, Heiwa Hospital, and Tokyo Spine Clinic. He also had the opportunity to attend a Japanese neurospine conference. The learning objectives of this fellowship were to increase his knowledge of endoscopic spine surgery and minimally invasive spine surgery, specifically full endoscopic spine surgery.
We had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Yunis Kuntawi Aji. Here are some highlights from what he shared:
“I work in the largest neurosurgical referral institution in Indonesia, including the spine. This fellowship surely enhanced my knowledge and skills regarding endoscopy spine surgery and minimally invasive spine surgery, not only from neurosurgery perspective, but also orthopaedic spine perspective as well. This fellowship is important for me to learn new skills and techniques that in turn will be beneficial for my patients in Indonesia.”
In closing Yunus Kuntawi Aji wished to thank all the board members of FIENS for the opportunity.
Tokhir Akhmediev
Bassett FELLOW
2025
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
Tokhir Akhmediev
2023 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Uzbekistan
Fellowship Training Hospital: Professor Samer Elbabaa
Fellowship Overview
Tokhir Akhmediev is a pediatric neurosurgeon at the Republican Center of Neurosurgery and Tashkent Medical Academy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. His interests are pediatric neurooncology, neuroendoscopy, congenital anomalies of the brain and spinal cord, functional neurosurgery. The purpose of his fellowship is to get acquainted with the working process organized at the Leon Pediatric Neuroscience Center of Excellence Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Orlando, Florida, USA. Professor Samer Elbabaa, who will be his fellowship host, visited the department where he worked earlier in 2024. He was inspired by his knowledge and passion for neurosurgery and is looking forward to visiting him at his home hospital in 2025.
Dumura General Alfin
Bassett FELLOW
2024
🇳🇬 Nigeria
Dumura General Alfin
2024 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Nigeria
Fellowship Host: Dr. Michael T. Lawton
Fellowship Hospital: Barrow Neurological Institute
Fellowship Overview: Dr. Dumura Jeneral Alfin is a young neurosurgeon, currently practicing neurosurgery at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State, Nigeria. He will travel from Nigeria to the Barrow Neurological Institute to participate in observership training in cerebrovascular and skull base neurosurgery hosted by Dr. Michael T. Lawton. He believes that this fellowship will support him in addressing the overwhelming demand for skull base and cerebrovascular services in Nigeria.
Abdisamed Abdi Ali
Clack Scholar
2022
Somaliland
Abdisamed Abdi Ali
2022 Clack Scholar
Home Country: Somaliland
Training Hospital: Black Lion Hospital Addis Ababa University
Program Director: Dr. Nebyou Seyoum
Status: Current Clack Fellow
Amer Ahmad Ali Alomari
Bassett FELLOW
2022
🇯🇴 Jordan
Amer Alomari
2022 Bassett Fellowship
Name: Amer Ahmad Ali Alomari
Home Country: Jordan
Fellowship Training Hospital: San Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy
Hosts: Prof. Luciano Mastronardi, Dr. Roperto Raffaelo
FIENS is proud to present Bassett Fellow Dr Amer Ahmad Ali Alomari, who successfully completed his fellowship training at San Filippo Neri Hospital in Rome, Italy, from May 2022 to May 2024. Dr Alomari is a Skull Base Neurosurgeon dedicated to advancing neurosurgical services in his home country of Jordan.
Fellowship Overview
Dr. Alomari’s two-year fellowship focused on subspecialty training in open skull base microsurgery and complex spine surgery. Under the expert guidance of Prof. Luciano Mastronardi and Dr. Roperto Raffaelo, Dr. Alomari gained extensive hands-on experience in advanced neurosurgical techniques. His daily schedule involved participation in morning skull base surgeries and afternoon complex spine procedures, supplemented by structured academic and clinical learning.
The fellowship also included:
- Weekly Friday case discussion meetings with senior neurosurgeons
- Bi-weekly neuroradiology conferences for multidisciplinary case reviews
- Cadaveric dissection courses every six months to deepen anatomical and surgical understanding
- Daily patient rounds that offered comprehensive exposure to pre- and post-operative care
Dr Alomari completed his neurosurgery residency at King Abdullah University Hospital in northern Jordan, a major referral center for complex neurosurgical cases including spine, pediatric, vascular, oncology, trauma, and functional neurosurgery. His fellowship was undertaken after residency as part of a targeted subspecialty training initiative.
Impact and Reflections
Reflecting on his experience, Dr Alomari shared:
“This fellowship was a transformative period in my career. It significantly elevated my knowledge and technical capabilities in skull base and spine surgery. With the support of my mentors and FIENS, I’ve returned to Jordan fully equipped to establish and lead a skull base neurosurgery service at my hospital. Within just three months, we’ve achieved a wide range of successful outcomes and helped expand access to advanced neurosurgical care in the region.”
Future Plans
Dr Alomari has already taken significant steps to enhance neurosurgical infrastructure in Jordan. He is actively building new services and expanding the scope of operations performed at his hospital, aiming to position his institution as a national center for skull base surgery.
Dr. Alomari expressed heartfelt thanks to FIENS for making this opportunity possible and is committed to continuing the mission of improving neurosurgical care in underserved areas.
Bizuayehu Asefa
Bassett FELLOW
2026
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Bizuayehu Asefa
2026 Bassett Fellowship
Ethiopia → Keio University School of Medicine, Japan
FIENS is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Bizuayehu Asefa of Ethiopia as a recipient of the FIENS Bassett Fellowship. Dr. Asefa will undertake a fellowship at Keio University School of Medicine in Tokyo, Japan, under the mentorship of Professor Masahiro Toda, a renowned leader in skull base neurosurgery.
During his fellowship, Dr. Asefa will receive advanced training in microsurgical dissection, endoscopic skull base surgery, minimally invasive keyhole approaches, neurovascular surgery, and comprehensive perioperative management. He will also participate in academic conferences, quality improvement initiatives, and educational activities designed to strengthen neurosurgical systems of care.
Upon returning to Ethiopia, Dr. Asefa plans to apply the knowledge and skills gained through this fellowship to enhance neurosurgical services, expand educational opportunities for trainees, and contribute to the development of sustainable, high-quality neurosurgical care throughout the country.
Hugues Ghislain Atakla
Clack Scholar
2024
🇧🇯 Benin
Hugues Ghislain Atakla
2024 Clack Scholar
Program Director: Momar Code BA
Training Hospital: Cheikh Anto Diop University, Hospital Center University De Fann in Dakar, Senegal
Status: Current Clack Fellow
Kwizera Axel
Education Assistance Scholar
2026
🇧🇮 Burundi
Kwizera Axel
2026 Education Assistance Scholar
Dr. Kwizera Axel is an aspiring neurosurgeon from Burundi. He is currently pursuing his neurosurgical residency in Rwanda, under the direction of Dr. Nkusi Agabe Emmy, where he is training because Burundi does not yet have a neurosurgical residency program.
Burundi faces a critical shortage of neurosurgeons, with only three practicing specialists serving the entire country. This severe workforce gap limits access to life-saving neurosurgical care for patients suffering from traumatic brain injuries, tumors, and other neurological conditions, underscoring the urgent need to expand the country’s neurosurgical capacity.
Dr. Axel has faced significant financial challenges while pursuing his residency. As a foreign trainee in Rwanda, he receives no institutional financial support and must cover both tuition and living expenses independently while navigating the rising cost of living in Kigali. As a 2026 FIENS Education Assistance Scholar, Dr. Axel will receive the FIENS Education Assistance Scholarship to support the completion of his neurosurgical training. With this support, he plans to complete his residency and return to Burundi, where he hopes to help expand access to neurosurgical care and work with colleagues to establish a local neurosurgical training program for future physicians.
Shabih Ayeshah
kassam Family Fellow
2025
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Shabih Ayeshah
2025 Kassam Family Fellow
Karachi, Pakistan → Prescott, USA
Dr. Shabih Ayeshah is a neurosurgeon based in Karachi, Pakistan and is affiliated with RIMS Trauma Hospital. Dr. Ayeshah is the first recipient of the FIENS Kassam Family Fellowship, a fellowship awarded to support promising neurosurgeons from Pakistan.
Her fellowship is driven by a deep commitment to mastering the technically demanding fields of skull base and cerebrovascular surgery—disciplines that represent the highest levels of precision and innovation in neurosurgery. In Pakistan, there are currently no dedicated fellowship programs for these subspecialties, and exposure to complex cases remains limited, even in major tertiary centers. Through this fellowship, Dr. Ayeshah aims to gain advanced surgical training, broaden his clinical exposure, and bring back critical expertise to improve the care of patients with complex neurosurgical conditions who are often left untreated or managed sub optimally. She will pursue this training under the mentorship of Dr. Sam Safavi at Yavapai Medical Center in Prescott, Arizona, USA.
Terngu Azaatse
Traveling Fellow
2026
🇳🇬 Nigeria
Terngu Azaatse
2026 Traveling Fellow
Nigeria → Barrow Neurological Institute, United States
FIENS is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Terngu Azaatse of Nigeria as the recipient of the FIENS Traveling Fellowship. Dr. Azaatse will undertake a three-month observership at the Barrow Neurological Institute under the mentorship of Dr. Michael T. Lawton.
