This year, members of FIENS and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Department of Neurosurgery partnered with Solidarity Bridge and the Neurosurgical Society of Bolivia to carry out to develop an ongoing curriculum for bidirectional learning in all aspects of neurosurgery which includes bi-weekly lectures, hands-on training, and opportunities for observership in the at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
The Hands-on Workshop was on Neuro-endoscopy and hydrocephalus shunt management. It was designed for neurosurgery residents from Bolivia and Paraguay. It was also attended by Bolivia neurosurgeons and medical students. This was a combination of lectures, case discussions from both the UW team and the Bolivia attendees, and a hands-on workshop.
The Bolivia/Paraguay program started in 2022 and consists of the following: 1) Virtual lectures twice a month covering spine, pediatric, tumor/skull base and vascular neurosurgery. 2) Hands-on workshops (so far spine and shunt/endoscopy). 3) Observerships (2 Bolivia/Paraguay residents will come to Madison for 1-3 months for an observership that includes clinic, operating room, cadaver/dissection lab, and research.
► Read “From Bolivia to Wisconsin: The Resident Education Program Takes Flight”
