
Name: Dr. Gbètoho Fortuné Gankpé
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.
Please see an article that was written about Dr. Gankpé fellowship here.
Dr. Gbètoho Fortuné Gankpé’s Photo Gallery