During his observership, Dr. Azaatse will gain exposure to advanced neurosurgical techniques, multidisciplinary patient management, and contemporary approaches to the treatment of complex cranial and spinal disorders. The experience will provide valuable insight into surgical planning, clinical decision-making, and academic neurosurgery.
Dr. Azaatse’s long-term goal is to return to Makurdi, Benue State, where there is currently no resident neurosurgeon serving the region. Through the knowledge and experience gained during the fellowship, he aims to improve patient care, support neurosurgical training, and expand access to life-saving neurosurgical services for underserved communities throughout Benue State and beyond.
Hafiza Fatima Aziz
Mukhtar A. Sheikh Fellow
2025
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Hafiza Fatima Aziz
2025 Mukhtar A. Sheikh Fellow
Karachi, Pakistan → Stanford, USA
Dr. Hafiza Fatima Aziz is a neurosurgeon based in Karachi, Pakistan, with a growing clinical focus on complex skull base pathologies and minimally invasive surgical techniques..
She is the recipient of the FIENS Mukhtar A. Sheikh Hospital Fellowship, awarded to support outstanding neurosurgeons committed to advancing neurosurgical care in Pakistan. Dr. Aziz is pursuing this fellowship to gain foundational, hands-on experience in skull base anatomy and surgical approaches in a dedicated lab environment. This opportunity marks a critical first step toward her long-term goal of establishing a skull base surgery program in Pakistan, where such specialized expertise is currently lacking.
Under the mentorship of Dr. Juan Carlos Fernandez-Miranda at the Stanford Medicine NeuroTrain Center, she aims to strengthen her technical skills, contribute to research, and ultimately return with advanced knowledge to improve patient care and help train the next generation of neurosurgeons in her country.
Nadia Banaras
Mukhtar A. Sheikh Fellow
2026
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Nadia Banaras
2026 Mukhtar A. Sheikh Fellow
Pakistan → Yavapai Regional Medical Group, United States
FIENS is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Nadia Banaras of Pakistan as the recipient of the Mukhtar A. Sheikh Hospital Fellowship. Dr. Banaras is the first and only female neurosurgeon from Balochistan and will undertake advanced neurosurgical training under the mentorship of Dr. Sam Safavi-Abbasi.
During her fellowship, Dr. Banaras will gain exposure to advanced neurosurgical techniques, including endoscopic skull base surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery, and functional neurosurgery. She is particularly motivated by the need to improve access to modern neurosurgical care in underserved regions and to bring innovative approaches back to communities where specialized services remain limited.
Upon returning home, she plans to improve patient care, expand local neurosurgical capacity, mentor future trainees, and help create greater opportunities for women in surgery throughout Pakistan.
Louncény Fatoumata Barry
Clack Scholar
2023
🇬🇳 Guinea
Louncény Fatoumata Barry
2023 Clack Scholar
Home Country: Guinea
Training Hospital: Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar (Senegal)
Program Director: Professor Momar Code BA
Status: Current Clack Fellow
Soumia Benallag
Bassett FELLOW
2023
🇩🇿 Algeria
Soumia Benallag
2023 Bassett Fellow
Name: Soumia Benallag
Home Country: Algeria
Fellowship Training Hospital: Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Host: Dr. Michael T. Lawton
FIENS is honored to feature Dr. Soumia Benallag as a recent Bassett Fellow. A neurosurgeon from Algeria, Dr. Benallag completed her fellowship at the prestigious Barrow Neurological Institute in the United States from August to December 2023, under the mentorship of world-renowned vascular and skull base neurosurgeon, Dr. Michael T. Lawton.
Fellowship Experience
Her days began with morning conferences that brought together surgical teams for case reviews and operative planning. She then had the opportunity to observe a wide variety of high-complexity surgical cases, primarily focusing on cerebrovascular and skull base pathologies.
“Watching Dr. Lawton operate was like reading a living textbook,” Dr. Benallag reflected. “His meticulous microsurgical technique, attention to preoperative detail, and calm leadership in the OR taught me more than I could have imagined in such a short time.”
Afternoons were dedicated to surgical debriefings and patient rounds, offering continuity of care insight. Wednesdays were spent in the outpatient clinic, providing Dr. Benallag with a broader view of neurosurgical care—from initial consultation through to follow-up—highlighting the importance of long-term patient management.
Background and Training
Dr. Benallag completed her neurosurgical residency in Algeria, where training spans five years and includes comprehensive exposure to trauma, functional, spinal, pediatric, and vascular neurosurgery. This fellowship marked an important step in her subspecialization in skull base surgery.
Impact and Future Direction
Since returning to Algeria, Dr. Benallag has actively applied the principles she observed during her fellowship. The exposure to advanced surgical decision-making and interdisciplinary care at Barrow reinforced her dedication to improving skull base neurosurgery in her home country.
“My time at Barrow deepened my understanding of what’s possible in our field,” she said. “It strengthened my commitment to not only refine my skills but also share knowledge with colleagues and contribute to Algeria’s evolving neurosurgical landscape.”
Final Thoughts
“This fellowship offered more than clinical knowledge—it gave me perspective, encouragement, and the sense of being part of a global community striving to improve neurosurgical care. I’m deeply grateful to FIENS and Dr. Lawton for this life-changing opportunity.”
Kevin Ivan Chan
BASSETT FELLOW
2023
🇵🇭 Philippines
Kevin Ivan Chan
2023 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Philippines
Fellowship Hosts: Dr. Juan Carlos Fernandez – Miranda
Fellowship Training Hospital: Stanford University School of Medicine
Last year, Dr. Chan was able to travel to Stanford University School of Medicine where he pursued skull base neurosurgery under Dr. Juan Carlos Fernandez – Miranda. His research interests for the fellowship include endoscopic neurosurgery, skull base, pituitary and neurosurgical education.
We had the opportunity to ask Dr. Chan how he felt the fellowship has contributed to his neurosurgical education. Here is what he shared:
“Indeed, I have seen further by standing on the shoulders of giants. Dr. Fernandez – Miranda is such a giant in the field of skull base neurosurgery. He was an exceptional mentor. Through observing his surgical techniques in the operating room, I gained invaluable insights into this specialized discipline. I was able to witness how he approached complex skull base lesions. To further refine and enhance these techniques, I had the privilege of conducting research in our NeuroTraIn laboratory which boasts state-of-the-art equipment akin to that found in our operating room. Utilizing cadaveric models, I applied the principles I learned from Dr. Fernandez – Miranda. This immersive experience allowed me to delve deeper in honing my surgical skills and expanding my anatomical knowledge. This fellowship and mentorship have undoubtedly shaped my character as a neurosurgeon fostering a commitment to excellence, mastery of anatomy and pursuit of innovation.”
Hoai Dinh
BASSETT FELLOW
2025
🇻🇳 Vietnam
Hoai Dinh
2025 Bassett Fellow
Da Nang, Vietnam → International Fellowship Site
Dr. Hoai Dinh TP is a neurosurgical trainee from Da Nang, Vietnam, committed to advancing neurosurgical care within Vietnam’s growing health system. Through this fellowship, Dr. Hoai seeks focused international exposure to strengthen core neurosurgical knowledge, clinical judgment, and system-level perspectives that can be applied in both academic and clinical practice upon return home.
This fellowship will provide Dr. Hoai with the opportunity to observe established neurosurgical services, gain exposure to best practices in patient care and clinical workflows, and broaden professional experience within an international training environment. Dr. Hoai is committed to returning to Vietnam following the fellowship to contribute to local neurosurgical services, support ongoing workforce development, and help strengthen sustainable neurosurgical capacity within the country.
Joel Fernando Sanabria Duarte
BASSETT FELLOW
2023
🇵🇾 Paraguay
Joel Fernando Sanabria Duarte
2023 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Paraguay
Fellowship Hosts: Dr. Suneil Kalia, Dr. Andres Lozano and Dr. Taufik Valiante
Fellowship Training Hospital: Toronto Western Hospital
Dr. Joel Fernando Sanabria Duarte completed his fellowship in June 2023. Dr. Sanabria Duarte is a functional neurosurgery fellow from Paraguay who aspired for many years to have the opportunity to visit and observe Dr. Suneil Kalia. His admiration for Dr. Kalia stemmed from his world renowned service specialty in Parkinson’s Disease.
Fellowship Overview
At Toronto Western Hospital, under the guidance of neurosurgeons, Dr. Suneil Kalia, Dr. Andres Lozano and Dr. Taufik Valiante, Dr. Sanabria Duarte was able to attend procedures that are only performed in a few places worldwide, such as focused ultrasound (FUS), interstitial laser therapy (LITT) and stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) with robot guidance, in addition to a substantial number of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson Disease and others movement disorders. He shared that one of the most valuable learning experiences was observing intraoperative monitoring with microrecordings of awake patients during the DBS implantation.
He was impressed by the significance of a multidisciplinary team composed of neurophysiologists, neurologists, biomedical professionals, and engineers working collaboratively to assist patients. He was also able to attend research meetings where ongoing research projects were discussed, including stem cell implantation for Parkinson’s disease treatment, DBS for dementia, DBS for addiction, liquid biopsy with FUS, and electrical stimulation in glioma cells in vitro.
