Sponsors: Dr. Sam Safavi, MD
Fellowship Experience
Dr. Getachew Weldeyohanis, an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery from Ethiopia, completed his CNI Fellowship at Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Center, Prescott, Arizona, United States, from May 25, 2025, to August 12, 2025.
During his fellowship, Dr. Weldeyohanis was exposed to a wide range of advanced neurosurgical practices, focusing on minimally invasive spine surgeries, spinal stabilization, and cranial procedures for tumors and trauma. His learning activities included:
- Observing and participating in pre-operative clinical evaluations and advanced neuroimaging for patient-specific decision-making.
- Exposure to advanced surgical techniques and technology:
- Minimally invasive spine surgery
- Instrumented spinal stabilization
- Craniotomies for tumors and trauma
- Learning intraoperative navigation, neuromonitoring, and operative safety protocols used in U.S. hospitals.
- Gaining exposure to professionalism, interdisciplinary communication, and healthcare delivery in a high-income country.
A key highlight was observing techniques adaptable to low-resource settings, such as minimally invasive cranial and spinal approaches and ERAS-tailored perioperative care.
Reflections from Dr. Weldeyohanis
My fellowship experience at Dignity Health provided invaluable exposure to advanced neurosurgical knowledge, surgical techniques, and systems-based care in a high-resource environment. The lessons learned—particularly in intraoperative navigation, infection control, trauma systems, and multidisciplinary collaboration—are directly applicable to Ethiopia’s resource-limited context.
Most importantly, I learned from Dr. Sam not only the technical aspects of neurosurgery but also the importance of caring for the patient beyond the disease—an ethos I will carry home and share with others.
Looking Ahead
Dr. Weldeyohanis is committed to strengthening neurosurgical capacity in Ethiopia, especially in post-conflict northern regions. He is leading efforts to establish a Minimal-Profit Neurosurgical Center in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.
This center will:
- Provide affordable, high-quality neurosurgical care.
- Serve as a hub for training, research, and innovation in low-resource surgical practice.
- Reinvest surplus into patient subsidies, surgical outreach, and capacity building.
- Complement existing public hospitals by bridging urgent service gaps in trauma, neuro-oncology, pediatric neurosurgery, and spinal care.
Through collaboration with universities, NGOs, and international partners, the center will combine clinical service with education and a humanitarian mission.
Acknowledgments
Dr. Weldeyohanis extends his heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Sam Safavi for his mentorship, generosity, and unwavering support throughout the fellowship.
He also expresses sincere appreciation to the Yavapai Regional Medical Center neurosurgical team for their kindness, generosity, and dedication, which enriched his learning experience.
Finally, he thanks Dr. Seare, the FIENS board members, and all supporters who helped make this opportunity possible.
