We are pleased to announce the two newest Clack Family Scholars, Ceyedi Ben Said Hassane and Mohammed Matar, and the FIENS Education Assistance Scholars, Moses Lukolo Mathia Yugu and Kwizera Axel. As 2026 Clack Family and FIENS Education Assistance awardees, they will receive financial support to continue their neurosurgical education and training and prepare to serve patients in their home countries.
Dr. Ceyedi Ben Said Hassane
Union of the Comoros
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.
Dr. Mohammed Matar
Gaza, Palestine
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.
Dr. Moses Lukolo Mathia Yugu
South Sudan
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.
Dr. Kwizera Axel
Burundi
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.
We look forward to sharing updates on the progress of these ambitious neurosurgeons who will save and improve the lives of many in the Union of the Comoros, Palestine, South Sudan, and Burundi, and inspire other practitioners to pursue neurosurgical education pathways. Their dedication reflects the power of investing in local training to strengthen neurosurgical capacity where it is needed most. Through the continued support of the Clack Family Scholarship and FIENS Education Assistance programs, these scholars represent the next generation of leaders working to expand access to life-saving neurosurgical care in their communities.
If you are interested in supporting a named FIENS fellowship, we invite you to connect with our team to learn more about these impactful opportunities. Named fellowships play a critical role in advancing neurosurgical training and expanding access to care worldwide. Please contact us at [email protected]