Dr. Sanabria Duarte shared his goals for neurosurgical infrastructure in Paraguay:
He explained that as one of only a few Paraguayan neurosurgeons trained in functional neurosurgery, he is working on creating a project with colleague, Oscar Servin to treat patients with movement disorders (the epilepsy project is already underway, with over 20 patients operated on in recent years). He shared that it is a long and challenging journey, but it wouldn’t be possible without the training and assistance provided by FIENS.
Sharing Gratitude
Dr. Sanbria Duarte would like to thank his family, his girlfriend, and his home hospital, Instituto de Neurologia Curitiba – Neurological Institute of Curitiba, for their support during his neurosurgical training.
We look forward to sharing updates on Dr. Sanabria Duarte’s progress in Paraguay.
Ignatius Esene
BASSETT FELLOW
2017
🇨🇲 Cameroon
Ignatius Esene
2017 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Cameroon
Fellowship Hosts: Dr. Robert Dempsey and Dr. Mustafa Baskaya
Fellowship Training Hospital: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Neurosurgery
Fellowship Overview: Dr. Esene complete the Bassett Fellowship in 2018 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the guidance of trainers, Dr. Robert Dempsey and Dr. Mustafa Baskaya. Dr. Esene shared some of the activities of his fellowship included participating in neurovascular and neuroanatomy research, observing the outpatient clinic and theatre, attending meetings and conferences in bench research in Dr Dempsey’s neuroscience laboratory and participating in training activities in the microsurgery, endoscopy and neuroanatomy laboratory.
When asked what his future plans were in building infrastructure in Cameroon, Dr. Esene responded:
The fellowship has helped me in establishing the first neurosurgical care unit in the Northern part of Cameroon. It has also helped me to be able to build research capacity in Africa and globally amongst young neurosurgeons. I strongly advocate for research equity between HICs and LMICs. I have been able to organize - in collaboration with Upsurgeon - the first neuro-simulation courses in 5 governmental Universities in Cameroon. I am also actively involved in Neurosurgical Education in Cameroon (Lecturer of Neurosurgery) and Africa.
In closing Dr. Esene wished to acknowledge and thank those that supported his FIENS - Bassett Fellowship journey.
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the head of the department and FIENS Chair Prof Dempsey for his mentorship and financial support. To the entire staff of UW- Madison for facilitating my stay in the department
Ridwaan Ibraahim Faarah
Clack Scholar
2025
🇸🇴 Somalia
Ridwaan Ibraahim Faarah
2025 Clack Scholar
Dr. Ridwaan Ibraahim Faarah is from the Federal Republic of Somalia and is currently completing his neurosurgical training at Kenyatta National Hospital in Kenya. Dr. Christopher Musau is his residency program director. With just one year remaining in his training, Dr. Faarah is nearing the final stretch of his journey to becoming a fully qualified neurosurgeon.
Somalia faces significant challenges in healthcare access and infrastructure; with limited access to specialized care and a severe shortage of trained neurosurgeons, the burden of untreated neurological conditions is profound. Increasing capacity in neurosurgery is critical to improving survival and recovery outcomes for patients facing trauma and other neurosurgical conditions.
Dr. Faarah has shown remarkable resilience and dedication throughout his training. Balancing clinical responsibilities and academic demands with financial pressures has made his path both demanding and inspiring. This scholarship will contribute to alleviating his financial burden and allow him to focus on becoming a highly skilled neurosurgeon, ready to return home and contribute meaningfully to improving neurosurgical access in under-resourced communities like his hometown of Hargeisa.
Samuel Gana
BASSETT FELLOW
2023
🇳🇬 Nigeria
Samuel Gana
2023 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Nigeria
Practicing Hospital: Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital
Fellowship Hospital: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Fellowship Host: Dr. Baskaya and Dr. Dempsey
Fellowship Overview
Dr. Gana completed the Bassett Fellowship in 2024 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the guidance of trainer, Dr. Mustafa Baskaya. The activities of his fellowship includedcompleting the Baskaya Microsurgical Bypass Training Curriculum, learning and participating in cadaveric skull base approaches in the microdissection lab. He also was able to participate in the 13th Wisconsin Annual Nerve Lab and the Spine Symposium and Surgical Skills Lab. He also attended weekly clinical and academic meetings of the Department of Neurosurgery during his fellowship.
When asked how the training support will contribute to his home country he shared:
This fellowship training has given me a better understanding of aneurysm surgery, approaches to skull base tumors, and overall, a better appreciation of microdissection and techniques of hemostasis. Also, I have seen firsthand the use of intraoperative neuro-monitoring, the use of intraoperative dyes, and the use of neuro-navigation.
When asked what his future plans were in building infrastructure in Cameroon, Dr. Gana responded:
I currently work in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria which is a tertiary hospital in Northwestern Nigeria. I plan to expand the scope of my practice to include cerebrovascular surgery. I plan to push for the acquisition of a new operating microscope and microdissection sets, as our operating microscope is suboptimal and almost non-functional. Also, I am strongly making a case for the acquisition of equipment like neuronavigation, cavitron ultrasonic aspirator and neuromonitoring devices.
In closing Dr. Gana wished to acknowledge and thank those that supported his FIENS - Bassett Fellowship journey.
I would like to acknowledge my trainer Professor Mustafa Baskaya, as well as Proffesor Robert Dempsey for receiving me to the UW-MADISON.
Also, I thank Dr Abdullah Keles and other fellows in the lab for their support.
Finally, I thank Elizabeth Ludwig and Alan Weld for housing me throughout my fellowship, and providing me with a truly American family experience.
Fortuné Gankpé
BASSETT FELLOW
2021
🇧🇯 Benin
Fortuné Gankpé
2021 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Benin
Fellowship Hospital: Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Fellowship Host: Professor Alexandra Golby
Fellowship Overview
Dr. Gbètoho Fortuné Gankpé is a Bassett Fellowship awardee from Benin who completed his clinical training in the neurosurgery residence program at theWFNS Rabat Center of Excellence. He was awarded the fellowship in 2021 but due to COVID, he was unable to travel. Finally, in 2024, he was able to complete his fellowship. Dr. Gankpé completed his fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston hosted by Professor Alexandra Golby. Supporting him in is his training were some of Dr. Golby’s colleagues, Drs. Linda Bi, Ossama Al-Mefty, Omar Arnaout, Nirav Patel and Paolo Peruzzi.
The activities of his fellowship included observing 67 neurosurgical procedures in the OR, observing a 1 month clinical rotation in the Children’s Hospital and a 1 week in clinical rotation in the neurosurgery ICU. He was also able to participate in a weekly case management course in the Cushing Division of the Department of Neurosurgery and a weekly lecture series. Lastly, he was able to participate in research capacity training in the Golby Lab.
When asked how the training support will contribute to his home country he shared:
First of all, I observed and learned how multidisciplinary teams work which I will reproduce with my colleagues in my home country.
Also, seeing and learning how people operate almost without brain retractor, I think I could do that in order to improve outcomes for our patients back home. I have observed different strategies that surgeons use here to be able to have excellent outcomes for patients, and hopefully, I will return to Benin and bring these new ideas, initiatives, strategies for high quality neurosurgical care.
In terms of networking, I have met many doctors from around the World and made many connections for future partnerships.
In closing Dr. Gankpé wished to acknowledge and thank those that supported his FIENS – Bassett Fellowship journey.
I’d like to thank FIENS for funding my fellowship in USA. I had been selected for this fellowship in 2021 and due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I was unable to show up in US. When I reached out to FIENS two years later, I was unaware about if my award has been maintained.
Also, I’d like to thank Proffesor Alexandra Golby. When I initially contacted Dr Golby to inquire about an observership, I was familiar with only her reputation — as a world renowned in neurosurgery. Despite having no prior personal connection, I decided to take a chance and see if she would be willing to host me and she warmly accepted. I am so grateful for her.
Many thanks to Proffesor Mohammed Chaoui and his team of the department of Neurosurgery of Fez in Morocco where my neurosurgical adventure has started. Finally thank to my mentors in Benin, Dr Kisito Quenum and Dr Thierry Alihonou and my parents and family.
Chafik Handis
BASSETT FELLOW
2023
🇩🇿 Algérie
Chafik Handis
2023 Bassett Fellow
Name: Dr. Chafik Handis
Home Country: Algérie
Fellowship Hospital: Pacific Neuroscience Institute
Sponsors: Daniel F. Kelly
Dr. Chafik Handis is an Algerian assistant Professor in Neurosurgery. His medical school is Algiers University - Faculty of Medicine in Algeria. He was trained in a neurosurgical residency at Mohamed Lamine Debaghine University Hospital (BEO). He has been practicing as a specialist since 2018 in the same hospital. He has a special interest in skull base and cerebrovascular surgeries.
We had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Handis. Here is the overview of what he participated in during his fellowship:
With the Bassett Fellowship, I had an excellent opportunity to observe Dr. Kelly's and Dr. Barkhoudarian's surgeries, from endoscopic endonasal to keyhole technics. I attended the tumoral board which was a great chance of learning the management of complex cases. The most important part was the dissection laboratory where I spent a long time performing all skull base approaches from endonasal to open technics. I had even done some white matter anatomy studies which was very interesting. I am performing anatomical studies comparing endoscopic and open microscopic approaches for the lower clivus.
