Primary Theme: Brain & Society

Surgery was catapulted into the global health spotlight with the publication of the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery report. The report discusses the importance of projects that not only focus on provision of surgical procedures, but also the need for holistic health systems strengthening. Since 2007, Duke Global Neurosurgery and Neuroscience (DGNN) has been utilizing this concept of health systems strengthening to improve neurosurgical care for patients throughout Uganda. DGNN’s approach consists of provision of neurosurgical services, training, research, twinning and advocacy. The long-term vision includes having 20 Uganda-trained neurosurgeons equitably spread across the country, increasing the number of facilities capable of providing neurosurgical operations, improving the infrastructure for neurosurgical care delivery and developing a Uganda Neuroscience Institute to serve as a center of excellence in East Africa. Within this larger framework, a Bass Connections project will evaluate interventions directed at impacting neurosurgical patient outcomes.