Training the Next Generation of Academic Global Neurosurgeons: Experience of the Association of Future African Neurosurgeons

Ulrick Sidney Kanmounye; Yvan Zolo; Stéphane Nguembu; Francklin Tétinou; Lorraine Arabang Sebopelo; Geneviève Endalle; Dawin Sichimba; Régis Takoukam; Nathalie Ghomsi; Desmond T Jumbam

doi:10.3389/fsurg.2021.631912

Training the Next Generation of Academic Global Neurosurgeons: Experience of the Association of Future African Neurosurgeons

Front Surg. 2021 May 28:8:631912. doi: 10.3389/fsurg.2021.631912. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Ulrick Sidney Kanmounye¹, Yvan Zolo^{1

2}, Stéphane Nguembu^{1

3}, Francklin Tétinou^{1

3}, Lorraine Arabang Sebopelo^{1

4}, Geneviève Endalle^{1

2}, Dawin Sichimba^{1

5}, Régis Takoukam^{1

6}, Nathalie Ghomsi^{1

6}, Desmond T Jumbam^{1

7}

Affiliations

¹ Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.
² Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
³ Faculty of Medicine, Higher Institute of Health Sciences, Université des Montagnes, Bangangté, Cameroon.
⁴ Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
⁵ School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia.
⁶ Department of Neurosurgery, Felix-Houphouet Boigny University, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
⁷ Operation Smile Ghana, Accra, Ghana.

Abstract

Introduction: Although the past decade has seen a substantial increase in African neurosurgeons' academic productivity, productivity remains low compared to their colleagues from other regions. Aspiring neurosurgeons can contribute to the academic neurosurgery workforce by taking care of less technical and time-consuming research tasks. Fortunately, global neurosurgery institutions have also made efforts to increase research exposure and scholarly output in academic global neurosurgery. The Association of Future African Neurosurgeons (AFAN) created a research incubator for aspiring academic global neurosurgeons in Africa to provide enrollees with mentorship, skills, and experience. This study assesses and reports the activities and results of the research incubator. Methods: Aspiring academic global neurosurgeons were enrolled in the AFAN Research Incubator Program (ARIP), whose primary objective was to provide enrollees with foundational skills in all aspects of the research cycle. ARIP enrollees participated in didactic and practical activities with the aim of publishing ≥1 article and presenting ≥1 abstracts at international conferences in one year. Results: Fifteen AFAN members aged 25.0 ± 3.0 years enrolled in ARIP: 7 (46.7%) medical students, 4 (26.7%) general practitioners, and 4 (26.7%) residents. Eleven (73.3%) were male, 6 (40.0%) were from Cameroon and 6 (40.0%) had no previous research experience. Two (13.3%) enrollees dropped out. ARIP enrollees published a total of 28 articles, and enrollees published a median of 1.0 (IQR = 2) first-author articles on neurosurgical system strengthening. Additionally, ARIP enrollees presented 20 abstracts with a median of one abstract (IQR = 3.0). Conclusion: South-South research collaborations like ARIP can contribute to improving global neurosurgery research capacity and output. These collaborations can set up the foundations for robust research in low- and middle-income countries.

Keywords: Africa; capacity building; global neurosurgery; neurosurgery; research.