Ceyedi Ben Said Hassane
Clack Scholar
2026
🇰🇲 Union of the Comoros
Ceyedi Ben Said Hassane
2026 Clack Scholars
Dr. Ceyedi Ben Said Hassane is an aspiring neurosurgeon from the Union of the Comoros. He is currently training in neurosurgery at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal, under the direction of Professor Momar Codè BA.
His home country faces a profound shortage of neurosurgical care. The Union of the Comoros currently has only one practicing neurosurgeon and no local neurosurgical training program, leaving many patients without access to the life-saving procedures they need. This reality has fueled Dr. Hassane’s determination to complete his training and return home to help address this critical gap in care.
Dr. Hassane has faced significant financial challenges throughout his medical education, coming from a modest background and pursuing his studies with limited resources. A personal experience—losing his grandmother after she suffered a hemorrhagic stroke without access to a neurosurgeon—deeply shaped his commitment to the field. As a 2026 Clack Family Scholar, Dr. Hassane will receive the Clack Family Scholarship through FIENS to support the continuation of his neurosurgical training. With this support, he plans to return to the Union of the Comoros to expand access to neurosurgical care and help build sustainable neurosurgical services for patients in need.
Teuku Arie Hidayat
BASSETT FELLOW
2024
🇮🇩 Indonesia
Teuku Arie Hidayet
2024 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Indonesia
Fellowship Host: Professor Michaël Bruneau
Fellowship Hospital: Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussels
Fellowship Overview:
Dr. Teuku Arie Hidayat completed his neurosurgical residency at University of Gadjah Mada/ Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. He will travel from Indonesia to Jette, Belgium to complete his fellowship at Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel under fellowship host, Professor Michaël Bruneau. Dr. Hidayat’s fellowship goal is to enhance his neurosurgical skills and knowledge to support neurosurgical patients in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
Kamga Nkouli Steve Jacquier
Clack Scholar
2024
🇨🇲 Cameroon
Kamga Nkouli Steve Jacquier
2024 Clack Scholar
Program Director: Kiboi Julius Githinji
Training Hospital: University of Nairobi, Faculty of Health Sciences
Status: Current Clack Scholar
Seare Haleform Kahsay
Bassett FELLOW
2023
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Seare Haleform Kahsay
2023 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Ethiopia
Sponsor: Dr. Sam Safavi-Abbasi
Fellowship Training Hospital: Yavapai Regional Medical Center
Fellowship Overview: Dr. Seare trained and completed his residency in Ethiopia at Addis Ababa University Department of Surgery. For his fellowship he traveled to The Spine Center and Neurosurgery at Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC), for his fellowship from May 2024 to July 2024. He was hosted by Dr. Sam Safavi-Abbasi, Director of Neurosurgery at YRMC.
During his fellowship he was able to observe advanced neurosurgical care with Dr. Safavi and his team which included the utilization of neuronavigation technology, minimally invasive techniques, and meticulous surgical skills. He was able to observe and learn from hundreds of spine and brain surgeries.
Outside of the operation room, he shadowed Dr. Safavi in his neurosurgery outpatient clinic where he learned about a patient-centered approach and was involved in scientific discussions regarding management and surgical plans. He was also able to participate in an ongoing chronic back pain management program.
During his fellowship, Dr. Seare had the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Safavi on scientific papers he hopes to publish in the future.
“I am hopeful that the experience I gained from this fellowship will help me refine my surgical skills. I am hoping to transfer the skills I gained from the fellowship to Ethiopia and improve the quality of care for my patients.”
When asked what his future plans were regarding a new neurosurgical site and creating infrastructure in Ethiopia, Dr. Seare responded:
My short term plan is to develop an ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) program where patients’ postoperative stay in hospital is minimized. He learned about this program during his fellowship. My long term plan is to establish a new neurosurgical center equipped with the latest neurosurgical tools one day.
In closing Dr. Seare wished to acknowledge and thank those that supported his FIENS-Basset Fellowship journey.
I would like to thank FIENS for giving me this golden opportunity and generously funding my expenses. It surely has changed my perspective.
I would like to give my greatest gratitude to Dr. Sam Safavi who has been an incredible mentor and host. He was an absolutely kind host from the first day of fellowship.
I also would like to thank the entire neuroscience team at Yavapai Regional Medical Center who have made my stay great.
Joshua David Kavulu
Clack Scholar
2025
🇺🇬 Uganda
Joshua David Kavulu
2025 Clack Fellow
Dr. Joshua David Kavulu is from Uganda and is currently in his third year of neurosurgical training at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Professor Graham Fieggen is his residency program director. As part of his training, he works at both Groote Schuur Hospital and the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital while he is training.
The neurosurgical burden in Uganda remains greatly demanding; this has been precipitated by the small number of neurosurgeons (currently about 25 neurosurgeons for a population of 50 million people) and as well the overwhelming number of neurosurgical pathologies requiring pinpoint neurosurgical facilities and resources.
In addition to his demanding training, Dr. Kavulu works long hours to support himself. Through this scholarship, FIENS hopes to alleviate some of this burden by supporting tuition fees, college exams, and part of his monthly expenses, which will enable him to complete his training and return to Uganda to help address the country’s critical shortage of neurosurgical services.
Irakli Kazaishvili
TRAVELING FELLOW
2025
🇬🇪 Georgia
Irakli Kazaishvili
2025 Traveling Fellow
Tbilisi, Georgia → Hyogo, Japan
Dr. Irakli Kazaishvili is a neurosurgeon in training from Georgia with a focused interest in vascular neurosurgery. Through this fellowship, he seeks advanced subspecialty exposure to strengthen his surgical foundation and prepare for future practice in a setting where access to highly specialized vascular neurosurgical training remains limited.
Dr. Kazaishvili will undertake this fellowship at Hyogo Medical University under the mentorship of Professor Shinichi Yoshimura, where he will spend three months observing neurosurgical services and advancing his knowledge in vascular neurosurgery. This experience will allow him to deepen his technical understanding, gain exposure to high-volume cerebrovascular care, and translate best practices back to his home country. Dr. Kazaishvili is committed to returning to Georgia to apply these skills toward strengthening neurosurgical capacity and improving patient care within the local health system.
Bakang Abiot Kgaodi
Clack Scholar
2023
🇧🇼 Botswana
Bakang Abiot Kgaodi
2023 Clack Scholar
Program Director: Dr. Graham Fieggen
Hospital Location: University of Cape Town
Status: Current Clack Scholar
Tehniat Khaliq
Kassam Family Fellow
2026
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Tehniat Khaliq
2026 Kassam Family Fellow
Pakistan → University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, United States
FIENS is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Tehniat Khaliq of Pakistan as the recipient of the FIENS Kassam Family Fellowship. Dr. Khaliq recently completed five years of neurosurgical residency training at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in Karachi and will undertake a three-month Skull Base Surgery observership at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health under the mentorship of Dr. Mustafa Baskaya.
During her fellowship, Dr. Khaliq will gain focused exposure to advanced open and endoscopic skull base surgical techniques, multidisciplinary skull base care, and the management of complex cranial pathologies. Her interest in skull base surgery developed through caring for patients with challenging conditions such as vestibular schwannomas and clival chordomas, where access to advanced skull base expertise remains limited in many low-resource settings.
Upon returning to Pakistan, Dr. Khaliq plans to apply and share the knowledge gained through this fellowship to strengthen skull base surgery training and improve care for patients with complex neurosurgical disorders.
Beda Alex Mubatsi Kundu
Bassett Fellow
2026
🇰🇪 Kenya
Beda Alex Mubatsi Kundu
2026 Bassett Fellow
Kenya → Dana-Dwek Children’s Hospital, Israel
FIENS is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Beda Alex Mubatsi Kundu as a recipient of the FIENS Bassett Fellowship. Dr. Kundu is a final-year neurosurgery resident at the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta National Hospital. Through this fellowship, he will undertake a pediatric neurosurgery observership at the Dana-Dwek Children’s Hospital in Tel Aviv, Israel, under the mentorship of Professor Shlomi Constantini.
The fellowship will provide exposure to a broad spectrum of pediatric neurosurgical conditions, including congenital anomalies, hydrocephalus, pediatric brain tumors, craniovertebral junction disorders, and minimally invasive surgical techniques. Dr. Kundu will gain experience in multidisciplinary pediatric care models, perioperative decision-making, and long-term follow-up strategies that are essential to achieving improved outcomes for children with neurosurgical disorders.
Following completion of his training, Dr. Kundu plans to contribute to the development and expansion of pediatric neurosurgical services within Kenya’s healthcare system and throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.
Peh Hueh Low
Bassett FELLOW
2022
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Peh Hueh Low
2022 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Malaysia
Fellowship Training Hospital: Rady's Children’s Hospital-San Diego, California
Fellowship Host: Professor Michael Levy
Fellowship Overview: Dr. Low is a neurosurgeon from Malaysia, practicing at a remote center without pediatric neurosurgical service in her home country. The objectives of her fellowship were to:
1) Observe the setup of pediatric neurosurgical service in an established pediatric center
2) Observe how a pediatric center operates
3) Follow the surgical procedures that are not done in Malaysia, including patient selection, peri-operative care, and technical nuances
The learning activities of Dr. Low’s Fellowship included:
1) Daily involvement in elective and emergency surgeries
2) Daily involvement with the neurosurgical team providing ward, rehabilitation, and NICU care
3) Working with pediatric neurosurgery attendings and neurosurgical nurse practitioners on clinic days evaluating new, follow-up, and post-operative patients
4) Participation in educational activities, including neurosurgical grand rounds, neuro-radiology and neuropathology conferences, skull base workshop, and surgical epilepsy conferences
5) Submit an abstract for poster at the Annual AANS/CNS Scientific Meeting in Pediatric Neurological Surgery and attend the educational event
When asked what her future plans were regarding a new neurosurgical site and creating infrastructure in Malaysia, she responded: “The Malaysian government is building a women’s and children’s hospital in the state where I am working now. I work at a government hospital in the Sarawak state in East Malaysia, where complex pediatric neurosurgical cases must be transferred by a flight across the South China Sea for treatment in West Malaysia. This is logistically challenging for sick kids and their families, most of whom are from the lower socioeconomic group. Therefore, the government is building a new block at my current workplace that will serve as a dedicated pediatric center to escalate pediatric service in the state. Part of the aim of my fellowship was to gain experience that will assist me in setting up a pediatric neurosurgical service in the state which can mitigate the need for transfer for a sick kid.”
Dr. Low proceeded to share, “The fellowship supported me in widening the scope of service by introducing and initiating surgeries unavailable or not widely completed in Malaysia. This knowledge will help me improve patient outcomes by escalating my skill set. The fellowship also supported me in establishing collaboration for training to attain self-sustainability in providing pediatric neurosurgical service in the long run.”
When asked about her FIENS- Basset Fellowship journey, Dr. Low said “Every act of kindness ripples in ways we could never imagine. My gratitude towards everyone that make this trip a success goes beyond words. I am incredibly grateful to FIENS for the support provided. Besides reducing my financial burden, it was also a source of encouragement and inspiration for me to strive for the better. I am back in my home country with what I have learned, and I hope that the experience I have gained can make a difference in the pediatric neurosurgical service back here.”
Heba Medhat Maghraby
Bassett FELLOW
2023
🇪🇬 Egypt
Heba Medhat Maghraby
2023 Bassett Fellow
Sponsored by: Dr. Amgad Hanna
Hospital: University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health
Status: Current Bassett Fellow
Bob Kitambala Makuta
Clack Scholar
2025
🇩🇴 Democratic Republic of Congo
Bob Kitambala Makuta
2025 Clack Scholar
Dr. Bob Kitambala Makuta is an aspiring neurosurgeon from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is currently in his fourth year of neurosurgical residency at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal, under the direction of Professor Momar Codè BA.
His home country has only about 20 neurosurgeons for a population of more than 100 million. The Democratic Republic of Congo is densely populated and continues to face the challenges of war and poverty, creating an urgent and pressing need for qualified neurosurgeons.
Dr. Makuta faces significant financial challenges in sustaining his training. FIENS is proud to support him in continuing his education so that he may return to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he intends to bring his neurosurgical expertise back to serve patients in dire need.
Winnie Costa Mapuor
Clack Scholar
2023
🇧🇼 Botswana
Winnie Costa Mapuor
2023 Clack Scholar
Program Director: Professeur Momar Dr. Nebyou Seyoum
Hospital Location: Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences
Status: Current Clack Scholar
Mohammed Matar
Clack Scholar
2026
🇵🇸 Palestine
Mohammed Matar
2026 Clack Scholar
Dr. Mohammed Matar is an aspiring neurosurgeon from Gaza, Palestine. He is currently completing his neurosurgical residency at Nasser Medical Complex, under the direction of Professor Nidal Abu Hadrous, after being displaced from his original training site at Gaza European Hospital due to the ongoing conflict.
Gaza’s healthcare system has faced profound disruption as a result of prolonged war, placing extraordinary strain on hospitals and severely limiting access to specialized surgical care. The need for trained neurosurgeons is critical as healthcare providers work to treat complex neurological injuries and conditions within an already overwhelmed medical system.
Dr. Matar has faced significant financial hardship while continuing his training, as stipends from the Ministry of Health are limited and frequently suspended, and his family has endured repeated displacement and economic instability due to the war. As a 2026 Clack Family Scholar, Dr. Matar will receive the Clack Family Scholarship through FIENS, providing essential support during the final phase of his residency and preparation for the Arab Board and Palestinian Board examinations. With this support, he will be able to complete his neurosurgical training and continue his commitment to serving patients in Gaza while helping strengthen neurosurgical care in his community.
Célèbre Mualaba
Clack Scholar
2024
🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
Célèbre Mualaba
2024 Clack Scholar
Name: Célèbre Mualaba is an Home Country: Democratic Republic of Congo
Training Hospital: Cheikh Anto Diop University, Dakar, Senegal
Program Director: Professor Momar Codè BA.
Kashif Mughal
Bassett FELLOW
2021
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Kashif Mughal
2021 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Pakistan
Fellowship Host: Theodore Schwartz
Hospital: Weill Cornell New York Presbyterian Hospital
Fellowship Overview: Dr. Kashif Mughal completed the Bassett Fellowship in 2022 at Weill Cornell New York Presbyterian Hospital under the guidance of trainer, Professor Theodore H. Schwartz. The activities of his fellowship included attending weekly multidisciplinary meetings on pituitary, endocrine, epilepsy and comprehensive brain and spine meetings. He also attended a conference on the transorbital approach to intracranial lesions. He was able to observe a broad range of surgeries: nonfunctional pituitary adenomas; functional adenomas; skull base meningiomas; epilepsy procedures; endonasal surgery for craniopharyngioma;
Rathke cleft cyst drainage; transorbital surgery and transcranial approaches as well. During his fellowship he was also able to work on his research paper on pituitary apoplexy.
When asked how the training support will contribute to his home country he shared:
I believe this fellowship will be going to shape my carrier as next generation skull base surgeon in my country. The fellowship has allowed me to continue my career in academic nbeurosurgery and in will help me to start a somewhat similar kind of program in the public sector hospital in my country. I am confident that I will be able to offer these minimally invasive treatment options to patients in the future.
In closing Dr. Kashif Mughal wished to acknowledge and thank those that supported his FIENS - Bassett Fellowship journey.
Thank you to all the FIENS donors, Linda Van Brocklin, Dr. Azam Ahmed, Dr. Sandberg, Dr. Robert Dempsey, Dr. Ted Schwartz and my supervisor, Professor Lal Rehman for all the support.
Alwi Rashid Mohamed
Bassett FELLOW
2025
🇰🇪 Kenya
Alwi Rashid Mohamed
2025 FIENS Bassett Fellowship
Nairobi, Kenya → Toronto, Canada
Alwi Rashid Mohamed is a final-year neurosurgical resident at Kenyatta National Hospital and the University of Nairobi in Kenya, with a focused clinical and academic interest in pediatric neurosurgery. His fellowship is designed to address a critical gap in Kenya’s health system, where pediatric neurosurgical care remains severely under-resourced despite a large and growing pediatric population. Upon completing his training, Dr. Mohammed will be posted to Kenya’s coastal region—serving a catchment area of over six million people—to help establish and lead neurosurgical services.
Through this fellowship, Dr. Mohamed will undertake an observership at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)in Toronto under the mentorship of Professor Peter Dirks, gaining exposure to advanced pediatric neurosurgical subspecialties including craniofacial surgery, epilepsy surgery, cerebrovascular neurosurgery, and complex spine care. His training will emphasize multidisciplinary care models, evidence-based perioperative workflows, and strategies for translating high-complexity pediatric neurosurgical services into scalable, sustainable models suited to resource-limited environments. Dr. Mohammed is committed to returning to Kenya to strengthen local systems, mentor future surgeons, and advance pediatric neurosurgery as a national priority
Christelle Nathalie Ghomsi Momdjo
Clack Scholar
2021
🇨🇲 Cameroon
Christelle Nathalie Ghomsi Momdjo
2021 Clack Scholar
Home Country: Cameroon Sponsor: Professor Médard Kakou Hospital: Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan – Côte d’Ivoire Dr. Nathalie Christelle Ghomsi has accomplished so much since being awarded the FIENS Clack fellowship in 2021. In March 2023, she will present her thesis for her Masters in Anatomy program. In June 2022, she was awarded the best neurosurgery resident of the year and best scientific collaborator at her hospital. In July 2022, she published a paper on establishing a neurosurgical skill laboratory in West Africa; you can read the abstract here. In addition, she was recently awarded multiple scholarships to attend the SNOSSA annual conference in Accra, Ghana, and the SNO yearly conference in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Ghomsi also was awarded a scholarship from the Continental Association of African Neurological Societies (CAANS) annual congress for a scientific abstract. Dr. Ghomsi is also the Assistant Editor of the Annals of African Surgery, Kenya, an adviser to the chair of Incision Cameroon, and a research fellow for the Association of Future African Neurosurgeons. She shares her own words about the FIENS Clack Fellowship: The scholarship has helped me focus on my activities entirely. You have contributed massively as a pioneer to my neurosurgical and personal education. So, I plan on giving back to society what has been offered to me. Once more, I express my most profound appreciation.
Herve Lekuya Monka
Bassett FELLOW
2021
🇺🇬 Uganda
Herve Lekuya Monka
2021 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Uganda
Fellowship Hospital: Weill Cornell
Training Program: Neurosurgery training program: College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) – Neurosurgery Residency Neurosurgery Unit- Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
Fellowship Hosts: Dr. Alexander Evins, Dr. Roger Hartl, Dr. Antonio Bernardo
In March of 2022 Dr. Lekuya completed his fellowship at The Surgical Innovations Laboratory for Skull Base Microsurgery at the Weill Cornell Medicine Brain and Spine Center under the guidance of trainers Dr. Antonio Bernardo and Dr. Alexander Evins. Hervé is undergoing the Neurosurgery Residency under the COSECSA regional program through the collaboration of Mulago Hospital and Duke Global Neurology & Neurosurgery. Dr. Lekuya is sitting the board exam this year and as part of the COSECSA Regulations Examination In Neurosurgery FCS Neuro (ECSA). He was required to spend an elective rotation of up to six months in a different neurosurgery unit outside his country of training in order to gain experience with a spectrum of neurosurgical disciplines.
We had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Lekuya. Here are some highlights from what he shared:
Honestly speaking, this has been the greatest experience of the improvement of my neurosurgical skills that is critical for neurosurgical practice in my home country (Uganda).
This FIENS-Bassett fellowship has refined and sharpened my neurosurgical knowledge, skills, eyes, steadiness, and hands-on experience. Basically, I had the opportunity to discover the complex and detailed anatomical relationships of the skull base structures mainly, as well as the finest details of skull base surgical techniques and corridors. I strongly believe that this is the best training opportunity that I have had in my Neurosurgical education.
When asked what his future plans were regarding a new neurosurgical site and creating infrastructure in Uganda Dr. Lekuya responded:
I have a plan of setting up a dedicated unit for skull base surgery with the FIENS collaboration. There is a need for building up expertise in that area where the scope of procedures has been widened with the advent of advanced Neuro-imaging in the country. For instance, I believe that we can start by setting up a basic skull base Lab for Neurosurgeons to practice frequently in cadavers, and also to teach others.
In closing Dr. Lekuya wished to acknowledge and thank those that supported his FIENS - Basset Fellowship journey.
From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely express my appreciation to the FIENS-Bassett Fellowship Committee, especially Dr. David Sandberg & Dr. Azam Syed Ahmed for their support and kindness to make this happen. I would express my acknowledgement to Dr. Antonio Bernardo and Dr. Alexander Evins, and also the Chair of the Weill Cornell Neurological Surgery, Dr. Philip Stieg, for their acceptance of my application to join their State of Art skull base Lab. Dr. Antonio has dedicated several hours of his time to training me in a face-to-face format that I felt to be so precious. Thank you for that, it was really memorable for me. I would extend my acknowledgment to Dr. Roger Hartl for his kindness, support, and recommendations throughout the process. He is one of the mentors who believed in me as a Neurosurgeon and inspired me to work hard with a commitment to my neurosurgical education. I would also express my acknowledgment to the Mulago Hospital COSECSA Neurosurgery faculty, Dr. Michael Muhumuza, Dr. Peter Ssenyonga, & Dr. Joel Kiryabwire, to the Duke Global Neurology and Neurosurgery, especially Dr. Michael Haglund for the continuous input and support in my neurosurgical education in Uganda for several years. Last, but not least, I would extend my acknowledgement to all my Co-fellows from all over the world during my stay; they have assisted me through this learning, guided me, and also taught me several things beyond the curriculum.
Ahmed Motawei
Bassett FELLOW
2026
🇪🇬 Egypt
Dr. Ahmed Motawei
2026 Bassett Fellow
Egypt → University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, United States
FIENS is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Ahmed Motawei of Egypt as a recipient of the FIENS Bassett Fellowship. Dr. Motawei will complete advanced neurosurgical training at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health under the mentorship of Dr. Mustafa Baskaya.
Throughout the fellowship, Dr. Motawei will focus on skull base surgery, microneurosurgical anatomy, and research training. Having already participated in more than 250 brain and spine procedures and established a strong academic record, he will further develop advanced technical and research skills through participation in Dr. Baskaya’s renowned microsurgical laboratory and academic program.
Upon returning to Egypt, Dr. Motawei intends to strengthen local neurosurgical services, expand skull base surgical capabilities, mentor future neurosurgeons, and foster international collaborations that support sustainable neurosurgical development.
Simon Mukuye
Clack Scholar
2020
🇺🇬 Uganda
Simon Mukuye
2020 Clack Scholar
Home Country: Uganda
Program Director: Mahmood Qureshi
Hospital Location: Uganda
Dr. Simon Mukuye is a 2020 FIENS Clack Family Scholarship awardee from Uganda. He graduated as a neurosurgeon from the College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA).
At Yashoda hospital he participated in many neurosurgical procedures including but not limited to DBS (deep brain stimulation) for tremors, stereotactic brain biopsy, radiofrequency ablative surgery for trigeminal neuralgia, brain tumor resection with a CUSA (Cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator), tumor embolization, AVM embolization, and aneurysm coiling, and the utilization of neuronavigation equipment in some cranial procedures.
Dr. Mukuye shared one of his best training experiences:
My best neurosurgical training experience in Uganda was at CURE hospital in Mbale, Uganda where I participated in over 30 pediatric brain tumor resections and also did a number of endoscopic third ventriculostomies single-handedly over a period of 4 months.
Dr. Mukuye shared how the scholarship funding supported him in achieving his goals:
The financial support enabled me to spend time on the neurosurgical wards, attend clinical lectures and a neurosurgical clinical fellowship at an institution outside Uganda at Yashoda Hospital in Hyderabad, India.
The funding from the FIENS scholarship also enabled him to attend a clinical fellowship at Mbarara University teaching hospital in Uganda. At Mbarara hospital I had a chance to attend many neuro-radiology and neuropathology conferences, I attended grand rounds on TBI, functional neuroanatomy, spine stability, and skull base anatomy to mention just a few.
He shared in his own words about the FIENS Clack Scholarship:
Thank you FIENS for having enabled a rich neurosurgical training experience for me in Uganda.
Peter Mushenya
BASSETT FELLOW
2022
🇿🇲 Zambia
Peter Mushenya
2022 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Zambia
Fellowship Hospital: Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia in Udine and Careggi University Hospital
Training Program: Neurosurgery training program: College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA)- Neurosurgery Residency Neurosurgery Unit – University Teaching Hospital, Luska, Zambia
Fellowship Hosts: Dr. Demo Dugoni and Dr. Barbara Caappelletto
Dr. Peter Mushenya completed his fellowship at Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia in Udine and Careggi University Hospital in Florence under the guidance of trainers Dr. Barbara Cappelletto and her team of seven neurosurgeons in Udine, Italy and Dr. Stefano Romoli and his team of three neurosurgeons in Florence, Italy. Dr. Mushenya’s objectives were to gain exposure to a variety of spinal surgery procedures, especially instrumented surgery in order to bring that knowledge and expertise back to his home country of Zambia.
Here are some highlights from what Dr. Mushenya shared:
Coming from a country with only 3 fully trained and qualified Neurosurgeons at the moment catering to a population of 18 million people, this fellowship has equipped me with extra knowledge and skills to effectively contribute to management of spine surgery conditions and lessen the burden on our few neurosurgeons.
When asked what his future plans were regarding a new neurosurgical site and creating infrastructure in Zambia, Dr. Mushenya responded:
The ministry of health has plans to expand neurosurgical services to other centers as only 2 centers in our country currently offer neurosurgical services. However this will be done in a phased manner over a period of time as more Neurosurgeons get trained. I must state here that we are the first group of neurosurgeons being trained locally, and the first class, which I am a part of, is scheduled to complete the training at the end of this year.
In closing Dr. Mushenya wished to acknowledge and thank those that supported his FIENS- Basset Fellowship journey.
Firstly I would like to FIENS for this financial support and hope that I can be considered again in future. I would also like to thank our director of training at the University Teaching Hospitals, Lusaka, Zambia, Dr Kachinga Sichizya, for his recommendations, constant support and for allowing me to travel at this particular time that I did.
I would also like to thank Dr Barbara Cappelletto and Dr Stefano Romoli for their wonderful receptions in Italy. They are both great mentors and very kind people.
Great thanks also goes to Professor Corrado Iaccarino for helping me find the hospitals for my fellowship and for his recommendations.
Lastly I would like to thank my wife for her love and support during the entire period that I was away.
Manakhe Nassiuma
Clack Scholar
2023
🇰🇪 Kenya
Manakhe Nassiuma
2023 Clack Scholar
Home Country: Kenya
Program Director: Dr. David Oluoch-Olunya
Training Hospital: Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH)
Status: Current Clack Fellow
Jalilarah Nassozi
Clack Scholar
2024
🇺🇬 Uganda
Jalilarah Nassozi
2024 Clack Scholar
Name: Jalilarah Nassozi
Home Country: Uganda
Training Hospital: Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya
Status: Current Clack Scholar
Ruzan Nazinyan
Bassett fellow
2025
🇦🇲 Armenia
Jeremiah Omoro
2024 Bassett Fellow
Home Country:Afghanistan
Fellowship Host: Professor Yoko Kato
Fellowship Hospital: Department of Neurosurgery, Fujita Health University Banbuntane Hotokukai Hospital
Fellowship Overview: Ruzan Nazinyan recently completed her residency program in Armenia and will travel to the Department of Neurosurgery, Fujita Health University Banbuntane Hotokukai Hospital in Nagoya, Japan to complete her traveling fellowship. Ruzan’s fellowship will be hosted by Professor Yoko Kato. Her fellowship goals include developing her knowledge and experience in vascular and hybrid neurosurgery so that she may further develop those specialities in Armenia.
Jeremiah Omoro
Bassett fellow
2024
🇰🇪 Kenya
Jeremiah Omoro
2024 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Kenya
Fellowship Host: Professor Yoko Kato
Fellowship Hospital: Fujita Health University, Bantane Hospital
Fellowship Overview: Dr. Jeremiah Omoro will travel from the University of Nairobi Hospital to Fujita Health University, Bantane Hospital for an observership in vascular neurosurgery, hosted by Professor Yoko Kato. He believes this opportunity will support him in understanding and mastering open and end-vascular techniques of intracranial aneurysms. He is hoping to participate in cadaveric workshops that will help him master his microvascular skills. He believes that this fellowship will allow him to build on his career goal of becoming a hybrid vascular neurosurgeon.
Ahmad Reshad Payenda
Bassett fellow
2025
🇦🇫 Afghanistan
Ahmad Reshad Payenda
2024 Bassett Fellow
Home Country:Afghanistan
Fellowship Host: Professor Baskaya
Fellowship Hospital:School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Fellowship Overview:
Ahmad Reshad Payenda is a neurosurgery resident at Northwest General Hospital and Research Center in Peshawar, Pakistan. He is set to travel to the United States to complete a fellowship under Professor Baskaya at the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ahmad Reshad’s primary goals for this fellowship are to gain specialized training in complex cranial and spinal procedures and to acquire in-depth exposure to the latest neurosurgical technologies, research, and best practices. His intention is to bring this advanced knowledge back to Afghanistan, where such neurosurgical interventions are currently lacking.
In expressing his motivation for pursuing this fellowship, Ahmad Reshad states, “I am determined to make a lasting, positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the Afghan people by providing access to advanced neurosurgical interventions that are currently lacking in my country. This fellowship represents a critical step in realizing my ambitious goal of transforming the landscape of neurosurgical care in Afghanistan and, in doing so, empowering my fellow citizens to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.” This fellowship not only represents a significant opportunity for Ahmad Reshad but also holds the potential to transform neurosurgical care in Afghanistan.
Sana Qazi
Kassam Family fellow
2025
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Sana Qazi
2025 Kassam Family Fellow
Karachi, Pakistan → Phoenix, USA
Dr. Sana Qazi is a neurosurgeon based in Karachi, Pakistan and is actively practicing and training in neurosurgery. She is a recipient of the FIENS Kassam Family Fellowship, a fellowship awarded to support promising neurosurgeons from Pakistan seeking advanced subspecialty exposure through international mentorship and training.
Her fellowship is driven by a strong desire to gain advanced neurosurgical skills and knowledge aligned with recent technological advancements not yet widely available in Pakistan. Access to cutting-edge neurosurgical techniques and high-volume subspecialty exposure remains limited in many training environments across the country. Through this fellowship, Dr. Qazi aims to broaden her clinical experience, observe complex neurosurgical cases, and acquire knowledge that she will bring back to Pakistan to strengthen neurosurgical care and improve patient outcomes across underserved settings.
She will pursue her three-month fellowship under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Lawton at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Jo Ee Sam
BASSETT FELLOW
2023
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Jo Ee Sam
2023 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Malaysia
Fellowship Training Hospital: Fujita Health University Bantane Hospital
Fellowship Host: Professor Yoko Kato
Fellowship Overview: In 2023, Jo Ee Sam’s FIENS Bassett Fellowship at Fujita Health University Bantane Hospital in Japan was a career highlight for him. With a strong desire to bridge the gap in cerebrovascular neurosurgery skills and techniques, Jo Ee Sam embarked on this transformative fellowship to gain invaluable experience and knowledge. Equipped with knowledge from his fellowship, he aims to revolutionize neurosurgical practices in Malaysia with the goal of saving more lives and improving patient outcomes.
Fellowship Objectives:
The primary focus of Jo Ee Sam’s fellowship was on mastering cerebrovascular neurosurgery. With a scarcity of resources and limited access to endovascular therapy in Malaysia, patients often do not have adequate treatment options. Jo Ee Sam recognized the urgency to learn these specialized skills to bring about a positive change. Under the guidance of Professor Yoko Kato and her team, Jo Ee Sam learned new skills to treat microsurgical anastomosis with simulated vessels, gradually honing the techniques required for successful surgeries. By acquiring these skills, he now possesses the ability to address complex cerebrovascular conditions and provide life-saving interventions to patients back home.
Throughout the fellowship, Jo Ee Sam had the privilege of observing and participating in a wide range of neurosurgical procedures. These included aneurysm clippings, bypasses, ventriculoatrial shunts, endoscopic skull base surgeries, spine surgeries, and emergency procedures. Additionally, He also had the opportunity to assist in endovascular procedures, further broadening his expertise.
The fellowship training received by Jo Ee Sam holds immense potential for the advancement of neurosurgery in Malaysia. Bringing back his newfound knowledge and skills, Jo Ee Sam aims to contribute to the field in several ways.
When asked about his plans to increase neurosurgical infrastructure in his home country he replied:
He intends to provide enhanced vascular and neurosurgical services to patients who previously lacked suitable treatment options. This will undoubtedly save lives and improve patient outcomes. Furthermore, Jo Ee Sam plans to share his new expertise with fellow neurosurgeons, facilitating knowledge transfer and capacity building within the Malaysian medical community. Empowering others with this specialized skill set, he envisions a future where more lives can be saved, and the quality of neurosurgical care is elevated nationwide.
In Closing:
Dr. Jo Ee Sam would like to express his deep gratitude to Professor Yoko Kato and the team at Fujita Health University Bantane Hospital for their exceptional mentorship and support throughout the fellowship. Furthermore, he acknowledges Dr. Low Peh Hueh for sharing her fellowship experience and introducing them to the FIENS Fellowship Program. Jo Ee Sam commends the FIENS Bassett Fellowship program for its noble vision of enabling doctors to teach and share their knowledge, ultimately saving more lives.
Watch this brief video to hear from Jo Ee Sam about his fellowship experience.
Rabia Saleem
MUKHTAR A. SHEIKH FELLOW
2024
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Rabia Saleem
2024 Mukhtar A. Sheikh Fellow
Home Country: Pakistan
Fellowship Host: Professor Mustafa Baskaya
Fellowship Hospital: University of Wisconsin, Madison
Fellowship Overview: Dr. Rabia Saleem is the first awarded Mukhtar A. Sheikh fellow. She is currently working as Senior Registrar Neurosurgery at Punjab Institute of Neurosciences (PINS) in Lahore, Pakistan. She will travel to complete her fellowship at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, under host Professor Mustafa Baskaya. The purpose of her fellowship is to be exposed to advanced training, skill development and new research opportunities. She also hopes this fellowship will support her in enhancing patient care in her home country of Pakistan.
Mestet Shiferaw
Bassett Fellow
2025
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Mestet Shiferaw
2025 Bassett Fellow
Injibara, Ethiopia → Arizona, USA
Dr. Mestet Shiferaw is an assistant professor of neurosurgery at Injibara University in Injibara, Ethiopia. His fellowship is designed to address a critical gap in specialized neurosurgical training in low-income settings, where complex skull base tumors are frequently managed by general neurosurgeons without subspecialty expertise. Through advanced training at the Barrow Neurosurgical Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, under the mentorship of Professor Michael T. Lawton, he aims to acquire the technical skills and clinical strategies necessary to reduce surgical complications and improve outcomes. This experience will enable him to return home better equipped to raise the standard of neurosurgical care for underserved patients in Ethiopia.
Kevin Jude Sudevan
Bassett Fellow
2025
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
evin Jude Sudevan
2025 Bassett Fellow
Bengaluru, India → Toronto, Canada
Dr. Kevin Jude Sudevan is a senior neurosurgery resident at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru, India. His fellowship is focused on gaining specialized experience in pediatric hydrocephalus management at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Canada—one of North America’s leading pediatric neurosurgical centers. Under the mentorship of Dr. Abhaya V. Kulkarni, he aims to deepen his understanding of endoscopic techniques, such as choroid plexus coagulation, and explore best practices in clinical data collection through the hospital’s hydrocephalus registry. This experience will be a vital step toward his goal of strengthening pediatric neurosurgical care and research capacity in India.
Henok Teshome
Clack Scholar
2023
🇪🇷 Eritrea
Henok Teshome
2023 Clack Scholar
Program Director: Dr. Thomas Bogale
Hospital: Addis Ababa University
Status: Current Clack Fellow
Goumantar Felicien Toudjingar
Bassett Fellow
2025
🇹🇩 Chad
Goumantar Felicien Toudjinga
2025 Bassett Fellow
N’Djamena, Chad → Madison, USA
Dr. Goumantar Felicien Toudjingar is a neurosurgeon at CHU La Renaissance in N’Djamena, Chad. His fellowship is focused on strengthening neurosurgical capacity through advanced exposure to microsurgery, surgical neuroanatomy, and academic neurosurgery—areas that remain limited within the current health system in Chad. With prior international training experience in France, Dr. Toudjingar seeks to further refine his surgical and academic expertise in order to support the long-term development of neurosurgical care in his home country.
Dr. Toudjingar will undertake this fellowship under the mentorship of Professor Mustafa M. Baskaya at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, where he will observe neurosurgical services, participate in microsurgical and neuroanatomy training, and engage in neurosurgical education and research. He is committed to returning to Chad upon completion of the fellowship to apply these skills toward strengthening local neurosurgical practice, expanding training opportunities, and improving access to specialized neurological care.
Huy Minh Tran
BASSETT FELLOW
2023
🇻🇳 Vietnam
Huy Minh Tran
2023 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Vietnam
Sponsor: Dr. Daniel Prevedello
Fellowship Training Hospital: Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center
Fellowship Overview: Dr. Tran trained and completed his residency at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City in Southern Vietnam. He traveled to Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center to complete his fellowship. His fellowship host was Dr. Daniel Prevedello.
The objectives of his fellowship were to learn more about endoscopic surgery including skull base anatomy, the extended EEA, skull base reconstruction, and how to build a skull base surgery program within the constraints of limited resources in Vietnam.
When asked about how the fellowship will support him in contribution to his home country he replied:
The fellowship training experience has been invaluable to me, especially as a young neurosurgeon starting a new career. I have gained not only advanced surgical knowledge from my mentor (Dr Prevedello) but also a deeper understanding of patient care, residency training, and research. His insightful perspective has inspired me to strive for excellence in providing the highest quality care to patients in Vietnam.
When asked what his future plans were regarding a new neurosurgical site and creating infrastructure in Vietnam, Huy Minh responded:
I plan to establish a new pediatric brain tumor program at the Pediatric Hospital. Drawing on my training in endoscopic approaches, I aim to provide comprehensive care for children with brain tumors, including both microsurgical and endoscopic treatment options.
In closing, Dr. Tran wished to wished to acknowledge and thank those that supported his FIENS-Basset Fellowship journey.
I am deeply grateful for the sponsorship and support provided by the FIENS Fellowship Program. The opportunities afforded by the Bassett FIENS fellowship have been invaluable and will have a profound impact on my future practice in Vietnam.
Tadelu Tsegaw
Clack Scholar
2025
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Tadelu Tsegaw
2025 Clack Scholar
Dr. Tadelu Tsegaw is the only female neurosurgical resident at Addis Ababa University’s Black Lion Hospital, Navigating the challenges of a male-dominated field amid ongoing political unrest in Ethiopia’s northern region. The conflict has brought personal loss and disrupted her family’s financial stability, forcing her to balance demanding residency duties with extra work to support her family.
Despite the strain, she is determined to complete her training and become one of only seven female neurosurgeons in Ethiopia. FIENS is Proud to support her final year of Residency so she may dedicate her self fully to her studies, research, and future service to patients in Ethiopia.
Samaila Timothy
Bassett FELLOW
2023
🇳🇬 Nigeria
Samaila Timothy
2023 Bassett Fellow
Home Country: Nigeria
Fellowship Host: Dr. Mustafa Baskaya
Hospital: University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health
Status: Current Bassett Fellow
Getachew Weldeyohanis
CNI Fellow
2025
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Getachew Weldeyohanis
2025 CNI Fellow
Dr. Getachew Weldeyohanis, an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery from Ethiopia, completed his CNI Fellowship at Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Center in Prescott, Arizona, from May 25 to August 12, 2025. During the fellowship, he gained hands-on exposure to advanced neurosurgical care, including minimally invasive spine surgery, spinal stabilization, and cranial procedures for tumors and trauma. He also observed pre-operative evaluations, advanced neuroimaging, intraoperative navigation, neuromonitoring, and the multidisciplinary systems that support high-quality patient care in U.S. hospitals.
Reflecting on the experience, Dr. Weldeyohanis described the fellowship as transformative, providing valuable knowledge and practical skills that can be adapted to Ethiopia's resource-limited healthcare system. Beyond surgical techniques, he emphasized learning the importance of treating the whole patient with compassion—an approach modeled by Dr. Sam Safavi that he plans to carry forward in his own practice and teaching.
Looking ahead, Dr. Weldeyohanis is leading efforts to establish a Minimal-Profit Neurosurgical Center in Mekelle, Tigray, to expand access to affordable, high-quality neurosurgical care. The center will serve as a hub for clinical care, training, research, and innovation while reinvesting surplus funds into patient subsidies, surgical outreach, and capacity building. Working alongside universities, NGOs, and international partners, the initiative aims to strengthen neurosurgical services throughout the region.
Dr. Weldeyohanis extends his sincere gratitude to Dr. Sam Safavi for his mentorship and support, as well as the neurosurgical team at Yavapai Regional Medical Center for their generosity and commitment to his learning. He also thanks Dr. Seare, the FIENS board members, and all those whose support made the fellowship possible.
Moses Lukolo Mathia Yugu
Education Assistance Scholar
2026
🇸🇸 South Sudan
Moses Lukolo Mathia Yugu
2026 Education Assistance Scholar
Dr. Moses Lukolo Mathia Yugu is an aspiring neurosurgeon from South Sudan. He is currently in his fourth year of neurosurgical residency at the Addis Ababa University College of Health Sciences in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the direction of Dr. Azarias Kassahun.
South Sudan faces a severe shortage of specialized medical professionals, including neurosurgeons, leaving many patients without access to critical neurological care. Years of conflict and economic instability have significantly limited the development of advanced medical services and training opportunities within the country, creating an urgent need for physicians with specialized expertise.
Dr. Yugu has faced significant financial challenges while pursuing his neurosurgical training. His residency requires full-time clinical and academic commitment, while the cost of living and the expense of essential educational resources—including textbooks, journals, and required training courses—continue to rise. As a 2026 FIENS Education Assistance Scholar, Dr. Yugu will receive the FIENS Education Assistance Scholarship to support the completion of his neurosurgical residency. With this support, he plans to complete his training and return to South Sudan, where he is committed to strengthening neurosurgical services and expanding access to specialized care for underserved communities.
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Additional Fellows and Scholars
Nang Saw Myat Hnin Aye
BASSETT FELLOW
2019
🇲🇲 Myanmar
Sponsored by: Jack Rock, MD
Hospital: Henry Ford
Cheruiyot Davies
Bassett FELLOW
2022
🇰🇪 Kenya
Sponsored by: Michael Chicoine
Hospital: University of Washington
Idi Marcel Ehanga
Clack Scholar
2021
Program Director: Jombwe Josephat
Hospital Location: Uganda
Manyando Lubasi
Clack Scholar
2019
Program Director: Graham Fieggen
Hospital Location: Zambia
Benson Maina
Clack Scholar
2021
Program Director: Moody Qureshi
Hospital Location: Kenya
Pyie Win Htut
BASSETT FELLOW
2016
🇲🇲 Myanmar
Sponsored by: Jack Rock, MD
Hospital: Henry Ford
Ahmed Hussein
BASSETT FELLOW
2019
🇪🇬 Egypt
Sponsored by: Amgad Hanna
Hospital: University of Wisconsin
Alex Muhindo
BASSETT FELLOW
2017
🇺🇬 Uganda
Sponsored by: Duke University
Hospital: Duke University
Aung Thu Soe Myint
BASSETT FELLOW
2017
🇲🇲 Myanmar
Sponsored by: Jack Rock, MD
Hospital: Henry Ford
Oluwole Oyeleye
BASSETT FELLOW
2022
🇳🇬 Nigeria
Sponsored by: Mustafa Baskaya
Hospital: University of Wisconsin
Adnan Qasim
BASSETT FELLOW
2021
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Sponsored by: Mustafa Baskaya
Hospital: University of Wisconsin
Thar San
BASSETT FELLOW
2016
🇲🇲 Myanmar
Sponsored by: Jack Rock, MD
Hospital: Henry Ford
Nalwanga Juliet Sekobunga
BASSETT FELLOW
2017
🇺🇬 Uganda
Sponsored by: Robert Dempsey
Hospital: University of Wisconsin
Myat Naing Tun
BASSETT FELLOW
2017
🇲🇲 Myanmar
Sponsored by: Jack Rock, MD
Hospital: Henry Ford
Aung Thurein Win
BASSETT FELLOW
2018
🇲🇲 Myanmar
Sponsored by: Jack Rock, MD
Hospital: Henry Ford
Sein Wynn
BASSETT FELLOW
2018
🇲🇲 Myanmar
Sponsored by: Jack Rock, MD
Hospital: Henry Ford